Khanh Hoa Youth Union has focused on anti-smoking propaganda to raise Youth Union members and young people's awareness and responsibility...
Khanh Hoa Youth Union has focused on anti-smoking propaganda to raise Youth Union members and young people’s awareness and responsibility.
Reasons that lead young people to smoke include curiosity, imitation, friends’ influence, etc. A university student says, “I try smoking because some of my friends smoke. I know smoking is harmful, so I just smoke when staying with them.” Another final-year student says, “At first I just smoke for fun and relaxation after school and it gradually becomes a habit.” Young smokers can be seen in many places in cities and in the countryside.
Tobacco smoke is made up of more than 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds of harmful substances, 70 known to cause cancer. Tobacco smoke is so harmful but some young smokers still ignore its health warnings.
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Nguyen Van Nhuan, Khanh Hoa Youth Union Secretary, smoking is banned at schools. However, most of the youth smoke outside schools and cigarettes are sold in many places such as café, Internet shops, etc.
Therefore, Khanh Hoa Youth Union has focused on a tobacco control and prevention program targeted at teenagers and young adults. Accordingly, every year, Khanh Hoa Youth Union in cooperation with relevant agencies boosts the propaganda of the Tobacco Control Law and related legal documents in districts, towns and Youth Union affiliations. Youth Union affiliations has jointly integrated the tobacco control propaganda into their annual tasks; built smoke-free models in workplaces, schools, hospitals and communities.
In addition, Khanh Hoa Youth Union in association with Khanh Hoa Department of Health has held a variety of activities such as meetings, parades, etc in response to the National Non-smoking Week and the World No Tobacco Day. Youth Union affiliations are required to be smoke-free to be assessed and ranked every year.
In the time to come, Khanh Hoa Youth Union will continue boosting tobacco control propaganda among Youth Union members and teenagers, focusing on banned smoking behaviors and regulations on building smoke-free working environment; citizens’ tobacco control rights and responsibilities in an effort to raise young people’s awareness of the danger of smoking.
V.Thanh
Translated by N.T
