WHO calls for smoking cessation to increase food spending

Burden of disease

This morning, May 23, at the meeting of the Central Propaganda Department, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan attended and spoke about the work of preventing the harmful effects of tobacco in Vietnam.

WHO kêu gọi kêu gọi bỏ thuốc lá để tăng chi cho thực phẩm - Ảnh 1. — Some diseases related to traditional cigarettes and new cigarettes

According to Deputy Minister Thuan, over the past 10 years, the implementation of a smoke-free environment in Vietnam has had many positive changes. The rate of tobacco use among adult men decreased from 47.4% in 2010 to 42.3% in 2020.

For 13-15 year olds, this rate also decreased from 2.5% in 2014 to 1.9% in 2022.

However, in recent years, many new tobacco products have appeared such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, which are designed in a variety of styles and flavors to attract young people. While the rate of smoking conventional cigarettes has decreased, the rate of using electronic cigarettes has increased, especially among young people.

According to a 2019 survey by the World Health Organization (WHO), the rate of e-cigarette use among 15-17 year old students in Vietnam is 2.6%. The 2022 survey on tobacco use among students shows that the rate of e-cigarette use among 13-15 year old students is 3.5%.

E-cigarettes contain nicotine, an addictive substance linked to heart disease, lung disease and other health problems. In addition to nicotine, e-cigarettes contain other chemicals and about 20,000 flavorings, many of which have not been fully evaluated for their health risks.

Citing WHO sources on the harmful effects of tobacco, the Deputy Minister of Health noted that new cigarettes are not a product that helps people quit smoking regular cigarettes, nor are they a product that is less harmful or poses less risk to health, but have many risks of causing chronic diseases such as respiratory, cardiovascular, and dental diseases, just like regular cigarettes.

Mr. Thuan said: "If we do not resolutely prevent these new tobacco products, the rate of tobacco use will increase again. We will have to make more efforts to reduce the smoking rate, address the burden of disease and death caused by tobacco as well as the social, economic and environmental consequences, especially the consequences for the health of the younger generation."

Quit smoking to increase food spending

On the same morning, the Ministry of Information and Communications held a workshop to provide information to the press on preventing the harmful effects of tobacco.

At the workshop, Associate Professor - Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health), said that this year's World No Tobacco Day (May 31) was launched by WHO with the theme "We need food, not tobacco", to call on countries to promote activities to raise public awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco on health, economy, environment, food security and nutrition; mention the link between tobacco use, cultivation and poverty; call for quitting smoking to increase spending on food.

"What we need is health and the quality of our race, not cigarettes. The cost of cigarettes and the treatment of diseases caused by cigarettes is huge while each family is struggling to make ends meet after Covid-19," Associate Professor Khue emphasized.

"Electronic cigarettes are a "trend" among young people, while these cigarettes also contain many substances that are harmful to health. Regarding human rights, smoking is a personal choice. If you get sick, have cancer or a stroke, you accept it, but don't forget that you are a burden to your loved ones when you get sick from smoking," Associate Professor Khue reminded.

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