00:00 Cases of tuberculosis or TB in the country continue to rise, according to the health department.
00:05 In 2022, 439 TB cases per 100,000 population was recorded.
00:11 But in the first half of 2023 alone, more than half of it has already been logged.
00:16 This equates to more than 247,000 total TB cases so far this year.
00:21 Smoking increases the chances of developing cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, including tuberculosis.
00:27 Experts persistently advise against smoking.
00:30 Data from 2021 shows there are around 13.5 million smokers in the Philippines.
00:35 Dr. Rafi De Rai of the DOH Diseases Prevention and Control Bureau
00:39 shares his success story of how he quit smoking nearly two decades ago.
00:43 "My motivation is my family.
00:45 So every time I smoke, my wife tells me to wash my face, change my clothes, and brush my teeth.
00:53 Because at that time, I didn't know that smoking is bad.
00:56 I avoided people I knew who smoked.
00:58 And after three months, my smell returned, my appetite returned."
01:03 To quit smoking, experts share the following tips.
01:06 Drink water, do deep breathing exercises, distract yourself from smoking,
01:10 delay smoking, praying, and calling the DOH quitline.
01:14 They may also visit cessation clinics like in the lung center of the Philippines.
01:18 "We provided nicotine patches for eight weeks for those who have
01:25 expressed the desire to stop smoking.
01:29 More than 50 percent of our callers who used this NRT were able to quit within six months."
01:38 "This has specific milligrams, a constant supply, a small amount,
01:44 just to help the smoker tide over the withdrawal symptoms."
01:48 To recognize those who successfully quit smoking and vaping,
01:52 a Stop and Gain Quit and Win Tobacco Cessation Contest was launched, supported by the DOH.
01:58 Cash prizes from P1,000 to P5,000 await lucky winners.
02:02 They can register in the Google form posted on ASH Philippines' Facebook page
02:06 and consult a cessation staff to verify that they have quit smoking or vaping.
02:11 "This is really a step wherein we will be able to secure
02:16 our health and also reclaiming our control over our lives."
02:22 Katherine Cruz, CNN Philippines
