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 takes place in some areas in Nghe An province, especially coastal districts. This poses a serious risk of poisoning, affecting public health if drastic measures are not taken to prevent and control it.

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 (propaganda training) of districts, cities, town Party Committees, affiliated Party Committees, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations at the provincial level, 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, determine 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.

Strengthen 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 self-awareness not to catch, collect, transport, buy, sell, process, or consume puffer fish.

The Provincial Police, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Industry and Trade inspect and supervise fishing ports, markets, and fish selling points in the province according to assigned tasks and management levels to detect and resolutely fight, 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 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 community awareness about the risk of puffer fish poisoning through forms such as: Through youth volunteer 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 advises Party Committees in directing and implementing measures to prevent and combat poisoning caused by puffer fish; directs and closely coordinates 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 puffer fish 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 information, distortions and fake news on the prevention and control of puffer fish 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./.