National week launched to raise public awareness about tobacco harm
A national no-tobacco week is being held from May 25 to 31 in response to World No Tobacco Day 2021, with a view to raising public awareness about the harmful effects of smoking.
Vietnam remains in the top 15 countries in the world with the highest rates of smoking. (Photo: tuyengiao.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) - A national no-tobacco week is being held from May 25 to 31in response to World No Tobacco Day 2021, with a view to raising publicawareness about the harmful effects of smoking.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has called on sectors, ministries, organisations,and localities to work together in organising communications activities to helpcut the number of smokers in the country.
It has joined hands with ministries, sectors, socio-political organisations,and localities to step up efforts on preventing and controlling smoking.Although its smoking rate fell to 21.7 percent of adults in 2020 from 22.5percent in 2015, Vietnam remains in the top 15 countries in the world with thehighest rates.
The ministry said inter-sectoral cooperation is necessary to outline plans and implementmeasures on cutting tobacco use, while the Law on the Prevention and Control ofTobacco Harms must be strictly followed.
Besides tobacco, information on waterpipe (shisha) smoking, e-cigarette vaping,and heated tobacco must be promoted in the community, it said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 780 million people worldwidewant to quit smoking. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of smokers wantingto give up for fear that the habit will increase their exposure to infection.
The WHO has recently launched a year-long global campaign for World No TobaccoDay 2021, called “Commit to Quit”. The campaign aims to help 100 million peopleworldwide give up smoking through various initiatives and digital solutions./.
A meting was held in Hanoi on May 26 in response to the World No Tobacco Day (May 31) and the National No Tobacco Week (May 25-31) following the theme “tobacco and lung diseases”.
Vietnam will pilot the use of mobile phone software that allows users to report violations of regulations on tobacco harm prevention and control in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem and Tay Ho districts.
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Vietnam remains in the top 15 countries in the world with the highest rates of smoking. (Photo: tuyengiao.vn) 
