With substantial support from smoke-free legislation recently signed by Governor Blanco, SB 742, the Louisiana Rural Health Association (LRHA) is spreading its secondhand smoke prevention message further with phase two of its Operation Against Smoking/Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (OASIS) Initiative.

For the past year, OASIS Project Coordinator Michael Calabro worked primarily with rural hospitals and initiated smoke-free policies on 31 campuses. Phase two involves the association’s many rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers.

OASIS began in June 2005 with a partnership grant from The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free-Living (TFL) that will last through July 2008. As one of only five statewide grantees, LRHA is seeking to decrease the effects of habitual smoking and second-hand smoke by encouraging rural hospitals, clinics, and federally qualified health centers to establish smoke-free campuses in the 29 parishes known as the “Delta Parishes.”