Nghe An strengthens communication and inspection work on the implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms.

After nearly 10 years of implementing Decision No. 229/QD-TTg dated January 25, 2013 of the Prime Minister approving the "National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms by 2020", Nghe An province has raised people's awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco, the benefits of a smoke-free environment, and the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms.cigarette; build a smoke-free environment and monitor and evaluate tobacco harm prevention activities; enhance capacity for officials participating in tobacco harm prevention activities.

Checking tobacco harm prevention activities. Photo: Thanh Chung

However, there are still many shortcomings and limitations in the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco, namely: Passive exposure to cigarette smoke is still high; the rate of using electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products among teenagers tends to increase; inspection, examination and handling of violations of the law on preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco are not carried out regularly. Penalties for smoking in public places with prohibited regulations and violations of regulations on advertising and promotion of tobacco products are not regularly implemented.

Most of the activities to prevent and combat the harmful effects of tobacco are proactively carried out by the health sector. Authorities at all levels and departments and branches have not really paid attention and proactively coordinated with the health sector to organize activities effectively.

The People's Committee of Nghe An province issued the Plan to prevent and combat the harmful effects of tobacco in Nghe An province for the period of 2023-2024, aiming to promote and further enhance the attention of sectors, levels, organizations and the masses to the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco.cigarette; strengthen strict enforcement of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms and smoke-free environments.

In the period of 2023-2024, Nghe An will continue to raise people's awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use, the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms and guiding documents; continue to improve capacity on prevention and control of tobacco harms to organize the implementation of smoke-free environments, provide counseling on smoking cessation, teach about prevention and control of tobacco harms, change occupations for tobacco growers, and strengthen inspection and supervision of the implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms.

Conduct research and evaluation to provide evidence for the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco; organize investigations to monitor the situation of tobacco use and evaluate the results of implementing the Law on Prevention and Combating the Harmful Effects of Tobacco in the province; organize competitions on prevention and combating the harmful effects of tobacco in the provincial health sector; organize competitions to learn about tobacco for youth union members.

The Provincial People's Committee sets the following goals: 100% of departments, branches, sectors and People's Committees at all levels issue plans on tobacco harm prevention and control in their units and localities; 75% of the province's administrative agencies strictly implement regulations prohibiting smoking in indoor workplaces; 100% of kindergartens, primary schools, colleges and universities strictly implement regulations prohibiting smoking in school premises; 100% of passenger transport companies implement regulations prohibiting smoking on passenger transport vehicles.

100% of provincial and district hospitals have regulations on implementing smoke-free environments within their premises; 85% of provincial and district hospitals strictly enforce smoke-free environments within their premises; at least 20% of restaurants, factories and enterprises strictly implement regulations prohibiting smoking in indoor areas of restaurants; at least 20% of hotels strictly implement regulations on having designated areas for smokers according to the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms or strictly implement regulations prohibiting smoking in indoor areas of hotels.

During this time, the People's Committee of Nghe An province will organize the establishment of an interdisciplinary team to conduct at least two inspections on the implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms./.