May 14, 2021 (Hanoi, Vietnam)- The Vietnam Women’s Union and the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund (VNTCF) with support from global health organization Vital Strategies today launched a new media campaign “Quit Smoking to Protect Your Loved Ones.” The campaign shares the powerful story of Mrs. Le Thi Tinh, who developed lung cancer after regular exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in her home, as part of a nationwide effort to encourage tobacco users to quit smoking to protect their health and the health of their loved ones.
The campaign will be broadcast from May 14 throughout June on national television channels and on the Smoke-free Vietnam Facebook page.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, Chairman of the National Medical Council, Director of the Medical Examination and Treatment Department, Director of the Tobacco Control Fund shared: “In the future, Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund and the Ministry of Health will work more closely with the Vietnam Women’s Union and global health organization Vital Strategies to continue promoting communication campaigns to prevent the harmful effects of SHS and to highlight the development of a smoke-free family home model, thereby contributing to building a smoke-free environment in the community.”
In Vietnam, 33 million people are exposed to secondhand smoke at home with non-smoking women and children most at risk. Coinciding with World No Tobacco Day on May 31, the campaign underscores the importance of women leading lifesaving efforts to reduce tobacco use and builds support for legislation including the Vietnamese Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms. Smoke-free laws are one of the most effective ways to reduce smoking on a population scale.
Truong Thi Thu Thuy, Head of the Family and Social Affairs Department and Director of the Center for Supporting Women in HIV/AIDS Prevention and Reproductive Health Care at the Vietnam Women’s Union said: “Women hold enormous influence among their loved ones. Public education campaigns can provide women with the information and tools to promote healthy behaviors and habits for their families and garner their support for effective, proven policies such as smoke-free initiatives to reduce tobacco use. With women at the forefront, we can increase support for tobacco prevention policies, ultimately leading us to a smoke-free Vietnam.”
Accompanying the launch on May 14 at 2 PM ICT was a panel discussion and Facebook Live Q&A on the Smoke-free Vietnam Facebook page Vn0khoithuoc. The discussion featured a medical doctor and several tobacco control advocates including: Mrs. Truong Thi Thu Thuy, Vietnam Women’s Union, Dr. Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director of VNTCF, and Miss Universe Vietnam 2017, H’hen Nie who are supporters of the Vietnam Women’s Union Smoke Free efforts.
Lê Hải, Communication Consultant, Vital Strategies stated: “Vital Strategies is proud to support the Vietnam Women’s Union and VNTCF on the launch of this important national campaign. Public education campaigns that highlight the harms of tobacco use and secondhand smoke can promote healthy behaviors, encourage people to quit and increase compliance with smoke-free policies. We commend the work of the Vietnam Women’s Union and VNTCF to implement smoke-free regulations to protect all people in Vietnam.”
To learn more about the campaign, visit: Smoke-free Vietnam’s Facebook page Vn0khoithuoc.
About Vital Strategies
Vital Strategies is a global health organization that believes every person should be protected by a strong public health system. We work with governments and civil society in 73 countries to design and implement evidence-based strategies that tackle their most pressing public health problems. Our goal is to see governments adopt promising interventions at scale as rapidly as possible.
To find out more, please visit vstrategystage.wpengine.com or Twitter @VitalStrat.
Media Contacts
Lê Hải. Tel: 0989612446- Email: lhai@vitalstrategies.org