Join hands to build a smoke-free environment

To effectively implement the work of PCTHTL, state agencies in the province have issued regulations prohibiting smoking in the workplace, and posted no-smoking signs in indoor areas and on the premises of the agency. This content is also included in the annual emulation criteria. In addition, in localities, regulations restricting smoking at weddings, engagements, and festivals have been included in the village and community conventions.

Provincial Center for Disease Control communicates PCTHCTL at Huyen Tung Secondary School, Bac Kan city

Tobacco control communication activities are implemented in many diverse forms such as organizing direct propaganda sessions on the harmful effects of tobacco in schools, agencies, and units; integrating tobacco control content into meetings, briefings, and activities of Party cells and trade unions. Organizations such as the Women's Union, Youth Union, and Veterans Association actively communicate to members through leaflets, conferences, and training courses. Up to now, 100% of educational institutions have organized propaganda on the harmful effects of tobacco, requiring students to sign a commitment not to use tobacco; Radio - Television Station, Bac Kan Newspaper produce programs, reports, and articles on tobacco control.

In addition, competitions to learn about the Law on Tobacco Control, combined with cultural exchange activities, also attract the attention of the community. Every year, the province organizes many activities in response to World No Tobacco Day and National No Tobacco Week in many forms such as hanging banners and signs prohibiting smoking at agencies, units, and medical facilities; organizing smoke-free sports events such as volleyball, badminton, and football tournaments for workers and civil servants; distributing shirts and propaganda banners to raise public awareness.

To build a smoke-free school environment, educational institutions in the province focus on raising students' awareness. Schools have posted boards, signs, billboards, and posters with the content of PCTHTL, banning smoking at the school gate, classrooms, dining rooms, hallways, stairs, and public places in the school. No-smoking signs have clear content, are hung or placed in easy-to-see locations to remind students about the harmful effects of tobacco, and to encourage them to stay away from tobacco and electronic cigarettes.

Training on PCTHCTL was carried out for police officers, village health workers, and farmers in tobacco growing areas. Specialized agencies also provided guidance on building smoke-free environments in restaurants, hotels, offices, schools, and medical facilities. Smoking cessation counseling rooms were deployed at the Cho Don and Cho Moi District Health Centers and Bac Kan City.

Scientific research activities are focused on, many topics have been implemented such as: "Research on knowledge and attitudes about the Law on Tobacco Control in Nguyen Thi Minh Khai ward" (2015); "Evaluation of the implementation of the Law on Tobacco Control in Bac Kan" (2020); "Investigation on the current status of tobacco use among people aged 15 and over in Bac Kan province" (2024).

However, tobacco control work in Bac Kan is still facing many difficulties and challenges due to the limited understanding of the Law on Tobacco Control among the people, low awareness of implementing the Law on Tobacco Control, many people are not aware of the huge damage to health, economy and environment caused by tobacco, and do not see that tobacco is the cause of many dangerous diseases. Moreover, recently, electronic cigarettes have been infiltrating schools, negatively affecting the behavior, lifestyle and health of students...

In order for tobacco control work in the area to be effective, along with promoting propaganda and education, it is necessary to strengthen inspection and supervision, and at the same time carry out research on handling violations according to the provisions of the law, thereby raising awareness and sense of law compliance, minimizing the harmful effects of tobacco on health and community life./.

Source: https://backan.gov.vn/Pages/chung-tay-xay-dung-moi-truong-khong-khoi-thuoc-c2aa.aspx