Bila Muuji Smoking Cessation Project - August 2010

Funded by Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA), through the Indigenous Tobacco Control Initiative (ITCI), to assist Indigenous Communities in Smoking Cessation activities.

Aim of the Project

The aim of the Bila Muuji Smoking Cessation Project (BMSCP) is to improve the health of Aboriginal people by reducing the prevalence of cigarette smoking in Aboriginal communities. The Bila Muuji Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service locations are Brewarrina, Bourke, Balranald, Cobar, Coonamble, Dareton, Dubbo, Gongolgon, Orange, Walgett and Wellington in the Greater Western Areas of New South Wales.

The Bila Muuji Smoking Cessation Project promotes smoke free messages, informs smokers of the dangers of smoking, and provide an intensive treatment clinic at the nine indentified Bila Muuji locations, this service is provided to the Bila Muuji ACCHS members, staff and their communities.

Summary

The Bila Muuji Smoking Cessation Project is up and running, and as can be expected there will be peripheral changes and adjustments to cater locally to the clinic delivery, to realize best possible clinical practice.

The work in communities with the Smoking Cessation Advisors (SCA) will start in the next term as the SCA’s get a holistic view of smoking cessation, and develop the confidence to approach the community, with an informed view of the harmful effects of smoking, the smoking cessation methodologies available to the community, and the skill to convert interest in giving up the smokes, to joining the 12 week program at the BM ACCHS.

In this short period of clinic delivery (2 weeks to 4 weeks in some cases), the clinic now caters to 24 BM ACCHS Staff on the program, 55 community members on the program, and has a waiting list of 36 clients, with the very early encouraging results of 3 patients having quit and many showing a marked reduction in carbon monoxide readings (harm reduction), since joining the clinic.

The BMSCP has a workforce (including the Auspice Agency and staff), that is dedicated to delivering the BMSCP as per the Project Plan, and has the enthusiasm, drive, and tenacity required to deliver a clinic in sometimes trying conditions in rural and remote areas of NSW.