An image captured from a TV spot on tobacco harm prevention broadcast on TV channels nationwide from mid-June. — Photo Vital Strategies

HÀ NỘI — “Quit smoking for your family's health and happiness” is the key message from two TV spots broadcast from mid-June on channels VTV 1, 2 and 3 of Vietnam Television (VTV) as well as provincial stations nationwide.

This programme was supported by the global public health organisation Vital Strategies through production of two short video and radio clips with the key message calling on people to quit smoking for the health and happiness of themselves and their family.

It is also part a national campaign on a smoke-free environment launched by the Việt Nam Tobacco Control Fund and the Ministry of Health in May, with the aim to improve the community’s awareness on tobacco harm prevention for smokers and other non-smokers and to encourage smokers to give up smoking for their health and their loved ones.

“The campaign will contribute to spreading the message “Quit smoking for health and family happiness” to strengthen the community’s awareness on tobacco harm control and prevention,” said Dr Lương Ngọc Khuê, Director of the health ministry’s Medical Services Administration, Director of Việt Nam Tobacco Control Fund.

Khuê said that since its establishment in 2013, the Việt Nam Tobacco Control Fund was the only agency to provide regular funding for all provinces, cities and ministries and mass organisations to carry out various tobacco harm control and prevention activities, such as building a smoke-free environment, consultation on quitting smoking and supervision of the implementation of tobacco harm prevention and control.

“We are proud to participate in this important and necessary communication campaign and we are committed to work closely with the Việt Nam Tobacco Control Fund and the health ministry to improve tobacco control in the coming years in Việt Nam,” said Tom Carroll, Senior Technical Advisor on Policy and Communication, Vital Strategies.

A report from the Tobacco Control Fund, conducted by Vital Strategies, showed that 84 per cent of smokers worried about the harmful effects of tobacco from media campaign information. About 83 per cent of smokers worried about their family's health, while 90 per cent of respondents said they tend to comply with the smoke-free environment regulations after receiving information from the media campaign.

A study by public health experts convened by WHO on April found that smokers are more likely to develop severe disease with COVID-19, compared to non-smokers. Therefore, there has never been a better time to quit smoking than right now! Smokers can dial 1800 6606 for free assistance in giving up smoking. — VNS