New Delhi: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday launched the ‘Quit Tobacco App’ to help people quit tobacco use in all forms, including smokeless and other newer products. 


The ‘WHO Quit Tobacco App’ is the latest tobacco control initiative by the WHO South-East Asia Region. It was launched during WHO’s year-long ‘Commit to quit’ campaign.


Quoting Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region, a statement by the WHO said that tobacco is deadly in every form. She further said that innovative approaches such as the ‘Quit Tobacco App’ are much needed to support people to give up tobacco. These people may be aware of the fact that tobacco is harmful, but are unable to quit for various reasons.


How Does ‘Quit Tobacco App’ Work?


A first-of-its-kind by the WHO, the app targets all forms of tobacco, and helps users identify the triggers, set their targets, manage cravings, and stay focused on quitting tobacco, the WHO said on its website. 


Every year, tobacco, which is the world’s leading cause of preventable death, kills nearly eight million persons. In the WHO South-East Asia Region, tobacco claims 1.6 million lives. This region is amongst the largest producers and consumers of tobacco products. 


Tobacco use is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCD) including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases and diabetes, and puts users at a higher risk of complication and severe disease in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 


Countries, as part of regional flagship to reduce NCD burden, have been accelerating implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and MPOWER package, which is a set of six cost-effective and high impact measures to reduce demand and supply of tobacco and tackle the tobacco epidemic. 


Tobacco Use In The WHO South-East Asia Region


The WHO South-East Asia Region recorded the fastest decline in tobacco use as per the WHO Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Use 2000-2025 (4th edition, 2021). However, the Region continued to have the highest 432 million tobacco users. These users account for 29 per cent of the population in the Region.  


Some additional challenges to tobacco control include the growing use of new and emerging products such as Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) or electronic cigarettes, sheesha or hookah, among others. 


In order to monitor tobacco use prevalence and tobacco control policies, the Region has expanded tobacco surveillance, the WHO said on its website. 


Thailand was the first in Asia to implement Plain Packaging, according to the WHO. Meanwhile, Timor-Leste, Nepal, Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka have implemented large-sized graphic health warnings on tobacco packs.


ENDS or electronic cigarettes have been banned in six countries. Countries such as 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, according to the WHO.