The University of Public Health and the Vinfuture Foundation collaborate on the prevention and control of e-cigarette use in schools.

The University of Public Health and the VinFuture Foundation announce a collaboration to implement the “Intervention Program on Prevention and Control of E-cigarettes in Junior High Schools in Major Cities in Vietnam”. This initiative aims to contribute to protecting school health, raising awareness, and building a safe and healthy educational environment for the future generation of the country.

The two sides are collaborating to develop effective, science-based intervention and control models, promoting close coordination between the health and education sectors to curb the increasing use of e-cigarettes in schools.

The University of Public Health and the VinFuture Foundation announce a collaboration to implement the “Intervention Program on Prevention and Control of E-cigarettes in Junior High Schools in Major Cities in Vietnam”.

In the first year, the two sides will develop a comprehensive intervention program, tailored to the practical context in Vietnam, by fostering cooperation with the REACH research group led by Professor Bonnie Halpern-Felsher (Stanford University, USA). The program will also organize thematic discussions with the participation of health experts, expected to reach thousands of students to raise awareness about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes.

Initially, the program will be piloted at one middle school in Hanoi , then expanded to eight schools in major cities over the next two years.

The program was launched in the context of the Vietnamese National Assembly having passed Resolution 173/2024/QH15 in November 2024, officially banning the production, trading, import, storage, transportation, and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products from 2025. Vietnam is also the sixth country in the ASEAN region to adopt a complete ban on new-generation tobacco products.

However, enforcement remains challenging due to a lack of comprehensive intervention programs and a synchronized enforcement system, while e-cigarette use is rapidly increasing among teenagers. According to the Ministry of Health, in just two years, the percentage of students aged 13 to 15 using e-cigarettes increased from 3.5% in 2022 to 8.0% in 2023.

Professor Hoang Van Minh, Rector of the University of Public Health, expressed his expectations for the positive impacts the project will bring.

Emphasizing the urgency of the Program, the Project Leader, Professor Hoang Van Minh - Rector of the University of Public Health, stated: “ Through the development of evidence-based intervention models in junior high schools, the project will lay a pioneering and timely foundation for the development of comprehensive policies and programs on tobacco control in general and e-cigarettes in particular.”

Dr. Le Thai Ha, Executive Director of the VinFuture Foundation, also shared: “ The collaboration of scientists, medical experts, and educators will create positive impacts, protecting the health and future of Vietnam's young generation, and contributing to the development of effective policies in the field of e-cigarette prevention. ”

This project is a practical outcome of the InnovaConnect workshop co-organized by the School of Public Health and the VinFuture Foundation in September 2024.

This collaborative program is also a practical result of the InnovaConnect scientific workshop co-organized by the School of Public Health and the VinFuture Foundation in September 2024 on the topic of "Preventing the Harmful Effects of New Tobacco Products".

InnovaConnect is a series of events connecting leading international scientific experts with prestigious universities and research institutes in Vietnam, leading to practical scientific collaborations that are integrated into daily life and create tangible benefits for the community.

Launched as a pilot program in 2024, InnovaConnect has so far connected leading global experts in the fields of semiconductors, environmental science, and public health with key universities in the Hanoi area, such as: Hanoi University of Science and Technology, University of Natural Sciences - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and the University of Public Health.

In 2025, InnovaConnect announced its nationwide expansion. Interested organizations can access the VinFuture Foundation website at https://vinfutureprize.org/vi/tin-tuc/2025-innovaconnect/ to download the necessary application forms and documents. The registration period begins on January 2nd, 2025, and will take place in four rounds throughout the year: January 2nd, April 2nd, July 2nd, and October 2nd. Partner organizations have 60 days to complete their applications and submit them (soft copy) to the email address: secretariat@vinfutureprize.org./.

PV

Source: https://tienphong.vn/truong-dai-hoc-y-te-cong-cong-va-quy-vinfuture-hop-tac-phong-chong-kiem-soat-thuoc-la-dien-tu-hoc-duong-post1742209.tpo