Campaign launched against secondhand smoke

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam Women’s Union, in coordination with Việt Nam Tobacco Control Fund (Ministry of Health), officially launched a communication campaign on the harmful effects of secondhand smoke at a ceremony yesterday in Hà Nội.

The campaign, titled "Protect yourself and your loved ones,” with the support of Vital Strategies, is the second stage of the “Women make smoke-free homes” programme, which was implemented on May 29, 2016.

The three-month campaign includes the airing of three TV spots based on the true story of Nguyễn Thị Hương, a non-smoking victim of lung cancer, via online newspapers and popular social networks in Việt Nam.

With the message "Smoking damages your home," these short clips are aimed at making millions of Vietnamese smokers who use social media understand the adverse effects of secondhand smoke on the health, economy and happiness of each family.

"These three TV spots are based on a true story, and through this media campaign we want to alert all smokers and those living in this unhealthy environment to the fact that anyone of us can face a similar situation of loss and suffering,” Trần Thị Hương, vice chairwoman of Việt Nam Women’s Union, said at the campaign launch ceremony.

“If someone has doubts about the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, please watch this story. Stop smoking today to protect yourself and your loved ones," Hương added.

“Tobacco would claim Nguyễn Thị Hương’s life, but her story will serve as a reminder of the harm this deadly product can cause and will encourage many tobacco users to make an attempt to quit,” José Luis Castro, president and chief executive officer, Vital Strategies, said.

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer in Việt Nam. The story of Hương is not “an odd one out" as the proportion of Vietnamese non-smoking women accounted for 20 per cent of lung cancer cases and this figure was increasing gradually.

According to a survey in 2015, with 45.3 per cent of male smokers, Việt Nam was one of the countries with the highest cigarette consumption in the world. The proportion of exposure to secondhand smoke at homes reached 62 per cent, at workplaces 42 per cent and in restaurants 80 per cent. — VNS