By Bisola Adeyemo
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged all countries to play their part in helping tobacco users quit smoking.
It stated quitting is the best thing smokers can do to lower their risk from contracting the coronavirus, as well as the risk of developing cancers, heart disease and respiratory illnesses.
WHO revealed this in a statement on Friday, While launching the campaign, stated that the campaign was currently working directly with 29 focus countries and they agreed on selected activities, Environews reports.
“Each country agreed with WHO on selected activities, including running national awareness campaigns, releasing new digital tools, revising policies, engaging youth, training health workers and opening new cessation clinics.
“Also, supporting nicotine replacement therapies through WHO partners, establishing national toll-free quitlines, making quitting courses available, and more,” said the statement.
“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.”
The statement quoted Rüdiger Krech, WHO’s Director, Health Promotion, as saying, “To help tobacco users to commit to be quitters and winners, we are using digital aids.
“We are using digital aids to release the WHO Quit Challenge chatbot and Artificial Intelligence digital health worker Florence, and making advocacy material available in 30 languages.”