NHS offers help to quit smoking for Ramadan

The local stop smoking service, part of Bradford and Airedale Community Health Services, is running special events at mosques throughout Ramadan.

The team is working closely with imams from local mosques and community representatives to raise awareness of the support available to people who want to quit smoking.

For the fourth year running the stop smoking service has teamed up with the British Heart Foundation to deliver training to imams and community representatives about coronary heart disease and how it can be prevented.

The advice can then be passed on to congregations during Ramadan so that people can get help and support to stop smoking, be more physically active and eat a healthy diet.

People from Pakistan, Bangladesh and India are at a higher risk of heart disease than other communities.

Imams and other representatives are being invited to a training session on Thursday run by the foundation and Asian Quit Line with support from the local stop smoking team.

They will be given information about the risk factors associated with heart disease, especially the danger of high salt consumption and smoking.

They will be advised how to encourage smokers to quit for good during Ramadan and how to guide them to the range of medication and support available from the stop smoking service, GP practices and pharmacies.

Mohammed Idrees, from the stop smoking team, said: "Local religious leaders and community representatives are in a unique position to raise awareness of heart disease among Muslim communities during Ramadan.

"This period provides a great opportunity to encourage Muslims to adopt a healthy lifestyle and encourage them to make positive changes.

"Every year our smoking quit rate has gone up during Ramadan and, thanks to the support of the imams and community representatives, we hope to make a real difference this year too."

Messages about the stop smoking groups are given out by imams after prayers. People can then speak to NHS advisors at the mosque about joining a group or find out what other help is on offer.

To make an appointment with a stop smoking advisor, or to find out how they can help, people can call 01274 202793 or text the word quita to 88020 and an adviser will call back.