Through the theme "Tobacco - A threat to our environment", the World Health Organisation calls on countries to promote activities to raise public awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco on health, and at the same time urges people not to smoke to reduce waste causing environmental pollution.
Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the Health Ministry's Department of Medical Examination and Treatment and Director of the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund, said the number of male smokers in Vietnam drops from 45.3 percent in 2015 to 42.3 percent at present.
He cited a survey conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as showing that the prevalence of smoking among Vietnamese students aged from 13-17 decreased from 5.36 percent in 2013 to 2.78 percent in 2019.
In Vietnam, with the attention and direction of the National Assembly and the Government and the Fund for Prevention and control of tobacco harm, the Ministry of Health has actively coordinated with ministries, branches, socio-political organisations, People's Committees of provinces and cities, all implementing several activities to raise awareness in the community about the harmful effects of smoking, building a smoke-free environment and organising smoking cessation counselling.
However, the prevention and control of the harmful effects of tobacco also face many difficulties such as the rate of tobacco use in our country, which has decreased but is still very high; especially now, on the market, there are products such as electronic cigarettes, non-heated cigarettes, shisha cigarettes which are traded and advertised on social networks and are mainly aimed at young people.
Luong Ngoc Khue suggested stronger tax policies to build a smoke-free environment, and stepping up the communication work to raise public awareness of harms caused by tobacco.
At the meeting, the organising board called on organisations and everyone to strictly comply with the provisions of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control; especially, joining hands to build a smoke-free living and working environment to protect the health of yourself, your family and the community.
