Gyeongsang National University Smoking Cessation Support Center Wins Top Award in 2021 Regional Smoking Cessation Private Subsidy Project

Contributing to Reduced Smoking Rates and Improved Health Equity

Gyeongsang National University Smoking Cessation Support Center won the grand prize in the final evaluation of the 2021 regional smoking cessation private subsidy project.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The Gyeongsang National University Gyeongnam Smoking Cessation Support Center was selected as one of the top centers among 17 regional smoking cessation support centers nationwide in the final evaluation of the 2021 regional smoking cessation private subsidy project and received the grand prize.

The award ceremony was held on June 10 at the '2021 Regional Smoking Cessation Support Center Project Performance Conference' hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Smoking Cessation Support Center.

Since its opening in June 2015, the center has been operating a 'visiting smoking cessation support service' (targeting at-risk youth, women, disabled persons, small and medium-sized workplaces, low-income groups, and regional autonomy) for those in smoking cessation blind spots, as well as a 'smoking cessation camp' for severe smokers who find it difficult to quit on their own, to reduce the smoking rate and improve health equity among Gyeongnam residents.

Last year, 901 people (target 900) participated in the visiting smoking cessation support service, and 300 people (target 300) participated in the smoking cessation camp, exceeding most of the targets in each category.

In particular, the 4-night 5-day specialized treatment smoking cessation camp, which includes health checkups such as lung CT scans, showed a success rate of over 75% at 6 months. It was found to be very helpful for those who had attempted to quit smoking more than twice but relapsed, or those who had smoking-related diseases but found quitting difficult.

The center has devoted itself to creating a smoking cessation atmosphere by planning and promoting smoking cessation project technical support such as strengthening the capabilities of local community smoking cessation project personnel and training experts, creating a local community smoking cessation environment, and publicity campaigns.

Recognizing these efforts, the center has received the Minister of Health and Welfare Award six times over the past nine years since its opening, both for institutions and individuals.

All smoking cessation support services at the Gyeongnam Smoking Cessation Support Center are supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and are operated free of charge.

This year, the center continues its smoking cessation support services with a project budget of 954.5 million KRW, involving 18 personnel, including 15 full-time and 3 part-time staff.

Director Park Ki-su said, “Being selected once again as the top institution following the previous year was greatly helped by the cooperation of health care institutions and related personnel in Gyeongnam who work together to reduce the smoking rate and improve health equity among local residents. We will take the lead in carrying out the key missions of Gyeongnam’s smoking cessation support projects,” he said in his acceptance remarks.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.