The Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications has worked with the Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control Fund under the Ministry of Health to hold a training course to improve communication capacity on preventing tobacco harms.

According to the Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control Fund, there are an estimated 15.4 million smokers in Viet Nam. The rate of e-cigarette smoking among young people is increasing rapidly, with a high concentration in the 15-24 year old group. About 40,000 people die each year from tobacco-related diseases.

According to the WHO, one of the main causes behind non-communicable diseases such as cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease, is smoking. The World Health Organization (WHO) forecasts that, by 2030, it will increase to 70,000 people per year if effective measures to prevent and control tobacco harms are not implemented. Every year, VND49,000 billion is spent on buying tobacco in Viet Nam.

It is estimated that in 2021, the number of Vietnamese people dying from tobacco use exceeded the total number of deaths from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, traffic accidents and suicide.

At the event, experts conveyed meaningful information on the current situation of tobacco use and the implementation of policies on prevention and control of tobacco harms, pointed out to some false statements and facts about the harms of new tobacco products.

The training course contributed to raising awareness in the prevention and control of the harmful effects of tobacco, especially new types of cigarettes, and at the same time, improving the communication capacity on tobacco prevention and control.

Reporting by NGOC QUOC - Translating by A.THU