The Provincial Center for Disease Control has just coordinated with the Provincial General Hospital to organize two direct communication sessions on tobacco harm prevention for medical staff, patients, and patients' relatives at this hospital, aiming to reduce smoking on campus and build a completely smoke-free hospital.
Patients and their relatives listen to media about preventing the harmful effects of tobacco at the Provincial General Hospital.
Medical facilities are places where smoking is completely prohibited within the premises according to the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, however, in reality, at the Provincial General Hospital, there are still violations of smoking within the premises. Two communication sessions were recently organized, one for patients' relatives, one for medical staff, with the expectation of achieving a smoke-free hospital.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Deputy Head of Nursing Department, in charge of HealthEducation and Propaganda, said: “Two communication campaigns were organized with two different audiences to raise awareness of tobacco harm prevention for medical staff, patients, and patients’ relatives. We hope to mobilize everyone to participate in this work. The communication content focuses on providing patients, patients’ relatives, and medical staff with knowledge about the harmful effects of tobacco and the benefits of quitting smoking, the benefits of implementing a smoke-free environment, the provisions of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control and related guiding documents”.
At the 2 media sessions, 100 patients, relatives of patients and medical staff attended. With the vivid and realistic way of conveying the current smoking situation, it had a strong impact, helping patients understand deeply and start thinking about the determination to quit smoking.
Mr. Tran Van Kim, residing in area 3, ward VII, Vi Thanh city, who is taking care of his sick daughter, expressed: “This is the first time I have heard the most specific and clear information about the harmful effects of cigarettes. I have heard about the harmful effects before, but very vaguely. I started smoking when I was in my twenties, and have not been able to quit smoking for over 40 years. But when I heard the media, I will not smoke in the hospital grounds, and will quit smoking in the future.” Mr. Kim shared that he had tried to quit but had not been able to. This time, hearing the medical staff point out the decisive factors for quitting smoking, including determination and, if necessary, support for addiction counseling, he will be more determined and will advise his children and grandchildren not to try and not to smoke if they have not smoked.
Through listening to the media, medical staff were provided with new knowledge and regulations and became more responsible in participating in building a smoke-free hospital. Mr. Lam Huu Nghia, an employee of the General Planning Department, said: “I do not smoke and no one in the department smokes at the hospital. Every year, I commit to not smoking and fulfill my responsibility to propagate and remind patients and their relatives not to smoke in the hospital. All medical staff working together to propagate and mobilize will contribute to reducing smoking violations in the hospital, minimizing the harmful effects of tobacco on everyone's health."
The Provincial General Hospital is the first unit to carry out direct communication activities on tobacco harm prevention for medical staff, patients, and patients' relatives according to the Direct Communication Plan on tobacco harm prevention for medical staff, patients, and patients' relatives at medical facilities in Hau Giang province in 2023 of the Provincial Center for Disease Control. According to the plan, similar communication activities will be carried out in the coming days at the Provincial Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital, Chau Thanh A District Medical Center and Chau Thanh District Medical Center. |
Article and photos: HONG DIEM
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