Attendance threatens anti-tobacco program

COLUMBUS - The East-Central District Health Department stands strongly behind its motto, "Healthy Moms Make Healthy Babies."

To enforce that motto, the department began in 2003 offering a program to pregnant mothers who smoke, but little interest in the sessions is forcing those at the department to consider scrapping the program.

The department received a $38,000 grant from the state to offer a prenatal tobacco cessation program to pregnant mothers who smoke and to anyone who wants to learn more about smoking and its effects on pregnancy. The program began Jan. 1 and is to last until Dec. 31.

However, if attendance numbers for the sessions remain low, the department will be forced to drop the program in December when the grant expires.

Department Executive Director Rebecca Rayman said the organization is willing to continue the program after the grant expires.

"The health department can choose to continue it if there is enough interest in the community," she said. "If there are enough moms that want to take the class then we would likely offer the class after the year ends."

The program is the only one offered in Platte County and is one of few offered in the state.

Dr. Harry Mueller of Midwest Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, who supports the program, said even pregnant mothers find it hard to stop smoking.

"We'd like to think showing them the risks will stop them from smoking, but some women need more encouragement than that," he said. "There are several steps involved."

Rayman said one of the reasons the program has little interest is because many people do not know it is offered.

The program is free and is offered twice every Wednesday, at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. The hourlong session is more of a discussion forum and is aimed at stopping pregnant women from smoking.

"One reason the program is so important is it is only $38,000," Rayman said. "That's not a whole lot of money. If you have a child that is in a natal intensive care unit, one child can consume anywhere between $100,000 and $200,000 in medical bills. Mothers that smoke are likely to have a premature baby and premature babies consume a lot of care. So if we can prevent one mom from having a premature baby then we've paid for our program."

The program has been able to run despite the state of Nebraska making large cuts to its tobacco prevention programs to help balance the budget shortfall.

"I think they've had to make some difficult legislative decisions this year," Rayman said.

"The difficulty in making budget cuts is that somebody is going to lose. I think what we did is we sold our future because if we don't have a tobacco prevention program that is strong in the community, then kids are going to start smoking, and then in 30 years we are going to pay for that."

Those who take the program are also encouraged to take prenatal classes offered by the department. The classes help prepare mothers and fathers for pregnancy and how to care for the child once born.

Both the prenatal tobacco cessation program and the prenatal classes are run by Jan Noyd, a prenatal educator at the health department.

For more information on the prenatal tobacco cessation program and prenatal classes, contact the East-Central District Health Department at 563-9224.