Public health groups applaud GOI for banning of sale of tobacco products and spitting while urging people to quit tobacco*

Guwahati, April 29: Public health experts have welcomed the timely move by Government of India to ban the use of tobacco products and spitting in public places with the aim to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued directions to all states and union territories, to prohibit the use and spitting of chewing  tobacco products  in public places to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Chewing tobacco products like gutka,khaini, paan masala and areca nut (supari) increases the production of saliva leading to the urge to spit. Spitting in public places can enhance the spread of the COVID-19 virus.  Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also appealed to Indians to not consume and spit smokeless tobacco products in public places to check the spread of the COVID19 virus.

 

Over 20 states & 3 Union Territories have already banned the use of smokeless tobacco products and spitting in public places during the COVID-19 epidemic. States of Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Tripura, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, are penalizing violators for  

We applaud to Government of India for taking timely step for imposing a ban on the sale of tobacco products and spitting in public places to prevent & control the spread of COVID 19 virus, said *Advocate Ajoy Hazarika, Secretary, Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum, Assam* . To protect their health and reduce their risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms, we urge all smokers and tobacco users to quit, especially at this critical time.

There is conclusive evidence that smoking increases the risk for respiratory infections, weakens the immune system and is a major cause of a number of chronic health conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease and diabetes. In addition, there is growing evidence that vaping can also harm lung health. These factors put smokers, and in all likelihood vapers, at greater risk when confronted with COVID-19. Smokers and vapers looking to protect them from COVID-19 should make every effort to quit at this time as research has shown that quitting smoking rapidly improves lung function.

“There is growing evidence that smoking is a risk for Covid 19. Smoking worsens lung function and reduces immunity. Smokers who develop Covid 19 infection have more complications and greater risk of fatality. Even if a person is not affected by Covid, it is a good time to stop smoking. This improves immunity and can improve lung function within a few months. Apart from reducing risks from Covid, there are many other benefits on the lungs, heart and other parts of the body”, *Dr.Srabana Misra Bhagabaty, Associate Professor cum in-charge dept. of Preventive Oncology, Dr.B.Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati* . 

Tobacco users keen to quit smoking and smokeless products, can avail of free of charge telephone based quit line services launched by government of India.  The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India has set up a National Tobacco Quit Line Services to provide counselling services to help smokers and tobacco consumers to quit.  NTQLS is designed to help tobacco users  to quit the addiction by answering their queries, setting a quit date, formulating a personalised quit plan, and follow u-up through a dedicated toll-free number (1800-11-2356)  that can be reached Tuesday to Sunday between 8am to 8pm.  It offers free of charge confidential, personalised and tailored support by trained tobacco counsellors in English, Hindi and regional languages. Regional Centre of Tobacco Quit Line Service under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at Dr.B.Barooah Cancer Institute is catering to the need of entire North-East, Orissa and West Bengal.

Tobacco users can also avail of m-cessation -an initiative by MoHFW for utilising mobile technology for tobacco cessation. Tobacco users can register by giving a missed call to a national number (011-22901701) to avail support for quitting through constant text messaging on their mobile phones. This service uses two-way messaging between the individual seeking to quit tobacco use and experts who provide them advice and information through sms or interactive voice response in 12 languages.