As Muslims around the world were celebrating the month of Ramadan with prayer, fasting and inward reflection, some public health experts thought it may be an ideal time to help members of the community quit smoking.
During the holy month this year, public health experts from the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center partnered with the Dearborn-based nonprofit ACCESS on a culturally tailored smoking cessation campaign called Yallah Quit. Yallah is Arabic for “Let’s go!”
“Along with abstinence from eating and drinking during the day, Ramadan is a period when Muslims also refrain from smoking — so we’d like to help translate that energy and effort into a positive, long-term health benefit,” said Ken Resnicow, Ph.D., professor of health behavior and health education at the U-M School of Public Health and associate director for Community Outreach, Engagement & Health Disparities at the Rogel Cancer Center.