Nghe An responds to World No Tobacco Day

On the morning of May 31, the Steering Committee for Tobacco Harm Prevention in Nghe An province organized a rally to respond to World No Tobacco Day on May 31 and "National No Tobacco Week (May 25 - 31, 2022). Attending the event were Mr. Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Tobacco Harm Prevention.

This year, the World Health Organization has chosen the theme “Tobacco - a threat to our environment”. Through this theme, the World Health Organization calls on countries to promote activities to raise public awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use on the environment, and to discourage smoking to limit environmental pollution and health. Measures include banning tobacco marketing and advertising, promoting plain packaging of tobacco products according to common standards, increasing excise taxes on tobacco products, and implementing smoke-free environments in public places and indoor workplaces.

Delegates attending the rally. Photo: Tien Hung

According to WHO, tobacco use is responsible for more than 8 million deaths globally each year. Of these, more than 7 million people die from direct tobacco use and about 1.2 million die from passive smoking. Smoking is also a factor that increases the risk of respiratory infections and increases the severity of respiratory diseases.

At the rally, Mr. Tran Minh Tue - Deputy Director of the Department of Health, Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Tobacco Harm Prevention said that in Nghe An, the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco has achieved many remarkable results. Specifically, activities to build smoke-free workplaces, schools, medical facilities, tourist areas, hotels and restaurants have been widely deployed. Leaders at all levels have paid more attention to the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco through strong direction and clear assignment of responsibilities to relevant departments, agencies, organizations and individuals.

Parade in response to National Smoke-Free Week. Photo: Tien Hung

However, the work of preventing the harmful effects of tobacco in Nghe An is still facing many difficulties because there are still some officials and civil servants who smoke in the wrong places, especially at agencies and offices, which makes the effectiveness of propaganda about the harmful effects of tobacco still limited; some people are still not aware of the huge level of damage to health, economy and environment caused by tobacco, especially, they do not see the harmful effects of tobacco as the cause of many dangerous diseases.

Mr. Tran Minh Tue suggested that Party committees at all levels, authorities, departments, branches, unions, and social organizations continue to strengthen leadership and direction in the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco; Include the content of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco in the annual work plans of People's Committees at all levels, include the regulation prohibiting smoking in the workplace in the internal regulations of agencies and units; include the content of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco in village, hamlet, and residential group conventions.

“Propaganda and mobilization must be thorough, specific, organized regularly, continuously and long-term through many methods suitable for each subject, region and area and ensure reaching all classes of people... With the efforts and determination of all levels, sectors, the entire political system and the people, the work of preventing the harmful effects of tobacco in the whole province will achieve more and more results,” said Mr. Tue.

Immediately after the rally, representatives of departments, branches, localities, union members, youth of the Department of Health, and students of Vinh Medical University participated in the parade on several streets of Vinh city.