Hanoi takes actions to prevent tobacco harm

Anh Kiet 23:10, 2019/05/29

Hanoi replicates the model of "smoke-free environment" in restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, as well as builds a model of "smoke-free tourist sites" in the whole city.

The Hanoi People's Committee has issued a plan to prevent tobacco harm in the period of 2019-2020, build a smoke-free environment, take actions to prevent smoking among young people, Director of the Hanoi Department of Health Nguyen Khac Hien said at the meeting held in Hanoi on May 28 in response to the World No Tobacco Day (May 31).

Director of the Hanoi Department of Health Nguyen Khac Hien makes speech at the meeting. Photo: Thien Tam

Hien said smoking causes cancers, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases that affect reproductive health. Studies also reported more than 90% of lung cancer cases and 75% of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases are related to tobacco, he cited.

The director stressed that there are nearly six million deaths worldwide each year due to tobacco-related diseases. Without timely preventive measures, the estimated number of deaths from tobacco-related diseases will increase to one billion in the 21st century.

In order to encourage community participation, the World Health Organization (WHO) named May 31 as “World No Tobacco Day”. This year, the Day and the National No Tobacco Week (May 25-31) will be held with the theme “Tobacco and Lung Diseases”, Hien added.

He noted that in the time ahead, Hanoi’s steering committee for tobacco control and prevention and the Hanoi Department of Health will continue to work closely with the People's Committees of districts and towns to launch propaganda campaigns about tobacco harm in hospitals, schools, restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions.

Besides, the city replicates the model of "smoke-free environment" in restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, as well as builds a model of "smoke-free tourist sites" in the whole city.

Hanoi’s authority will also inspect and penalize violations of tobacco trading and use in the city, strictly handle smuggling of cigarettes and fake cigarettes.

The Hanoi Department of Health keeps closely coordinating relevant agencies to organize training courses about the law on tobacco harm prevention and provide technical and professional support for smoking restraint.

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