Central SA
North West Health appeal to smokers: Quit!─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 11:57 Tue, 31 May 2022
The North West Department of Health has urged community members to commit themselves towards quitting smoking, particularly in light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
This came to light during today’s commemoration of “World No Tobacco Day” which was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1897 to sensitise people to dangerous diseases that may be caused by smoking.
North West Health MEC, Madoda Sambatha, says approximately 7 million people aged 15 and older smoked in 2020.
In a statement, Sambatha said South Africans smoke approximately 27 billion cigarettes per year, or an average of 3771 cigarettes per smoker annually.
Sambatha adds scientific research has pointed out that smokers are at a higher risk of developing serious health complications when contracting COVID-19.
He further urged people to guard against pandemic fatigue.
Sambatha said that over 2.2 million vaccines have been administered in the province up-to-date, and appealed to unvaccinated people to show up for vaccines.
According to him, the commemoration of “World No Tobacco Day” will be observed under the theme ‘Protect the environment.’
