Guidelines for building a smoke-free environment

Implementing Decision No. 2461/QD-BTNMT dated August 25, 2023 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment on promulgating the Plan for Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms for the period 2023 - 2024. Accordingly, the Plan identifies the general goal of strictly enforcing legal regulations on prevention and control of tobacco harms, reducing the demand for and gradually giving up tobacco products to reduce the risk of illness and death caused by tobacco use and the risk of inhaling secondhand smoke. Continue to perfect and replicate the model of "smoke-free offices" in units under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

MSc. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Head of the Professional Department of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund - Ministry of Health presented a paper at the Conference.

At the Conference, MSc. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Head of the Department of Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control Fund - Ministry of Health presented a paper on the harms of smoking, electronic cigarettes and the main contents of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control and implementation guidelines. Notably, new tobacco products have a high potential risk and cause social evils, especially the use of drugs and addictive substances at the same time as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco, affecting health, security and social order. Because electronic cigarettes use many flavors and chemicals, they can be exploited to use drugs through mixing. Users can arbitrarily increase the nicotine ratio too much or add drugs and other addictive substances to use without being detected. Recently, the number of poisoning cases due to the use of electronic cigarettes has been recorded in many provinces and cities. Notably, most cases occur in school-age children, including females.

In order to reduce the smoking rate among adolescents, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Directive No. 6036/CT-BGDDT dated December 17, 2014, clearly regulating the implementation of the Law on Tobacco Control. There are 9 criteria for building smoke-free schools, such as: Posting regulations prohibiting smoking in places with many people passing by; Hanging signs prohibiting smoking in classrooms, offices, dining rooms, hallways, stairs, and other public areas in the room; Having a plan for tobacco harm prevention activities; Deploying tobacco harm prevention activities; No buying, selling, or advertising of tobacco products on school grounds; No smoking-related items such as ashtrays and lighters in classrooms and offices; Not receiving support or sponsorship from tobacco companies or organizations related to tobacco companies in any form; Include the no-smoking content in the criteria for evaluating the emulation of cadres, teachers, students, etc. (encouraged) and there should be no smoking or cigarette butts in classrooms, offices and on the entire school campus – Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong shared more.

Effectively carry out communication work to the community to correctly perceive the harmful effects of tobacco on human health.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, in the past time, the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund has supported ministries, branches, localities, and socio-political organizations to implement tobacco harm prevention activities to strengthen the implementation of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention. In 2023, the Fund continued to support more than 100 units to implement tobacco harm prevention activities nationwide. For students of the University of Natural Resources and Environment, it is necessary to develop policies and regulations to motivate, reward, and encourage staff, teachers, and students to participate long-term in tobacco harm prevention. In particular, it is necessary to develop a financial mechanism for tobacco cessation counseling and smoking cessation support drugs.

The conference was attended by teachers and more than 400 students of the University of Natural Resources and Environment. This was also an opportunity for students to share experiences and improve their capacity to implement tobacco harm prevention activities at school, contributing to building an effective smoke-free school environment.

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