The Russian Health and Social Development Ministry called on every smoker, who wants to quit the bad habit, to do so on May 31 during the annual international anti-smoking day, RIA Novosti reported.
Russia announced a Perfect Day to Quit Smoking campaign for May 31, the day that coincides with the World Health Organization (WHO) World No Tobacco Day.
This year the WHO decided that the day must focus on "action to protect women and girls against the sickness and suffering caused by tobacco use."
"The trends in some countries are extremely worrisome. Tobacco use is neither liberating nor glamorous. It is addictive and deadly," the official WHO website quoted Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan as saying.
According to WHO reports, more than 60% of Russian men are smokers, and around 400,000 Russians die from smoking-related diseases annually.
The low cost of cigarettes in Russia is a major contributing factor to the trend. A pack of cigarettes that would cost $8 in the United States sells for $1 in Russia and Russian filterless cigarettes cost just 30 cents a pack.
Russian health officials urge tobacco smokers to quit bad habit on May 31
The Russian Health and Social Development Ministry called on every smoker, who wants to quit the bad habit, to do so on May 31 during the annual international anti-smoking day
