Every year, Muslims celebrate Ramadan for a month by fasting and inward reflection. However, public health Vape stockists think that this is also a good chance to help smokers in the community as well. This is the best time of the year to ditch smoking and maybe even vaping. In May 2020, the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center paired up with ACCESS on the Yallah Quit campaign.
The Yallah Quit Campaign
This is a culturally tailored program, which is evident from the name itself. After all, Yallah means “Let’s go!” in Arabic. Ramadan involves abstinence from drinking and eating during the day, but some members of the community also quit smoking. Ken Resnicow, Ph.D. of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, said that the goal is to translate this initiative into a long-term goal.
Resnicow also said that cultural factors might have a huge impact on health behaviors. Previous research investigated ways to tailor strategies using this approach. Among other things, the institute learned that higher levels of religious modesty and religiosity were linked to lower cervical cancer screening rates. Armed with this knowledge, they try to identify culturally-sensitive methods to improve these figures.
The Yallah Quit campaign was made as an initial effort for bigger smoking cessation programs in the future. While it primarily addresses cigarettes, there is also a focus on hookah smoking. The latter is considered a social activity within Middle Eastern and North African communities. ACCESS is here to ensure that this community does not get overlooked when it comes to public health initiatives.
Reasons To Quit Smoking
There are many reasons to finally ditch this bad habit. Here are the benefits that one might reap from quitting smoking:
- Reduce the risk of lung cancer
- Use money on necessities and other items
- Bring down the exposure of other people to secondhand smoke
- Lower the risk of stroke and heart disease
- Reduce the severity of COVID-19 upon infection
Who Is Eligible For The Program?
If you are interested in participating in the campaign, you must fit the following criteria:
- Arab American
- 18 years old and above
- Currently, smoke hookah or cigarettes
- Have a smartphone to use
In case you do not meet these criteria, the Rogel Cancer Center has a free, non-culturally text message-based program you can avail of. It is a more general campaign, but it provides many of the same services.
How The Program Works
The people who sign up will get text messages over the course of the day. They have words of encouragement and guidance to help manage mood shifts and cravings. It is good to know that the program is offered in Arabic and English.
Endnotes
Non-profit organizations now try to understand other cultures to improve overall public health. Ramadan is one of the most important parts of the year for the Muslim community. It is good to quit smoking any time of the year. Still, abstinence during the month-long celebration makes for an excellent starting point.