The European Commission’s ‘Ex-Smokers are Unstoppable’ campaign has teamed up with National Health Promotion Unit for a series of activities this year, to provide information about the importance and benefits of quitting smoking.
On 16 July, the ‘Ex-Smokers are Unstoppable’ campaign and the Health Promotion Unit were present at the Arrivals Lounge of the Malta International Airport to help passengers passing through remain smoke-free even after the duration of their flight and kick the habit for good. Thousands of passengers had the opportunity to receive campaign information related to the benefits of quitting smoking.
Smoking is one of the primary causes of cancer mortality in Europe and according to a study by Professor Carlo La Vecchia from the University of Milan, in 2015 lung cancer is set to become the main cause of cancer mortality in Europe. Recent information released in Parliament also confirmed that in Malta, 439 persons died out of smoking related diseases last year.
Anne Buttigieg. Assistant Principal and Certified Smoking Cessation Practitioner working at the Health Promotion Unit said that “when a smoker becomes an ex-smoker he or she achieves something remarkable. The personal benefits are numerous: better health, better looks, more money and a boost in self-confidence. The effect on society (lower health care costs, stronger economy, etc.) is also huge.
This campaign is a celebration of the ex-smoker, as a proud and unstoppable role model for those who have yet to quit. This has been proved by a number of Maltese who also managed to quit smoking thanks to the campaign and iCoach. Almost 1 in 200 Maltese smokers is using iCoach to quit smoking.
iCoach is an innovative online digital health coaching platform that helps individuals stop smoking. Digital coaching, or the process of behavioural change in an online environment, is based on pioneering research, practical clinical experience, and the expertise of psychologists and communication experts. The platform, which is free of charge, is available in 23 official EU languages. iCoach has been proven effective. The reported quit rate for people signing up to iCoach in Malta is 42 per cent which is the proportion of people who classed themselves as a non-smoker after 3 months on the programme. iCoach is not just intended for those who want to quit smoking. It also aims to inform those who are not yet ready to stub out their last cigarette. This makes iCoach unique.