On October 28th in Da Nang, the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health (USA), in collaboration with the Tobacco Control Fund ( Ministry of Health ), inaugurated a training course to enhance the capacity for managing and implementing tobacco control programs. The course will take place from October 28th to November 1st in Da Nang.
The course was attended by Ms. Phan Thi Hai, MSc, MD, Deputy Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (Ministry of Health ); Dr. Angela Pratt, Head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative Office in Vietnam; Mr. Kevin Welding, Deputy Director of the Global Tobacco Control Institute; Ms. Betsy Fuller (Bloomberg Philanthropies Foundation) and experts from WHO, Vital Strategies, SEATCA, CTFK and Johns Hopkins University, along with 80 trainees who are key personnel in tobacco harm prevention work from ministries, sectors and Departments of Health nationwide.
Ms. Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, delivered the opening remarks at the course (Photo: LH).
In her opening remarks, MSc. Dr. Phan Thi Hai stated that this was the second time the program had been held in Vietnam, contributing to the training of key personnel who are currently playing a core role in the prevention and control of the harmful effects of tobacco.
Ms. Hai stated that, to date, tobacco remains one of the leading causes of illness and premature death, with over 8 million deaths annually worldwide, including 1.3 million people affected by passive smoking, according to the WHO.
In Vietnam, approximately 103,000 people die each year from tobacco-related diseases. Besides the health and life-threatening consequences, tobacco also places a significant 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 enacted the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm 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 older has decreased; the rate of exposure to secondhand smoke in workplaces, schools, and healthcare facilities has also decreased significantly; and public awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco has improved considerably.
However, challenges remain in the prevention and control of tobacco harm, particularly the high level of exposure to secondhand smoke in restaurants, bars, nightclubs, cafes, etc.
The 2025 training program will focus on topics such as: an overview of the FCTC Framework Convention and tobacco control policy implementation in Vietnam; the economics of tobacco control and countering the tobacco industry's claims; communication strategies, policy advocacy, and building smoke-free environments; and the management of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine replacement products.
Upon completion of the course, participants are expected to enhance their capacity in 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
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