TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Commission on Tobacco Control urges smokers to stop their smoking habit as it would help prevent them from contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19). Not only do they remind people about health complications, but they also warn that the risk of contracting the virus is much larger among smokers.

Hasbullah Thabrany, head of the commission on Tuesday’s ‘open letter to the President’ video conference declares that the group has agreed to support the government’s initiative in controlling the spread of COVID-19.

“On how the virus spreads, I surely hope the government acknowledges this. Because if not, our medical healthcare workers will eventually be overwhelmed,” said Hasbullah on Tuesday, April 28.

During the conference, Hasbullah presents data that shows Indonesia’s smoking prevalence is the highest in Southeast Asia with 33 percent, which he says comes from the financially poor demographic that still relies on social assistance from the government during the large-scale social restriction (PSBB).

“Don’t let your smoking habit be an added burden towards the government,” said Thabrany, who is also a graduate of the University of Indonesia (UI) Faculty of Medicine.

Moreover, he highly urges the government to ban cigarette ads, impose stricter rules to establish more smoking-free areas and every other measure to help people stop the habit of smoking.

“The more people get ill the larger the cost will be to accommodate them,” he said.

The Indonesian Public Health Experts Association (IAKMI) Chairman, Ede Surya Darmawan, also encourages society to prioritize their fulfillment for basic needs before thinking to spend on cigarettes, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Don’t burn money to purchase tobacco amid the crisis. There are much more that is important than buying cigarettes,” said Darmawan.

MOH KHORY ALFARIZI