The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its inaugural guideline on tobacco cessation, which propounds a comprehensive approach to help the over 750 million tobacco users worldwide who wish to quit.

Released on Wednesday, the guideline emphasises the importance of behavioural support from healthcare providers, digital cessation tools, and pharmacological treatments.

It targets adults seeking to quit all forms of tobacco, including cigarettes, waterpipes, smokeless tobacco, cigars, roll-your-own tobacco, and Heated Tobacco Products.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus described the guideline as a significant milestone in the global effort to combat the harmful effects of tobacco products.

He said “This guideline marks a crucial milestone in our global battle against these dangerous products. It empowers countries with the essential tools to effectively support individuals in quitting tobacco and alleviate the global burden of tobacco-related diseases.”

More than 60 percent of the world’s 1.25 billion tobacco users, comprising over 750 million individuals, express a desire to quit, yet 70 percent lack access to effective cessation services.

This gap is attributed to challenges within health systems, including resource constraints.

Dr. Rüdiger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at the World Health Organization (WHO), highlighted, “The immense struggle that people face when trying to quit smoking cannot be overstated. We need to deeply appreciate the strength it takes and the suffering endured by individuals and their loved ones to overcome this addiction.

“These guidelines are designed to help communities and governments provide the best possible support and assistance for those on this challenging journey.”

The World Health Organization emphasized that combining pharmacotherapy with behavioral interventions substantially enhances the success rates of tobacco cessation efforts.

Countries are urged to offer these treatments free of charge or at reduced costs to enhance accessibility, especially in low- and middle-income nations.

WHO recommends varenicline, Nicotine Replacement Therapy, bupropion, and cytisine as effective medications for quitting tobacco.

In 2023, WHO launched a prequalification process for medications treating disorders caused by tobacco use, aiming to broaden global access to recommended tobacco cessation treatments.

In April 2024, Kenvue’s nicotine gum and patch earned the distinction of becoming the first Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products to be WHO-prequalified.

WHO underscores the importance of behavioral interventions, including brief counseling by healthcare providers (ranging from 30 seconds to three minutes) routinely offered in healthcare settings.

They also advocate for more intensive behavioral support, such as individual, group, or phone counseling, for individuals seeking to quit tobacco.

Moreover, digital interventions such as text messaging, smartphone apps, and internet programs can complement these efforts as adjuncts or tools for self-management.

WHO urges healthcare providers, policymakers, and stakeholders to adopt and implement these guidelines to promote tobacco cessation and enhance the health outcomes of millions worldwide.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an alarm over the discovery of counterfeit OHEAL Ampicillin and Cloxacillin Capsules in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Working closely with the Nigeria Police Force, NAFDAC intercepted the falsified drugs, which are typically used to treat bacterial infections affecting the lungs, throat, airways, and skin.

In a statement posted on its official Twitter handle, NAFDAC explained that genuine Ampicillin/Cloxacillin functions by inhibiting bacterial growth and effectively eliminating infection-causing bacteria.

While the counterfeit product was identified in Onitsha, there is concern it may have already entered other parts of the country through informal markets.

NAFDAC stressed the urgent need to identify and remove these falsified drugs from circulation to safeguard public health.

“Though this falsified product was identified in Onitsha, it may likely have been distributed to other parts of the country through informal markets. Consequently, it is important to identify and remove it from circulation to prevent harm to patients,” NAFDAC said.

Importers, distributors, retailers, and healthcare providers have been urged to exercise heightened caution and vigilance throughout the supply chain to prevent the importation, distribution, sale, and use of counterfeit or substandard medicinal products.

NAFDAC emphasized the importance of sourcing all medical products exclusively from authorized and licensed suppliers, with careful verification of product authenticity and condition.

Members of the public who have purchased the falsified OHEAL Ampicillin and Cloxacillin Capsules are advised to immediately cease use and contact NAFDAC for proper handling of their stock.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has called for concerted efforts to provide better care for patients with Sickle Cell Disease in Nigeria.

According to her, Sickle Cell contributing to approximately 376,000 under-5 deaths annually, when compared to 34,400 deaths from other causes, highlight a pressing need for stakeholders to intensify efforts to reverse the trend.

The Presidential Adviser made this call in a statement by her Media Aide, Desmond Utomwen, to commemorate World Sickle Cell Day, with the theme: “Hope Through Progress: Advancing Sickle Cell Care Globally.”

The World Sickle Cell Day is observed on June 19 every year. It is an annual event aimed at raising awareness about sickle cell disease globally.

According to Princess Orelope-Adefulire, a Lancet Haematology publication in August 2023 revealed that globally, between 2000 and 2021, the rate of children born with sickle cell disease increased by 13.7 percent, reaching an average of up to 515,000 babies per annum.

The study also found that sickle cell-specific under-5-mortality was 11 times higher than deaths due to other causes, amounting to approximately 376,000 deaths from sickle cell disease annually, compared to 34,400 deaths from other causes.

She added that in Nigeria, approximately one in four, or 25 percent, of Nigerians carries a sickle cell gene, meaning about 50 million people can transmit the gene to their children. “We must act now to reverse this trend,” she stated.

Princess Orelope-Adefulire further noted that the OSSAP-SDGs has demonstrated commitment by delivering a fully equipped, state-of-the-art Sickle Cell Care Centre at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

She expressed confidence that the Sickle Cell Centre, which was recently commissioned by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other related interventions by OSSAP-SDGs, will contribute to achieving SDG 3.2 on “reducing under-five mortality to 25 per 1,000 live births or less by 2030” as well as other cross-cutting SDGs. This aligns with the cardinal pillars on healthcare and empowerment in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.