Category Archives: AFTNews

Powerful Cleverin arrives in Malaysia

Small yet powerful.

It is said that good things comes in small packages. Cleverin is a unique anti-viral and bactericidal product that has been proven to remove 99% of airborne viruses and bacteria by harnessing the power of Chlorine Dioxide, or Clo2.

The product is the brainchild of Taiko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. based in Osaka, Japan. The company itself has been around for more than 70 years and has expertise in various business segments related to consumer pharmacology.

A recent report by Taiko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., which elucidated the mechanism by which Chlorine Dioxide molecules block infection by the COVID-19 (SARS CoV 2) virus in the human body, was published in the English academic journal, Annals of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics, under the title “Inhibition of the Binding of Spike Protein of SARS CoV 2 Coronavirus to Human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 by Chloride Dioxide” (2020, Volume 5, Issue 5, Article 1195).

Cleverin is already available in 8 countries with expansion plans to the rest of Asia Pacific, Europe, including Russia, Mexico, Brazil and the US. A quick search on the internet finds that the product is also already available in Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore and the Philippines on top of its home market in Japan, of course.

Speaking at the virtual launch of the Malaysian market, Senior Vice President of Overseas Business of Taiko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsuhiro Yamashita, began his address by greeting the media in fluent Indonesian.

“We are pleased to introduce the Cleverin brand to the Malaysian market. We are confident that the brand will be met positively by Malaysians, as all households here will truly benefit from this all-in-one disinfector, steriliser, deodoriser and virus eliminator. Currently, we hold more than 130 relevant patents in the world and have seen annual sales in excess of USD 95 million. In fact, Cleverin is the best-selling product of its kind in Japan, where one Cleverin product is sold every five seconds1. These factors, in themselves, bear testament to Cleverin’s efficacy, which is backed by science and extensive research,” said Yamashita.

Cleverin is also proven to be as safe as it is effective. All its products are made with materials which have passed stringent safety procedures and tests in Japan and around the world. Cleverin products are also non-toxic to humans, and can safely be used around children, pets and elderly. The products’ safety and efficacy are also attested by its endorsement by various clinics, health professionals and governments, further lending credibility to Cleverin’s authenticity.

In Malaysia, Cleverin is available in two types – the stand-type Gel and the Stick Pen Type.

The stand-up Cleverin Gel is ideal for use in rooms and enclosed spaces with no power supply required for use. The Cleverin Gel is available in two sizes – 60 grams (RM58), which is able to disinfect a room of up to 13 square metres and lasts up to a month; and 150 grams (RM98) which is ideal for rooms of up to 20 square metres and lasts up to two months.

Meanwhile, the Cleverin Stick Pen Type is designed to be a more mobile and portable device, which can be used just about anywhere – even in the user’s own shirt pocket to remove viruses and bacteria in the surrounding air. The Cleverin Stick Pen is available in a single pack (RM49) which comes with two refills and each refill can last for about two weeks. Also available are refill packs (RM48) which contain six refills each.

Both the Cleverin Gel and Cleverin Stick Pen Type are easy to use anywhere – in the home, at the office, as well as in schools, hospitals, restaurants – just about everywhere.

The Cleverin range is now available online via Lazada and Shopee and will expand the distribution to retail outlets in Malaysia in 2021. Meanwhile, the rest of the world will just have to wait until Cleverin arrives on their shores.

1 Sales data from April 2019 to March 2020.

WHO launches year-long campaign to help 100 million people quit tobacco

WHO today launches a year-long global campaign for World No Tobacco Day 2021 – “Commit to Quit.”  The new WHO Quit Challenge on WhatsApp and publication “More than 100 reasons to quit tobacco” are being released today to mark the start of the campaign.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of tobacco users saying they want to quit. The campaign will support at least 100 million people as they try to give up tobacco through communities of quitters. 

“Commit to Quit”  will help create healthier environments that are conducive to quitting tobacco by advocating for strong tobacco cessation policies; increasing access to cessation services; raising awareness of tobacco industry tactics, and empowering tobacco users to make successful quit attempts through “quit & win” initiatives. 

WHO, together with partners, will create and build-up digital communities where people can find the social support they need to quit. The focus will be on high burden countries* where the majority of the world’s tobacco users live.

WHO welcomes new contributions from partners, including private sector companies that have offered support, including Allen Carr’s Easyway, Amazon Web Services, Cipla, Facebook and WhatsApp, Google, Johnson & Johnson, Praekelt, and Soul Machines. 

Quitting tobacco is challenging, especially with the added social and economic stresses that have come as a result of the pandemic. Worldwide around 780 million people say they want to quit, but only 30% of them have access to the tools that can help them do so. Together with partners, WHO will provide people with the tools and resources they need to make a successful quit attempt.

“Smoking kills 8 million people a year, but if users need more motivation to kick the habit, the pandemic provides the right incentive,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

WHO released a scientific brief earlier this year showing that smokers are at higher risk of developing severe disease and death from COVID-19. Tobacco is also a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease and diabetes. Moreover, people living with these conditions are more vulnerable to severe COVID-19.

Both global and regional cessation tools will be rolled out as part of the campaign. WHO’s 24/7 digital health worker to help people quit tobacco is available in English and will soon be released to support people in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish. 

“Millions of people worldwide want to quit tobacco – we must seize this opportunity and invest in services to help them be successful, while we urge everyone to divest from the tobacco industry and their interests,” said Dr Ruediger Krech, Director of Health Promotion. 

To create environments conducive to quitting tobacco, WHO has worked with partners and countries around the globe to implement tobacco control measures that effectively reduce the demand for tobacco. 

WHO calls on all governments to ensure their citizens have access to brief advice, toll-free quit lines, mobile and digital cessation services, nicotine replacement therapies and other tools that are proven to help people quit. Strong cessation services improve health, save lives and save money.  

More than 100 reasons to quit tobacco: https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/more-than-100-reasons-to-quit-tobacco/

Digital Health Worker: https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/using-ai-to-quit-tobacco

WHO Quit Challenge on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/41798931892?text=tobacco

#BeActive trends

Regular physical activity is proven to help prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and several cancers. It also helps prevent hypertension, maintain healthy body weight and can improve mental health, quality of life and well-being. 

Physical activity refers to all movement. Popular ways to be active include walking, cycling, wheeling, sports, active recreation and play, and can be done at any level of skill and for enjoyment by everybody. 

Daily recommendation for children & adolescents – WHO 2020

Yet, current global estimates show one in four adults and 81% of adolescents do not do enough physical activity. Furthermore, as countries develop economically, levels of inactivity increase and can be as high as 70%, due to changing transport patterns, increased use of technology for work and recreation, cultural values and increasing sedentary behaviours.

Increased levels of physical inactivity have negative impacts on health systems, the environment, economic development, community well-being and quality of life.

Recommendations for senior adults – WHO 2020
Recommendations for adult seniors – WHO 2020

The WHO Global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030: more active people for a healthier worldprovides a framework of effective and feasible policy actions which can help support, retain and increase physical activity through cross-government and multisectoral partnerships across all settings, as a coordinated and comprehensive response.

World Health Organisation (WHO) has released guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Click here to view more.