Capacity Building Workshop on Tobacco Cessation for students and technicians of Madras Medical College
A Capacity Building Workshop on "Tobacco Cessation" was jointly organized by the Institute of Community Medicine, MMC; the Institute of Thoracic Medicine, MMC; and ICMR-NIRT from June 26 to 27, 2025, at Madras Medical College, Chennai. This two-day workshop aimed to provide training to 52 PGs and 9 respiratory technicians from the departments of Respiratory Medicine and Community Medicine, MMC, enabling them to implement tobacco cessation treatment and counselling at the Tobacco Cessation Centre at MMC for general population.
IEC posters and tobacco counselling flipcharts developed by the Department of Social and Behavioural Research (DSBR), ICMR-NIRT, were officially released on the first day by Prof Chitra, MMC and was received by Prof Nancy (Institute of Thoracic Medicine) & Prof Saravanajothi (Institute of Mental Health).
The event was also attended by Prof. Dr. Uma Maheshwari (Institute of Community Medicine), Prof. Dr. Vinod Kumar (Director, ITM), Prof. Dr. V. Surendaran (Cancer Institute, WIA), Dr. Rajeswari (ITM), and Dr. A. Somasundaram (DPH), who delivered lectures on various aspects of tobacco cessation.
Dr. N. Karikalan , DSBR, ICMR-NIRT, presented on the patterns of tobacco consumption in India and Tamil Nadu, while Dr. P. Murugesan and Yasaswany S. conducted sessions on basic principles and practices of counseling for tobacco cessation, including hands-on training with role-plays and interactive exercises. The workshop was coordinated by Associate Professor Dr. Sudarsini Subramaniam and Professor Dr. Priya, MMC.
