Visit of National and State Officials to the Tobacco Cessation Centre at Yenepoya Dental College

Aug 19, 2025

A joint delegation comprising of Rajesh BharatiyaState Project Officer, Mr.Puranik , Mrs. Sruthi and Mr. Vijay District Tobacco Control Cell and Dr. Puneet, Technical Adviser at Vital Strategies, New Delhi, visited the Tobacco Cessation Centre (TCC) at Yenepoya Dental College for an observational visit. The purpose of the visit was to review and evaluate the functionality and impact of the TCC across various domains, including patient care, community outreach, research, and training initiatives. The delegation commended the Centre for its comprehensive and holistic approach to tobacco cessation. The work undertaken by the TCC was recognized and appreciated at the district, state, and national levels. Special acknowledgment was given to the Centre's integrated efforts in delivering quality patient care, conducting impactful community programs, and promoting evidence-based research and training. Dr. Puneet mentioned the commendable efforts of the TCC, particularly highlighting its contribution as a private sector initiative in the field of tobacco control and cessation activities. He emphasized the importance of such models in strengthening the national tobacco control framework and encouraged continued innovation and collaboration. During the visit, officials launched the expansion of the "Ask, Advice, and Refer" (2 A.R.) strategy, bringing tobacco cessation services directly into the community.The team suggested future collaborations to further enhance the scope and outreach of the Centre. Furthermore, it was recommended that the work of the TCC be presented at the state level as a model for other institutions to follow.