Strengthening efforts to prevent and control the harmful effects of tobacco.
(Baonghean.vn) - Despite achieving many positive results, the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco in Nghe An still faces difficulties such as: limited awareness among some people; an increasing rate of e-cigarette use among students; and ineffective inspection and enforcement...
Many noteworthy results
In 2013, the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm came into effect. Over the past 10 years, all levels, sectors, organizations, and associations in Nghe An province have implemented the law comprehensively and seriously; carrying out many solutions to change the awareness and attitudes of officials and people about the harmful effects of tobacco. One of the solutions that Nghe An has focused on implementing is strengthening information, education, and communication work to raise awareness among the people, especially young people, about the harmful effects of tobacco.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thai, Deputy Chief of the Office of the Nghe An Department of Education and Training, said: The Department of Education and Training has integrated the new communication and education materials on tobacco harm prevention and control, compiled by the Ministry of Education and Training in coordination with the Ministry of Health, into the curriculum throughout the province; and has collaborated with the Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control Fund of the Ministry of Health to organize direct communication sessions for students at some high schools in Vinh City.
The Department of Education and Training has also directed educational institutions to sign commitments between parents and schools regarding student management. For schools with students who smoke, the school is required to install cameras in hidden areas to monitor students using these areas to smoke on school grounds… As a result, the number of students smoking has decreased significantly recently.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union and President of the Provincial Youth Federation, raising awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and e-cigarettes has always been a top priority for all levels of the Youth Union. In 2023, the Provincial Youth Union coordinated the communication program "Say No to Tobacco, E-cigarettes, and New Addictive Substances"; directed all levels of the Youth Union to promote the campaign "Vietnamese Youth Say No to Tobacco and E-cigarettes"; and instructed each Youth Union branch to develop models of smoke-free youth branches and clubs.
Numerous forums and competitions to raise awareness and prevent the harmful effects of tobacco among youth union members were enthusiastically organized at the Youth Committee of the Provincial Police Department and in the districts of Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Con Cuong, Tuong Duong, Quynh Luu, and Nghia Dan.
The Health and Tourism sectors are also actively promoting awareness among staff, patients, and tourists about the strict implementation of regulations on smoke-free environments in healthcare facilities, tourist areas and attractions, accommodation establishments, and tourism service businesses throughout the province.
Mr. Tran Mai Duong, Chief Inspector of the Department of Tourism, said: The Department has directed tourist destinations, accommodation establishments, and tourism service businesses to develop regulations completely prohibiting smoking in designated areas and measures for handling violations; disseminate these regulations to staff and tourists through various means such as posting no-smoking signs and distributing leaflets; maintain communication about the harmful effects of tobacco and the no-smoking regulations; and strengthen reminders to tourists not to smoke in designated no-smoking areas… The Department has also intensified inspection and supervision of this implementation.
Alongside educational and communication efforts, Nghe An province has directed the Provincial Police and the Market Management Department to strengthen inspection and control measures to handle violations in the tobacco and e-cigarette business. As a result, many violations have been detected and processed. Mr. Nguyen Hong Phong, Deputy Director of the Market Management Department, stated that in 2023 alone, the Market Management Department inspected 73 cases, processed 68 cases, imposed administrative fines totaling nearly 300 million VND, and destroyed 2,530 packs of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, as well as 50 boxes of cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
The involvement of the entire community is needed.
Despite the achievements, Nghe An province still faces many difficulties in the prevention and control of tobacco harm. According to the report of the Provincial Steering Committee for Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control: The awareness of some people about the harmful effects of tobacco is still limited, and there is still a sense of complacency and underestimation of the effects of tobacco. The rate of students aged 13-15 using e-cigarettes has increased to 3.5% (compared to 2.6% in 2019). At times and in some places, the work of preventing and controlling tobacco harm has been neglected and lacked decisiveness. The situation of transporting, trading, and storing smuggled tobacco and e-cigarettes is becoming increasingly complex. The inspection and punishment of violations in the prevention and control of tobacco harm are not substantial and lack deterrent effect.
Each year, Nghe An Oncology Hospital examines and detects approximately 4,000 - 5,500 people with various types of cancer, with lung cancer accounting for the highest percentage; this reflects the relatively high rate of smoking among the community in Nghe An province.
To address shortcomings and improve the effectiveness of tobacco harm prevention and control, on May 24, 2023, the Government issued Decision 568/QD-TTg approving the National Strategy on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control until 2030. In Nghe An province, on November 14, 2023, the Provincial People's Committee also issued Plan No. 861/KH-UBND on the implementation of the National Strategy on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control until 2030 in the province.
Nghe An province aims to reduce the rate of tobacco use among men aged 15 and over to below 39% and among women aged 15 and over to below 1.4% during the 2023-2025 period; reduce the rate of passive exposure to tobacco smoke in the workplace to below 30%, in restaurants to below 75%, in bars and cafes to below 80%, and in hotels to below 60%; and prevent the use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, shisha, and other new tobacco products in the community. During the 2026-2030 period, the province will further reduce these rates significantly.
The People's Committee of Nghe An province has clearly outlined the tasks and solutions for implementing the plan and assigned specific responsibilities to each department, agency, and relevant locality. The Department of Health is the focal point for coordinating with relevant agencies to implement the strategy. The People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns are responsible for developing and implementing the plan; proactively mobilizing resources and allocating budgets to meet the requirements of tobacco harm prevention and control; and strengthening inspection, monitoring, and enforcement activities. On December 28, 2023, Nghe An province implemented the National Strategy and Plan No. 861/KH-UBND.
According to Mr. Tran Minh Tue, Deputy Director of the Nghe An Department of Health and Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee for Tobacco Control in Nghe An province: To ensure the effective implementation of the National Strategy on Tobacco Control, Party committees, government agencies, departments, mass organizations, and social organizations at all levels need to continue strengthening leadership and guidance on tobacco control; incorporating tobacco control into the annual activity plans of People's Committees at all levels; including regulations prohibiting smoking in the workplace into the internal regulations of agencies and units; incorporating tobacco control into village and neighborhood conventions and regulations; and developing pilot models such as restaurants, hotels, public places, and medical facilities.
All levels, sectors, and units need to continue to strengthen propaganda, mobilization, and education among all segments of the population on preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco... The Provincial Police, the Market Management Department, departments, localities, and functional units should advise on the establishment of inter-agency inspection teams or integrate the inspection of the implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm into the inspection programs and plans of the agencies.