55 of Mumbai's BEST employees quit smoking on the eve of 'world no tobacco day'

Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has recently carried out a counselling program for its employees in order to assess the magnitude of their addiction to tobacco and help them quit the harmful habit of consuming tobacco by teaching its hazards and the significance of living a healthy smoke-free life. There are 25 depots in the city of Mumbai and BEST ensured that all the employees, from across the 25 depots, had access to this counselling program.

On this eve of 'World No Tobacco Day', 55 employees of BEST are reported to have successfully kicked the habit. According to a report by Mumbai Mirror, out of 83 participants, 64 (77.1 percent) completed the full 12-week 2-baconil patch therapy, from which 52 of 64 (81.3 percent) participants quit tobacco consumption. Additionally, three participants did not complete the full 12-week therapy but have still quit tobacco after completing one to two months of patch therapy.

At a recently conducted event at the Wadala depot of Mumbai, 100 of BEST employees were recognised and felicitated for having successfully quit the habit and a 100 more were honoured for making contributions to the tobacco-free BEST campaign and making it a big success.

In an interview with The Hindu, Bhoir, an employee of BEST said,

I do not remember how I got used to it and what harm it was causing me until I enrolled for the tobacco-free BEST campaign on 1st February.

Pleased with the results, the Chief Medical Officer at BEST told Mumbai Mirror,

BEST takes utmost care to maintain health of the employees at an optimal level. For that, Medical department of BEST undertakes various health promotion activities like 'Tobacco-free BEST' Campaign. Till last year we had around 500 BEST employees that had given up their tobacco addiction, now around 1500 employees are added to this list. We have another 100 to add to this tally.

Rusan Pharma, a prominent Pharmaceutical firm was promoting the 'Tumbaku Mukt BEST' campaign last year by providing tobacco cessation services to 83 BEST employees and assist them with kicking the habit. Managing Director of Rusan Pharma, Mr. Kunal Saxena, told Mumbai Mirror,

BEST buses are the city's second life line, BEST employees are responsible for ensuring safe, secure, and timely public transport for the entire MMR and providing continued power supply to South Mumbai. Hence it is important for them to stay fit, healthy, and focused at all times.

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