Every year, about 40 thousand people die from diseases related to smoking.

On the morning of May 29, in Vinh city, the Department of Health coordinated with the Provincial Steering Committee for Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control to organize a rally in response to "World No Tobacco Day May 31 and National No Tobacco Week May 25-31" in 2020.

Attending the ceremony were representatives of provincial departments, branches and sectors; members of the Provincial Steering Committee for Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control; leaders of Vinh city; representatives of medical units and facilities and a large number of members of the Veterans Association, Women's Union, Youth Union of wards and communes in Vinh city. Photo: Cong Kien

According to the results of the global survey on tobacco use among adults, Vietnam is among the 15 countries with the highest number of smokers in the world. The smoking rate among men aged 15 and over is 47.4%, among women is 1.4%, and among adults in general is 23.8%. This means that currently there are about 15.3 million adults in Vietnam who are smoking, on average 1 in 2 men smokes.

Distributing propaganda materials and measures to prevent and combat the harmful effects of tobacco. Photo: Cong Kien

Every year, about 6 million people die worldwide from smoking, and more than 200,000 die from regularly inhaling cigarette smoke. In Vietnam alone, about 40,000 people die each year from smoking-related diseases, not to mention the significant harm to 70% of women and 50% of children from inhaling cigarette smoke.

To limit the harmful effects of tobacco on local people, Nghe An province has paid attention to implementing the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms. In particular, promoting communication and propaganda on mass media, direct communication, organizing training to improve capacity and knowledge and regularly inspecting and checking the implementation.

Illustration photo.

At the rally, with the theme “Protecting youth from the impact of tobacco advertising and tobacco use”, representatives of specialized departments of the Department of Health and leaders of several hospitals specifically stated the harmful effects of tobacco on human health.

In particular, tobacco is the main cause of lung cancer; sudden infant death syndrome; risk of miscarriage for pregnant women. In addition, smoking also increases the risk of heart disease, vascular disease, lung disease and affects the family economy.

Comrade Dau Huy Hoan - Deputy Director of the Department of Health, Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Tobacco Harm Prevention launched the response to "World No Tobacco Day May 31 and National No Tobacco Week May 25 - 31" in 2020. Photo: Cong Kien

Launching the response to "World No Tobacco Day May 31 and National No Tobacco Week from May 25 to 31" in 2020, Dr. Dau Huy Hoan - Deputy Director of the Department of Health, Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control affirmed that in order to control and quit smoking, in addition to the efforts of smokers themselves, they also need encouragement, care, and sharing from relatives and the community.

Preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco is the responsibility of the whole society. The participation of departments, branches, sectors, socio-political organizations and authorities at all levels in the province determines the success of the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco.

Also at the rally, representatives of Vinh city’s youth promised to seriously implement measures to limit the harmful effects of tobacco. Among them, they will step up propaganda for union members and youth, make a commitment not to use tobacco, and if they are using it, gradually quit.

Parade to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco. Photo: Cong Kien

After the rally, members of the Provincial Steering Committee for Tobacco Harm Prevention, leaders, officials, employees and union members of the Department of Health organized a parade on several streets to promote people's understanding and implementation of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention.