Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has appealed to governments to improve access of diagnosing tobacco dependence services and help people quit the habit.
The WHO insisted that such services should be included as an integral component in national health and education programmes, plans and strategies.
The organisation’s plea comes as the world commemorates the ‘World No Tobacco Day’ today.
“I call on governments to improve access to these services, using a combination of approaches, such as toll-free quit lines, nicotine replacement therapy (such as gum, patches, sprays and other products), and digital solutions to empower people to quit,” WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, stated.
Dr Moeti advised that those interventions can be phased in where resources are limited. “Let’s support people with the tools and resources needed to successfully quit and to reduce the demand for tobacco.
This will save lives, save money and create healthier societies,” he emphasized. He added that the WHO has remained committed to supporting Member States to meet their obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
These include the development and implementation of programmes to promote quitting tobacco in schools, universities, health facilities, workplaces and sporting environments. Services to diagnose tobacco dependence and help people quit.
This year the international community commemorates World No Tobacco Day to remind everyone that tobacco kills half of its users.
Every year, around 1.2 million non-smokers die from exposure to tobacco smoke. Tobacco use harms nearly every organ in the human body. Even smoking one cigarette a day can seriously harm a person’s health.
Tobacco use can lead to lung, mouth, throat, oesophagus, stomach, bowel and other cancers. It increases the risk of chest and lung infections, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other conditions. There is no safe form of tobacco.
The theme this year is “Commit to quit because the choice to stop tobacco use is in our hands”.
Millions of people have been motivated to quit tobacco during the Covid-19 pandemic because of evidence showing tobacco smoking impairs lung function, making it harder for the body to fight off coronaviruses and other diseases.
Of the 1.3 billion tobacco users globally, 60 per cent have expressed the desire to quit but only 30 per cent have access to the tools to do so successfully.
More than 75 million people in the African Region use some form of tobacco.
