Nghe An strengthens propaganda to prevent poisoning caused by puffer fish

Recently, information work on poisoningpuffer fishhas been strongly deployed and propagated by all levels and functional sectors. However, the exploitation, processing, use and trading of puffer fish still occurs in some areas of Nghe An province, especially coastal districts. This poses a serious risk of poisoning, affecting public health if preventive measures are not drastically implemented.

Faced with the above situation, on November 29, 2024, the Propaganda Department of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 2243-CV/BTGTU requesting the Standing Committee, Propaganda Department (training) of districts, cities, town Party Committees, affiliated Party Committees, the Fatherland Front and provincial-level socio-political organizations, the Provincial Police, the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Industry and Trade and press and media agencies to pay attention to strengthening propaganda to prevent and combat poisoning caused by puffer fish.

The Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department recommends: Party committees, authorities at all levels, functional agencies and units, and local leaders to enhance their responsibility in preventing and combating poisoning caused by puffer fish; fully grasp the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, and regulations of functional sectors on strengthening food security and safety in the new situation and preventing and combating poisoning caused by puffer fish.

Regularly propagate, educate, raise awareness, identify responsibilities and actions of Party committees, Party organizations, cadres, Party members and people in ensuring food security and safety in general and preventing and combating poisoning caused by puffer fish in particular.

Promote propaganda work in many forms to raise the understanding and awareness of fishermen and people about the dangers of puffer fish to health and life so that all people raise their awareness and voluntarily do not catch, collect, transport, buy, sell, process, or consume puffer fish.

The provincial police, the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Department of Industry and Trade inspect and supervise fishing ports, markets, and fish selling points in the province according to their assigned tasks and management levels to detect and resolutely combat, prevent, and strictly handle organizations, individuals, and production facilities that trade in puffer fish in violation of the law.

Require fishermen not to catch puffer fish; seafood businesses commit not to buy, sell, process or consume puffer fish; promote mass movements to detect and denounce acts of catching, processing, purchasing and trading puffer fish.food; create public opinion, consumers condemn and boycott "say no to puffer fish".

Provide specific information on poisonous puffer fish, symptoms of poisoning and first aid instructions in case of poisoning; ensure that medical facilities are ready to promptly receive and handle cases of puffer fish poisoning, and immediately report to the authorities to handle the source of the food causing the poisoning.

The Fatherland Front and provincial-level socio-political organizations inform, propagate and widely mobilize union members, association members, people, especially fishermen and seafood businesses not to catch, process, trade or use puffer fish as food.

Mobilize organizations to participate in propaganda and raise public awareness of the risk of puffer fish poisoning through forms such as: Through volunteer youth teams; groups; social networks; conferences; training; hanging signs prohibiting the purchase, sale, processing, transportation, and consumption of puffer fish right in coastal areas, at seafood consumption places, wholesale markets, traditional markets... coordinate with functional forces to deploy inspection and supervision of all acts of collecting, transporting, preserving, processing, and consuming puffer fish.

The Propaganda Department of districts, cities, town Party Committees, and affiliated Party Committees shall advise Party Committees in directing and implementing measures to prevent and combat poisoning caused by puffer fish; direct and closely coordinate with the health sector and relevant departments and branches to widely propagate to all people not to circulate, process, trade, or use puffer fish as food...

Information and propaganda through conferences of the propaganda sector such as reporters' conferences, news clubs, training courses; timely provide information to press and media agencies on the prevention and control of pufferfish poisoning, especially in coastal areas; pay attention to grasping information and public opinion to promptly orient the thinking of cadres, party members and people of all walks of life in the area on sensitive and complicated related issues; fight and refute false, distorted information and fake news on the prevention and control of pufferfish poisoning.

Central and local press agencies in the area should increase news and propaganda articles about the risks of serious poisoning due to the use of puffer fish; strictly prohibit the circulation, processing, and trading of puffer fish and puffer fish products in any form on the market; and advise people not to use puffer fish as food./.