World Health Organization (WHO) Launched App Quit Tobacco
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World Health Organization (WHO) Launched App Quit Tobacco
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday launched ‘Quit Tobacco App’ to help people kick the cigarette butt and give up the use of tobacco in all forms – including smokeless and other newer products.
Use 2000-2025, WHO South-East Asia region recorded the fastest decline in tobacco use but continued to have the highest 432 million tobacco users, or 29% of its population. The region has 266 million smokeless tobacco users of the 355 million globally.
The region has expanded tobacco surveillance to monitor tobacco use prevalence and tobacco control policies. Thailand was the first in Asia to implement Plain Packaging. Timor-Leste, Nepal, Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka have implemented large-sized graphic health warnings on tobacco packs. Six countries have banned ENDS (electronic cigarettes). Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka are working towards moving tobacco farmers away from growing tobacco. Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste have established and scaled-up tobacco cessation services.
The 'WHO Quit Tobacco App', launched during the top health body's year-long 'Commit to quit' campaign, is the latest tobacco control initiative by the its South-East Asia region.
Tobacco is the world's leading cause of preventable death, and kills nearly 8 million persons every year. It claims 1.6 million lives in the WHO South-East Asia Region which is amongst the largest producers and consumers of tobacco products, according to the UN body.
Tobacco use is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCD) including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases and diabetes. Tobacco users are also at higher risk of complication and severe disease in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights:
- World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEAR) has launched a ‘Quit Tobacco App’.
- This application helps people to offer up the utilization of tobacco altogether forms, including smokeless and other newer products.
- The App was launched by Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO-SEAR, during WHO’s year-long ‘Commit to quit’ campaign, which is the latest tobacco control initiative by the WHO South-East Asia Region.
- The app, the primary such by WHO, and therefore the first that targets all sorts of tobacco, helps users to spot the triggers, set their targets, manage cravings, and stay focused to quit tobacco.
- Tobacco is the world’s leading explanation for preventable death and kills nearly 8 million persons per annum.