A special short course titled ‘HelpQuit’ was launched at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo on 18th July 2026 for the members of the Public Health Nursing Officers’ Association of Sri Lanka, following an invitation from the association. It was organised and coordinated by the Young Professionals’ Alliance for Health (YouPAH), in collaboration with the Centre for Combating Tobacco (CCT).

The six-week training initiative comprises an introductory workshop, two online progress review sessions, and continuous technical support delivered via WhatsApp group discussions. Participants who complete the full course will receive a certificate of completion.

The course is designed to equip public health nursing officers with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to help individuals to quit tobacco. The course explores broader public health perspectives, detailing the health hazards of tobacco use, identifying strategies used by the tobacco industry, and exploring effective methods to counter them in their day-to-day activities.