Raising public awareness of tobacco-related health hazards

Under the National Strategy on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms till 2030, Khanh Hoa Provincial Steering Board for Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms has just issued a plan on tobacco control and prevention 2024 in an effort to minimize smokers, passive smokers to reduce the health risks caused by tobacco use.

According to Dr. Ton That Toan, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Provincial Center for Disease Control, the plan defines 3 specific targets. Accordingly, the criteria in the target of raising public awareness of the harms of tobacco use and benefits of a smoke-free environment and the Tobacco Control Law are 100% of leaders of departments, agencies, socio-political organizations and localities are informed of the Tobacco Control Law; 90-97 percent of people in the community are aware of the Tobacco Control Law and health risks caused by smoking.

Acting at the Media Initiative Contest "Healthy and Smoke-free Families" in the Central Region and Highlands held in Nha Trang City in 2023.

The criteria in the target of tobacco cessation, tobacco-free environment development and control law compliance include that 100% of departments, agencies and organizations strengthen their Steering Boards for Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, issue plans to propagandize the Tobacco Control Law, organize activities to mark the World No Tobacco Day (May 31) and the National Smoke-Free Week on May 25-31. The enforcement of smoke-free regulations is ensured at more than 90% of State agencies; 100% of nursery and primary schools and 95% of high schools on the campuses.

 A complete indoor workplace smoking ban is enforced at 5 universities and colleges, at least 20 restaurants (at least 20 restaurants at 3 stars or higher have designated smoking areas); 100% provincial-level hospitals and district-level medical centers.

To strengthen inspection and supervision of regulatory compliances, the province will establish a network to monitor and supervise intervention activities in the enforcement of the Tobacco Control Law; organize monitoring sessions in districts and towns, etc. 

According to Ton That Toan, measures to achieve the goals are continuing strengthening the Steering Boards for Tobacco Control at all levels, agencies and localities; strengthening the leadership of Party Committees and authorities at all levels and inter-sectorial coordination for tobacco control; setting good examples as motivation to quit smoking; and including the reduction in the rate of tobacco use in the local socio-economic development target; strengthening tobacco control capacity; boosting propaganda and mobilizing community participation and support, etc.

In 2023, the Prime Minister promulgated the National Strategy on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms till 2030 with the targets to reduce the number of smokers among males aged 15 and above to less than 39 percent and females aged from 15 to less than 1.4 percent; reduce the rate of passive smoking at work to less than 25 percent, at restaurants to less than 65 percent, at bars and cafes to below 70 percent, and at hotels to below 50 percent; and prevent the use of e-cigarette products, heated tobacco, shisha and other new tobacco products in public. Khanh Hoa strives to reach the target of reducing the number of smokers among males aged 15 and above to less than 36 percent and females aged 15 and above to less than 1 percent till 2030.

C.D

Translated by N.T