Want to stop smoking? Try these 'quit friendly’ tools and programmes from WHO and CANSA

• Smoking cessation programmes, including online ones, are successful in helping people to quit
• Quitting was discussed in a webinar on World No Tobacco Day 2021 
• During the webinar, deputy MoH, Dr Joe Phaala, said that the government is moving ahead with new smoking laws

The number of smokers has reached an all-time high of 1.1 billion. In 2019, the habit was responsible for the death of nearly eight million people, a study published in The Lancet last week. The results were based on examining smoking trends in 204 countries, including South Africa.

Quitting smoking is a difficult and complex process, and in many countries, the lack of adequate cessation programmes makes it even more challenging. In the context of Covid-19, it is more important than ever as evidence indicates that smokers are more likely to develop severe Covid-19 than non-smokers.

As part of the global theme of World No Tobacco Day 2021, Commit to Quit, a panel of speakers from the National Department of Health; the World Health Organization (WHO); civil society; and medical and nursing organisations, discussed what is being done to turn the tide on the harm done by tobacco in South Africa. 

Dr Sharon Nyatsanza, project and communications manager at the National Council Against Smoking, University of Witwatersrand, discussed two online cessation smoking programmes – one launched by the WHO and the other by CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa) – currently used by people locally and all over the world. 

Currently, evidence-based cessation approaches recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) include calling a quitline; accessing nicotine replacement therapies; and support in the form of counselling and cessation programmes. 

Meet Florence

If you don’t want to talk to someone physically, you can use online help to stop smoking. The WHO launched “Meet Florence*” in 2020, their virtual “digital health worker”. Using artificial intelligence, Florence comes up with personalised advice to help you quit smoking. 

"After a short conversation via video or text, Florence can help you build your confidence to quit smoking, make a plan, and recommend toll-free quitlines or apps."

Strengthening support

According to Nyatsanza, available data suggests that 21.5% of South Africans use tobacco products, but that 70% want to quit. 

“Because nicotine is addictive, many of them struggle to quit,” she said. “So we need to keep strengthening cessation support because it’s been proven to increase the quit successes.”

The EX Plan by BecomeAnEX®, a free digital quit-smoking programme developed by Truth Initiative® in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, for example, has been found to quadruple a smoker’s chance of quitting.

It is also much more effective than the “cold turkey” method, where smokers who attempt to quit do so without support, counselling, or medications. A “quit-friendly environment” that gives people the skills to control their behaviour while providing a supportive environment should be the focus, among other tools, said Nyatsanza.

eKick Butt programme

More locally, CANSA has a free-to-use eKick Butt online smoking cessation programme that gives people, through a series of emails, surveys and downloads, guidance and mentorship as they quit smoking, helping to make non-smoking a lifelong habit. 

According to the website, the programme supplies users with a series of handy tools that have been tried and tested to help them quit for good. 

The organisation has some evidence to show that their programme has been successful in helping smokers to quit.

National quitline

South Africa’s national quitline offers people the chance to quit smoking via a telephone call. Smokers are given information, advice, and help in quitting, explained Nyatsanza. In-depth counselling is also provided by a cessation expert whenever it is needed.

The number is 011 720 3145, which is printed on every cigarette package. There is also a 30-day support system available via the WhatsApp line (072 766  4812).

“We have seen that it actually does work in motivating people to quit,” said Nyatsanza. “It’s a very valuable service.” The quitline, however, doesn’t give medical advice, nor does it provide callers with cessation medication. 

New tobacco control dashboard

The webinar included the launch of a new Tobacco Control dashboard, the first of its kind for Africa, that gives information on a number of topics and provides access to reliable data, including on the health implications of tobacco, the prevalence of smoking in South Africa, the number of smokers at risk of disease, and the most effective policies to encourage people to quit tobacco and e-cigarettes, explained Megan Little. 

“It would be useful for policymakers, healthcare practitioners, academics, civil society, and the public,” she said. The website will be regularly updated. 

Government to go ahead with Bill

Deputy minister of health, Dr Joe Phaala, said that the department of health is moving ahead with the Control of Tobacco and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, which will introduce new smoking laws for South Africa. It has been waiting to become law since 2018, notes a News24 article.

The Bill requires, among other factors, any enclosed public area to be 100% smoke-free and will provide protection for South Africans who are involuntarily exposed to second-hand smoke. 

According to Dr Angelique Coetzee, chairperson of the South African Medical Association (SAMA), second-hand smoke contains more than 4 000 chemicals, including more than 50 carcinogens and many other toxins which cause lung cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses in non-smokers.

“We are not pulling back on the legislative process,” said Phaala. “In South Africa, we have an obligation to implement the WHO framework convention on tobacco control because we are also a party to this.”

The government is committed to tabling the bill, he added. “The state law advisors have given us the go-ahead to present this Bill to Cabinet, after which it will be introduced to Parliament. Unfortunately, like many other plans, the process of this Bill was hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic … But we are now in the process of catching up and this process should be on course very soon. 

“As government, we are committed to do our part in spearheading further regulatory and advocacy interventions in the campaign to stop smoking,” said Phaala. 

Lynn Moeng, Director at the Department of Health, said that the department’s aim is to ensure that the Bill reaches Cabinet during this financial year.

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READ | Between 750 000 and 1m in SA quit smoking during cigarette sales ban – 'a big win', says expert