New Delhi, Jun 1 : A new national mass media campaign highlights multiple benefits of quitting tobacco and brings to fore the heightened risk of COVID-19 for tobacco users.

To mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), global health organisation Vital Strategies and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday launched the national mass media campaign to encourage tobacco users to quit tobacco use.

The campaign, ‘When You Quit’ explains how smoking cigarettes or ‘bidi’ can cause heart attack and may also increase the risk of severe COVID-19.

Dr Roderico H Ofrin, WHO Representative to India said, ‘This year’s theme for WNTD ‘Commit to Quit’ aims to support 100 million people worldwide in their attempts to give up tobacco through various initiatives. We all must help create healthier environments that are conducive to quitting tobacco use.’

In a statement, Vaishakhi Mallik, Associate Director, Vital Strategies said, ‘We’re proud to collaborate

with the WHO in scaling up the fight against the tobacco epidemic with the Government of India through the launch of this campaign.'(UNI)