On 28 May, WHO, alongside the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan and the Uzbekistan Medical Students’ Association (UzMSA Phenomenon), launched the “Commit to Quit” nationwide campaign online in association with World No Tobacco Day, with the aim of expanding access to services for those looking to quit tobacco.

Tobacco use causes a significant health burden, killing over 8 million people a year around the world. Seven million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use, with a further 1.2 million non-smokers dying from exposure to second-hand smoke.