Naju-si Conducts 'Non-Face-to-Face Smoking Cessation Clinic' for Health Promotion

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Kang In-gyu) announced on the 22nd that it will implement a 'non-face-to-face smoking cessation service' to prevent COVID-19 and promote residents' health.

The city provides a 'non-face-to-face remote smoking cessation clinic' including telephone counseling and management for smokers classified as high-risk groups for COVID-19, as well as delivery of smoking cessation aids.

Previously, smoking cessation clinics were conducted through direct visits to public health centers, but to prevent the spread of COVID-19, anyone can now receive non-face-to-face smoking cessation services via phone consultation.

Eligible participants can receive necessary aids (gum, patches) for smoking cessation at home, and those who succeed in quitting smoking for six months will be given a separate commemorative gift.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare explains that smoking is identified as a factor that increases the probability of COVID-19 infection, as cigarettes and fingers come into contact with the mouth during smoking, increasing the chance of the virus entering the respiratory tract.

Additionally, toxic substances inhaled into the body damage cardiovascular, lung, and immune functions, raising the likelihood of infection.

Recent domestic and international papers and research results show that nicotine contained in cigarettes increases the virus receptor (angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE2) necessary for COVID-19 to penetrate the human body, resulting in about a 14-fold increase in infection risk compared to non-smokers.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters also includes smoking as a risk factor for COVID-19.

Kim Young-sik, head of the public health center, said, “The non-face-to-face smoking cessation service is a shortcut to protecting the health of smokers included in the high-risk group for COVID-19 as well as their family members,” and added, “We ask for your great interest and participation.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.