Tobacco control and the creation of a smoke-free workplace are top priorities for the Ca Mau health sector. The sector has developed a tobacco control plan focusing on raising awareness among civil servants, employees, and patients about the harmful effects of smoking and passive smoking. This has fostered strong consensus on banning smoking in all affiliated units.

Dr. Ho Thanh Dam, Head of the Health Education and Communication Department at the Ca Mau Provincial Center for Disease Control, stated: "In recent times, the provincial health sector has continuously promoted awareness campaigns. In addition, we have coordinated with the grassroots trade unions under the health sector to maintain the emulation movement for building green, clean, and beautiful healthcare facilities and smoke-free healthcare facilities throughout the sector. The main focus is on posting regulations prohibiting smoking in all affiliated units and areas with high traffic. We also display 'no smoking' signs in meeting rooms, offices, patient rooms, staircases, and other public areas. There is no buying, selling, or advertising of tobacco products within the premises of agencies and units. 100% of healthcare staff do not smoke at work, in patient reception areas, or in examination and treatment areas..."

A no-smoking policy is posted at the Hung My Commune Health Station, Cai Nuoc District.

A no-smoking policy is posted at the Hung My Commune Health Station, Cai Nuoc District.

Simultaneously, grassroots trade unions coordinate with local authorities to develop plans for preventing and controlling tobacco use within their units. Healthcare workers demonstrate a high level of dedication and responsibility in disseminating information, mobilizing support, and monitoring patients and their families to better understand the harmful effects of tobacco. In addition, the Social Work Teams at hospitals intensify counseling and support for smokers to help them understand the harm and gradually quit. Notably, grassroots trade unions in each unit incorporate the implementation of a smoke-free policy into the annual performance evaluations of both collectives and individuals within their units...

Along with launching and setting targets for tobacco control, the Department of Health directed the communication network of medical centers and hospitals to disseminate information to civil servants, employees, and workers in their units to strictly comply with the regulations prohibiting smoking in medical facilities. They also designed and provided communication materials on tobacco control to agencies, units, and the community...

"The grassroots trade union of the Cai Nuoc District Health Center has incorporated tobacco control into its annual propaganda plan and integrated it into regular meetings. It has included a ban on smoking in the workplace in the internal regulations and rules of the agency and unit. It has organized for officials, union members, and employees to sign a commitment not to smoke in the workplace. Through inspections and monitoring at the unit, it has been observed that in recent years, officials, employees, and workers at the Center have effectively implemented regulations on tobacco control...", informed Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngan, Vice President of the grassroots trade union of the Cai Nuoc District Health Center.

In the coming period, to effectively implement the Law on Tobacco Control and build smoke-free healthcare facilities, the health sector will continue to coordinate with the Provincial Labor Union to direct grassroots trade unions to strengthen the dissemination and promotion of the Law on Tobacco Control among cadres and union members. This will integrate tobacco control with the movement to build a cultured lifestyle and achieve cultural standards in agencies and units, aiming to create a smoke-free working environment and ensure the health of cadres, union members, patients, and those around them. With this goal in mind, the provincial health sector will be even more resolute in its activities to combat the harmful effects of tobacco.

Mai Thanh

Source: https://baocamau.vn/vi-moi-truong-khong-khoi-thuoc-a39640.html