Did you know that based from annual statistics of the World Health Organization, there are five (5) million deaths from using tobacco and tobacco-related disease alone? With the consequences of smoking, the Department of Health is firm on its campaign -- cigarette smoking has no health benefits! To further strengthen the advocacy and public awareness on the observance of World No Tobacco Day, the celebration of National No-Smoking for the month of June in the Philippines was ushered in.
Presidential Proclamation No. 183 s. 1993 signed by the late President Fidel V. Ramos declared the month of June of every year as National No Smoking Month in the country. The law aims to raise the knowledge of the Filipinos on the ill effects of smoking as well as to encourage smokers to give up their habits. There were other laws supporting the Presidential Proclamation No. 183 are being implemented such as the Republic Act No. 10643 or the Graphic Health Warnings Law which is an act to effectively instill health consciousness through graphic health warnings on tobacco products; Republic Act No. 9334 or the Sin Tax Law which stipulates increasing the excise tax rates imposed on alcohol and tobacco products; and Republic Act No. 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Law, an omnibus law regulating smoking in public places, tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and sales restrictions, among other requirements to intensify the advocacy on no smoking in the country.
Studies show that smokers have a higher risk of having severe complications of COVID-19 which can eventually lead to death. Smoking causes the body to experience more difficulty in fighting the COVID-19 virus and other lung complications.
With the 2021 theme for National No Smoking Month entitled Co-op to Quit, let us all join in the campaign. Change begins in you. It will never too late to stop smoking for a better and healthier future!
(AVETP)
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