Preventing the harmful effects of tobacco: Needs participation from many sides

Up to now, 10 years have passed since the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms (PCTHCTL) came into effect, but the situation of smoking in prohibited areas still occurs; buying cigarettes is still easy anytime, anywhere, posing challenges for all levels, sectors, localities and units in the work of PCTHCTL. On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, May 31, Thai Binh Newspaper reporter had an interview with Dr. Luu Thi Anh Tuyet, Deputy Director of the Provincial Center for Disease Control, Secretary of the Provincial Steering Committee for PCTHCTL about the results of PCTHCTL, the consequences of smoking and solutions for PCTHCTL in the coming time.

Staff of the Provincial Center for Disease Control promote the harmful effects of tobacco on health.

Reporter: Could you please tell us about the results achieved in the work of PCTHCTL in the province?
Dr. Luu Thi Anh Tuyet: Since the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control was promulgated and took effect, tobacco harm prevention and control activities have been implemented relatively synchronously in the province. The Provincial People's Committee has issued Directive No. 28/CT-UBND on strengthening the implementation of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control and the annual tobacco harm prevention and control plan, and established an interdisciplinary inspection and supervision team on the implementation of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control. In addition, since 2015, with the support of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (Ministry of Health), tobacco harm prevention and control activities in the province have been actively implemented, achieving remarkable results.

The results of the study on PCTHCTL in the province show that, if in 2015 the smoking rate among men was 47.2% and among women was 0.5%, by 2018 this rate among men was 45.3% and among women was 0.4%, a decrease of 1.9% among men and 0.1% among women. Up to now, 90 - 95% of departments, branches, agencies, units and localities in the province have established PCTHCTL steering committees and have plans to build a smoke-free environment (an increase of 26% compared to 2015); 100% of agencies and units have included the regulation prohibiting smoking in the workplace in their internal regulations; 94% of agencies and units have posted signs prohibiting smoking; 100% of schools and hospitals have included tobacco control activities in their plans and annual reports, signed commitments to implement a smoke-free environment, and included tobacco control content in their emulation and reward regulations; 100% of hospitals have hung billboards and signs about smoking bans. The whole province has built a pilot model of tobacco control and expanded it to 8 hospitals, 95 schools, and 78 localities. The rate of people quitting smoking in 2021-2022 in departments, branches, and sectors reached 8.6%, with the health sector alone reaching 28.9%.

Reporter: This year, World No Tobacco Day has the theme “We need food, not tobacco”. What activities does Thai Binh have to respond to this day, doctor?
Dr. Luu Thi Anh Tuyet: This year's World No Tobacco Day aims to call on countries to promote activities to raise public awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco on health, economy, environment, food security and nutrition; the link between tobacco use, tobacco cultivation and poverty; and to call for people to quit smoking to increase spending on food.

The Provincial Steering Committee for Tobacco Control and Prevention has issued an official dispatch directing the organization of activities in response to World No Tobacco Day May 31, National No Tobacco Week May 25-31, 2023, requesting to strengthen communication on the harmful effects of regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products; inspect and strictly handle cases of violations of the Law, trading of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products... Sectors, localities and units in the province actively responded to and promoted propaganda work on tobacco control and prevention. Along with coordinating propaganda on mass media, many localities also hung slogans, billboards, posters, organized painting contests, propaganda conferences, thematic talks, and performed skits on tobacco control and prevention.

Reporter: Regulations banning smoking in workplaces, restaurants, and public transportation have been issued for a long time, but this situation still occurs. Is it true that the punishment is not yet resolute or are there any difficulties or obstacles in implementation, Doctor?
Dr. Luu Thi Anh Tuyet: Like many provinces and cities, the situation of violating the regulation on smoking ban in the workplace and public places in Thai Binh has decreased but is still quite common. In some agencies and localities, the implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms is still formalistic, not linked to the emulation movement and the new rural development program. In some places, leaders still smoke, have not set an example for leaders, so the implementation of the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms is not serious. In addition, the monitoring and inspection work is mainly at the level of propaganda and reminders, not strictly handling violations or there are penalties but very few, only a few hospitals impose administrative penalties. Cases of violating the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms such as smoking in public places, at school gates, relatives visiting patients... still occur. Some localities have not yet included restrictions or prohibitions on smoking at festivals, weddings, and funerals in their conventions and village covenants... These factors make the province's work on tobacco control and prevention still face many difficulties.

Reporter: Not only regular cigarettes, electronic cigarettes are also infiltrating schools. Could you please tell us about the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes?
Dr. Luu Thi Anh Tuyet: Recently, the number of teenagers, students, and college students smoking e-cigarettes has been increasing. Cigarettes in general, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in particular are harmful to health. The consequences and implications of using e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products cause about 25 diseases, including many dangerous diseases such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, infertility, etc. Nicotine in cigarette smoke adversely affects the development of adolescents, weakens brain maturation, and in serious cases causes addiction, cognitive, mental and emotional disorders, and reduces learning ability. Nicotine exposure adversely affects the health of mothers and fetuses during pregnancy, causing premature birth, stillbirth, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, and serious long-term consequences for fetal brain development. In addition, smoking can also cause fires, explosions, accidents, and injuries.

Reporter: To effectively implement the work of PCTHCTL, it is necessary to have the participation of all levels, sectors, localities, units and the consensus and response of each citizen. According to the doctor, what do all levels, sectors, localities, units and citizens need to do?
Dr. Luu Thi Anh Tuyet: Tobacco harm prevention and control is an activity that must be maintained regularly, continuously and long-term. In the coming time, all levels, sectors, localities and units need to continue implementing solutions according to the province's Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control plan. In addition to propaganda work to raise people's awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco and the provisions of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control, it is necessary to organize training and improve the capacity of officials of departments, sectors, districts, cities and the network of propagandists in implementing the Law, especially the implementation of no smoking in public places and workplaces. Along with that, strengthen the Steering Committee for Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control at all levels, establish interdisciplinary inspection teams to organize inspections and strictly handle violations at locations where there are regulations prohibiting the display, sale of tobacco, advertising, marketing, promotion, sponsorship, and cases of trading in electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Continue to incorporate PCTHCTL content into local regulations, agencies, and units, promote the role of leaders in setting an example of not smoking in prohibited areas; incorporate restrictions or prohibitions on smoking at festivals, weddings, and funerals into village and residential group conventions; link with emulation movements; have a roadmap to gradually convert crop structure to other crops in tobacco-growing localities.

The health sector should increase smoking cessation counseling during examination and treatment for patients and build a smoke-free environment in hospitals... Each person needs to raise awareness and say no to tobacco for the health of themselves, their families and the community, and build a smoke-free environment for a strong and healthy Vietnam.

Reporter: Thank you very much, doctor!

Hoang Lanh
(perform)

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