Training core staff on tobacco harm prevention

(Dan Tri) - The training aims to improve the capacity of core staff in countries with a high burden of disease and death caused by tobacco.

On October 28 in Da Nang, the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) of Johns Hopkins University of Public Health (USA) in collaboration with the Tobacco Control Fund ( Ministry of Health ) opened a training course to improve management capacity and implementation of tobacco harm prevention programs. The course took place from October 28 to November 1 in Da Nang.

The course was attended by MSc. Dr. Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director of the Tobacco Control Fund (Ministry of Health ); Dr. Angela Pratt, Chief Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam; Mr. Kevin Welding, Deputy Director of the Global Tobacco Control Institute; Ms. Betsy Fuller (Bloomberg Philanthropies) and experts from WHO, Vital Strategies, SEATCA, CTFK and Johns Hopkins University, along with 80 students who are key staff in tobacco control work from ministries, branches and Departments of Health nationwide.

Ms. Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, delivered the opening speech of the course (Photo: LH).

In her opening speech, MSc. Dr. Phan Thi Hai said that this is the second time the program has been held in Vietnam, contributing to training key staff who are currently playing a core role in the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco.

Ms. Hai said that, to date, tobacco is still one of the leading causes of illness and premature death, with more than 8 million deaths each year globally, of which 1.3 million people are affected by passive smoking, according to WHO.

In Vietnam, approximately 103,000 people die each year from tobacco-related diseases. In addition to the damage to health and life, tobacco also causes a huge burden on the economy , labor productivity and the environment.

Vietnam has been a member of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) since 2004 and issued the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control in 2012. On November 30, 2024, the National Assembly passed Resolution No. 173/2024/QH13, stipulating a complete ban on the production, trading, import and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products from 2025 - demonstrating a strong determination to protect public health.

To date, the rate of tobacco use among men aged 15 and over has decreased; the rate of exposure to tobacco smoke at work, school, and medical facilities has decreased significantly; public awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco has been significantly improved.

However, there are still challenges in preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco, especially as exposure to tobacco smoke in restaurants, bars, nightclubs, coffee shops, etc. remains high.

The 2025 training program focuses on topics such as: overview of the FCTC and implementation of tobacco control policy in Vietnam; economics of tobacco control and countering tobacco industry arguments; communication strategies, policy advocacy, building smoke-free environments; management of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine replacement.

At the end of the course, students are expected to improve their capacity for policy planning, coordination and advocacy, strengthen inter-sectoral cooperation and effectively apply the principles of the MPOWER package of measures, towards a healthy, smoke-free Vietnam.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/dao-tao-can-bo-nong-cot-ve-phong-chong-tac-hai-thuoc-la-20251028164802054.htm