Campaign launched to reduce smoking

An anti-smoking publicity campaign was launched on February 22 in a bid to raise people’s awareness on the ill effects the habit brings to both smokers and non-smokers.
An anti-smoking publicity campaign was launched on February 22 in a bidto raise people’s awareness on the ill effects the habit brings to bothsmokers and non-smokers.

The initiative,co-organised by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committeeand the Ministry of Health, hopes to help enforce the Law on TobaccoHarm Prevention by utilising the mass media to spread the anti-smokingmessage.

As part of the campaign, a photo, video andposter contest themed “Life without Tobacco Smoke” opened across socialnetworks encouraging youngsters to creatively promote the message thatsmoking is bad for health and the environment.

Contestants can now submit their work online atfacebook.com/Vn0khoithuoic until May 31. An Apple iPad is the firstprize in each category.

According to Gabit Ismailovfrom the World Health Organisation (WHO), Vietnam has conducted alot of effective activities against smoking.

However, the country should exert more efforts to build a smoke free environment, especially around youngsters, he said.

According to the WHO, smoking is among the top causes of death in the world, killing 6 million people every year.

Research shows that raising public awareness is among most effectivemeasures to reduce smoking. It is part of WHO’s strategy to reduce theconsumption of cigarettes and cigarette products.

According to 2010 statistics, 47 percent of Vietnamese men and 1.4percent of women above the age of 15 are smokers, equivalent to 15million people.

In additional, 73 percent of adultsin Vietnam are exposed to tobacco smoke in their home, while 55percent of working people are passively affected by the smoke in theirworkplace.

Vietnam is one of 15 countries withthe highest rate of cigarette smoking in the world, according to theVietnam Steering Committee on Smoking and Health.

Tobacco use is the cause of 40,000 deaths in the country each year, according to the committee.

The Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention took effect on May 1, 2013 aspart of the Government’s efforts to improve the situation.

The law prohibits selling tobacco to people under 18 years old andbans smoking in public places. It also requires cigarette manufacturersto include health warnings on the front and back of cigarette packages.-VNA

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