New Delhi, Feb 15 (Representative) The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday launched a mobile application ‘Quit Tobacco App’ to help people give up the use of tobacco in all forms including smokeless and other newer products. Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region, while launching the app, said that Tobacco is deadly in every form and innovative approaches such as this app are much-needed to support people giving up the substance. “Innovative approaches such as this app are much-needed to support people give up the substance, which they may be aware is harmful, but are unable to quit for various reasons,” she added.
The app, the first such by WHO, and the first that targets all forms of tobacco, helps users to identify the triggers, set their targets, manage cravings, and stay focused to quit tobacco, the UN agency said in a statement. According to the estimates, 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, the UN agency said. 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, it added.