WHO & DOH Stop Smoke Program: opens “Quit Line” for Filipinos who wish to stop smoking

"Quitline is a phone and mobile-centered support service under the Stop Smoke Program of the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Those who want to join the program can register through their mobile phones by texting “STOPSMOKE” to 09290165364.
They will receive a computer-generated instruction which they need to follow and answer a few questions
After completing the registration, the sender will receive a daily text message from Quitline.
Another way to join the program is by calling  165-364.
A quitter can talk to an operator from the Lung Center who will advise him or her on how to quit smoking.
DOH Sec. Paulyn Ubial said, “This particular strategy has long been proven in other countries so we are evidence based in terms of how we moved the tobacco agenda forward off course it is more successful if it is done in conglomeration with other strategies.”
DOH says, the Quitline will greatly help lessen the number of smokers in the country.
Based on data, 30% of Filipinos quit smoking in 2009, and the figure declined by 6% in 2015.
That 6% is translated to more than 1 million cigarette smokers in the country.
Quitline is free and is operational 24/7.
“Our face to face counseling and services are free in government hospitals, we now have a network in all NCR and hopefully Lung Center will start training other LGU’s as well as DOH hospitals,” Ubial added.
Emer Rojas has quit smoking a few years ago. He admits it is not easy to quit smoking.
But with free services that the government provides, it will now be easier for smokers to quit.
“The success rate of quitters is low but it is much better because we have Quitline, this will help Filipinos quit smoking,” New Vois Association Pres. Emer Rojas said.
The Health Department is aiming to lower the percentage of cigarette smokers in the country by 15% in 2022. – Mon Jocson | UNTV News and Rescue

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