Preventing the harmful effects of tobacco: Requires participation from many sides

Up to now, it has been 10 years since the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms (PCTHCTL) came into effect, but the situation of smoking in prohibited areas still occurs; buying cigarettes is still easy anytime, anywhere, posing challenges for all levels, sectors, localities and units in the work of PCTHCTL. On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, May 31, Thai Binh Newspaper reporter had an interview with Dr. Luu Thi Anh Tuyet, Deputy Director of the Provincial Center for Disease Control, Secretary of the Provincial Steering Committee for PCTHCTL about the results of PCTHCTL, consequences of smoking and PCTHCTL solutions in the coming time.

Staff of the Provincial Center for Disease Control propagate the harmful effects of tobacco on health.

Reporter: Could you please tell us about the results achieved in the work of PCTHCTL in the province?
Dr. Luu Thi Anh Tuyet: Since the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control was issued and took effect, tobacco harm prevention and control work has been implemented relatively synchronously in the province. The Provincial People's Committee has issued Directive No. 28/CT-UBND on strengthening the implementation of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control and the annual tobacco harm prevention and control plan, and established an interdisciplinary inspection and supervision team on the implementation of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control. In addition, from 2015 to present, with the support of the Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control Fund ( Ministry of Health ), tobacco harm prevention and control activities in the province have been actively implemented, achieving remarkable results.

Research results on PCTHCTL in the province show that, if in 2015 the smoking rate among men was 47.2% and among women was 0.5%, by 2018 this rate among men was 45.3% and among women was 0.4%, a decrease of 1.9% among men and 0.1% among women. Up to now, 90 - 95% of departments, branches, agencies, units and localities in the province have established PCTHCTL steering committees and have plans to build a smoke-free environment (an increase of 26% compared to 2015); 100% of agencies and units have included the regulation prohibiting smoking in the workplace in their internal regulations; 94% of agencies and units have posted signs prohibiting smoking; 100% of schools and hospitals have included tobacco control activities in their plans and annual reports, signed commitments to implement smoke-free environments, and included tobacco control content in their emulation and reward regulations; 100% of hospitals have hung billboards and signs about smoking bans. The whole province has built pilot models on tobacco control and expanded them to 8 hospitals, 95 schools, and 78 localities. The rate of people quitting smoking in 2021-2022 in departments, branches, and sectors reached 8.6%, with the health sector alone reaching 28.9%.

Reporter: This year, World No Tobacco Day has the theme “We need food, not tobacco”. What activities does Thai Binh have to respond to this day, doctor?
Dr. Luu Thi Anh Tuyet: This year's World No Tobacco Day aims to call on countries to promote activities to raise public awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco on health, the economy, the environment, food security and nutrition; the link between tobacco use, tobacco cultivation and poverty; and call for people to quit smoking to increase spending on food.

The Provincial Steering Committee for Tobacco Control has issued an official dispatch directing the organization of activities in response to World No Tobacco Day May 31, National No Tobacco Week May 25-31, 2023, requesting to strengthen communication on the harmful effects of regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products; inspect and strictly handle cases of violations of the Law, trading of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products... Sectors, localities and units in the province actively responded and promoted propaganda work on Tobacco Control. Along with coordinating propaganda on mass media, many localities also hung slogans, billboards, posters, organized painting contests, propaganda conferences, thematic talks, and performed skits on Tobacco Control.

Reporter: Regulations prohibiting smoking in workplaces, restaurants, and public transport have been issued for a long time, but this situation still occurs. Is it true that the punishment is not yet resolute or are there any difficulties or obstacles in implementation, Doctor?
Dr. Luu Thi Anh Tuyet: Like many provinces and cities, violations of the ban on smoking in workplaces and public places in Thai Binh have decreased but are still quite common. In some agencies and localities, the implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms is still formalistic, not linked to the emulation movement and the new rural development program. In some places, leaders still smoke and have not set an example for leaders, so the implementation of the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms is not serious. In addition, the monitoring and inspection work is mainly at the level of propaganda and reminders, not strictly handling violations or having penalties but very few, only a few hospitals have imposed administrative penalties. Violations of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms such as smoking in public places, at school gates, relatives visiting patients... still occur. Some localities have not yet included restrictions or bans on smoking at festivals, weddings, and funerals in their conventions and village covenants... These factors make the province's work on tobacco control and prevention still face many difficulties.

Reporter: Not only regular cigarettes, electronic cigarettes are also creeping into schools. Could you please tell us about the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes?
Doctor Luu Thi Anh Tuyet: Recently, the number of teenagers, students, and pupils smoking e-cigarettes has been on the rise. Cigarettes in general, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products in particular are harmful to health. The consequences and implications of using e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products cause about 25 diseases, including many dangerous diseases such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, infertility, etc. Nicotine in cigarette smoke adversely affects the development of adolescents, weakens brain maturation, and in serious cases causes addiction, cognitive, mental, and emotional disorders, and reduces learning ability. Nicotine exposure adversely affects the health of mothers and fetuses during pregnancy, causing premature birth, stillbirth, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, and serious long-term consequences for fetal brain development. In addition, smoking can also cause fires, explosions, and accidents...

Reporter: To effectively implement the work of PCTHCTL, it is necessary to have the participation of all levels, sectors, localities, units and the consensus and response from each citizen. According to the doctor, what do all levels, sectors, localities, units and citizens need to do?
Dr. Luu Thi Anh Tuyet: Tobacco control is an activity that must be maintained regularly, continuously, and long-term. In the coming time, all levels, sectors, localities, and units need to continue implementing solutions according to the province's Tobacco Control Plan. In addition to propaganda work to raise people's awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco and the provisions of the Law on Tobacco Control, it is necessary to organize training and improve the capacity of officials of departments, branches, districts, cities, and the network of propagandists in enforcing the Law, especially the implementation of no smoking in public places and workplaces. Along with that, perfecting the Steering Committee for Tobacco Control at all levels, establishing interdisciplinary inspection teams to organize inspections, and strictly handle violations at locations where there are regulations prohibiting the display, sale of tobacco, advertising, marketing, promotion, sponsorship, and cases of trading electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Continue to incorporate PCTHCTL content into local regulations, agencies, and units, promote the role of leaders in setting an example in not smoking in prohibited areas; incorporate restrictions or prohibitions on smoking at festivals, weddings, and funerals into village and residential group conventions and regulations; link with emulation movements; have a roadmap to gradually convert crop structure to other crops in tobacco-growing localities.

The health sector should increase counseling on smoking cessation during examination and treatment for patients and build a smoke-free environment in hospitals... Each person needs to raise awareness and say no to tobacco for the health of themselves, their families and the community, building a smoke-free environment for a strong and healthy Vietnam.

Reporter: Thank you very much, doctor!

Hoang Lanh
(perform)

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