In 2025, Nghe An province will organize over 125 direct communication sessions on preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco.
Traditional cigarettes continue to harm people; new-generation cigarettes are infiltrating daily life, especially among young people. In response to this situation, Nghe An province has been intensifying its efforts to raise awareness and prevent the harmful effects of tobacco, with the coordinated participation of all levels, sectors, and localities.
On the morning of December 15th, Hung Nguyen Health Center, in collaboration with Le Hong Phong Secondary School (Hung Nguyen commune), organized the "Golden Bell Challenge - Understanding Knowledge about Preventing and Combating the Harmful Effects of Tobacco" competition. The competition served as a valuable and practical platform to equip students with important knowledge about the harmful effects of tobacco and skills to protect themselves from secondhand smoke.
In his opening remarks at the competition, Dr. Ho Thanh Lam – Deputy Director of Hung Nguyen Medical Center – stated: In recent years, the use of tobacco, especially e-cigarettes, has been on the rise among teenagers and young adults. This causes many serious health consequences, affecting their studies, psychology, and future. Therefore, educating and equipping them with the knowledge and skills to say "no" to tobacco is a shared responsibility of schools, families, and society.
The "Golden Bell Challenge" competition is not only an exciting extracurricular activity but also an opportunity for students to better understand the harmful effects of cigarettes and e-cigarettes; to grasp the legal regulations on preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco; to hone their reasoning skills, quick reflexes, and teamwork spirit; and at the same time, to raise awareness of self-protection of health and build a clean, smoke-free school environment.
The competition took place over one session. Participating students answered 30 questions related to knowledge about preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco. The competition was a great success, creating a healthy and beneficial playground for students to showcase their talents, intelligence, and creativity, while also providing an opportunity for students to exchange knowledge and share their perspectives on the harmful effects of tobacco and how to prevent and combat these effects.
Information from Hung Nguyen Health Center: Following the direction of the Department of Health, in 2025, the unit coordinated with various levels, sectors, and schools in the area to organize two "Golden Bell" quiz competitions and four direct communication sessions on tobacco harm prevention. Approximately over 6,000 people participated in these two competitions and four direct communication sessions, gaining knowledge about tobacco harm prevention.
Not only in the former Hung Nguyen district, but at this time, many health centers in the province are actively coordinating with schools to organize direct communication sessions on tobacco harm prevention. For example, the Dien Chau Health Center has organized 10 direct communication sessions for students in 10 schools in the area (formerly Dien Chau district). The content of the communication focused on the immeasurable harms of traditional cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and especially e-cigarettes.
Since the beginning of the year, the entire province has organized over 13,000 awareness campaigns on tobacco harm prevention and control through the public address systems of communes and wards; 8 "Golden Bell" quiz competitions and over 125 direct communication sessions on tobacco harm prevention and control; and produced hundreds of articles published in provincial newspapers and media outlets.
Nghe An Department of Health – Standing Agency of the Provincial Steering Committee for Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control
Pharmacist Tran Minh Tue - Deputy Director of the Nghe An Department of Health, and Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Steering Committee for Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control, stated: In implementing the National Strategy on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control until 2030, the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued Plan 861/KH-UBND dated November 14, 2023, setting the following goals for the 2023-2025 period: Reduce the rate of tobacco use among men over 15 years old to below 39%, and among women to below 1.4%; Reduce the rate of passive exposure to tobacco smoke in workplaces, restaurants, bars, and hotels to the lowest possible level; and completely prevent the use of e-cigarettes, shisha, and heated tobacco products.
The strategic goal and plan is not simply to reduce smoking rates, but more fundamentally to protect children from the harmful effects of the tobacco industry and to build a healthy and safe living environment for everyone. To achieve this, we need to view tobacco harm prevention and control as a regular, long-term task; it requires the joint efforts of every citizen.
At this time, in addition to inspection, examination, and handling of violations, relevant levels, sectors, localities, and units have been strongly involved in propaganda work to raise awareness about preventing and controlling the harmful effects of tobacco, and the regulations of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm... In the coming time, Nghe An will continue to strengthen and promote this work to aim for the goal of "for a smoke-free environment" and "protecting children from the impacts of the tobacco industry" - Pharmacist Tran Minh Tue emphasized.
