Nearly 1,000 union members and students participated in a rally in response to World No Tobacco Day.

On the morning of May 26, at Ngo Gia Tu High School (Tuy Hoa City), the Steering Committee for Prevention of Tobacco Harms and Prevention of Alcohol Harms of Phu Yen Province coordinated with the Fund for Prevention of Tobacco Harms (Ministry of Health) to organize a rally in response to World No Tobacco Day (May 31) and National No Tobacco Week (May 25-31), with the theme "Exposing false appeal".

Báo Phú Yên•26/05/2025

Deputy Director of the Department of Health Nguyen Thanh Tinh spoke at the rally. Photo: YEN LAN

Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department Nguyen Thanh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Health - the standing unit of the Steering Committee - Nguyen Thanh Tinh, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training Vo Thi Minh Duyen, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hai Trieu, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union Nguyen Thao Giang; leaders of the People's Committees of 9 districts, towns and cities; representatives of departments, branches, associations and unions, and nearly 1,000 union members, students and teachers of Ngo Gia Tu High School attended.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco use is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced. Every year, about 8 million people die from tobacco-related diseases, of which 1.3 million are from passive smoking. In Vietnam, with more than 15 million smokers, tobacco use is currently causing a burden of disease and premature death with an estimated number of more than 100,000 deaths each year.

Students of Ngo Gia Tu High School participate in the rally. Photo: YEN LAN

On World No Tobacco Day (May 31) in 2025, WHO chose the theme "Exposing the false allure" to expose the tactics of tobacco corporations in false and misleading advertising to expand the consumer market, especially targeting young people.

Speaking at the rally, Deputy Director of the Department of Health Nguyen Thanh Tinh emphasized: “Nicotine and addictive tobacco products are very dangerous to health, but tobacco corporations around the world are always looking for ways to attract people to use them. No tobacco product and no level of exposure to tobacco is considered safe for health, including tobacco, cigars, heated tobacco, electronic cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco, pipes and smokeless tobacco products.

Students performing. Photo: YEN LAN

Cigarettes, tobacco products and nicotine products are harmful and even deadly to both smokers and non-smokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke. In children and adolescents, these products can severely impair brain development.”

To build a smoke-free living and working environment, protecting the health of each person, their family and the community, Vice Principal of Ngo Gia Tu High School Mai Tan Dien hopes that in the coming time, all levels of government and functional agencies will continue to promote propaganda on preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products on many mass media channels, in schools and public places so that people can access more information about the harmful effects of tobacco on health; continue to maintain activities to prevent smoking among teenagers, protecting the country's future generations from health losses caused by tobacco use.

Youth Union members participate in a parade to spread awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco. Photo: YEN LAN