The World Health Organisation (WHO), released a statement on Saturday stating that smokers are 5 percent more at risk of developing severe diseases or death from a COVID-19 infection. They also have an added risk of cancer, respiratory and heart diseases in the future.
“We urge all countries to play their part by joining the WHO campaign and creating tobacco-free environments that give people the information, support, and tools they need to quit and quit for good,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of WHO.
Tobacco is also notorious for increasing chances of blood clots, several types of cancers, artery disease, poor blood supply. It also causes lung diseases like COPD, bronchitis, asthma, and lung damage.
All about WHO’s ‘commit to quit tobacco’ campaign
WHO also released a campaign called ‘commit to quit tobacco’ to help people quit tobacco, as a part of World No Tobacco Day 2021. The campaign supports millions of tobacco users and victims who are trying to quit it and live a better life. However, at the moment only 30 percent of the population has access to resources. For this reason, the website now provides a toolkit for free. If you’re looking to quit tobacco, this is the place to start.
Not Just the WHO, other countries are joining hands
Several countries have been trying to reduce tobacco consumption among youth and the older generation. The Tobacco Control Research Group in the UK works to expose industries and deal with or weaken tobacco control. Dr. Harsha Vardhan in India was instrumental in banning E-cigarettes and other heated tobacco products.
Hence, WHO is working with 29 other countries by releasing new digital tools, engaging youth, making quitting courses available opening new cessation clinics, establishing national toll-free help lines, etc. They are also running national awareness campaigns, revising policies, training health workers and, supporting nicotine replacement therapies through WHO partners.