For a smoke-free environment

This is an activity organized by the Fund for Prevention of Tobacco Harms (Ministry of Health), the Central Executive Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Global Public Health Organization Vital Strategies in response to World No Tobacco Day. May 31 and National No Tobacco Week (May 25-May 31) 2022 with the theme “Tobacco – A Threat to Our Environment”.

The running race “For a smoke-free environment” aims to promote the spirit of exercise and sport in protection and improvement health and building a healthy lifestyle and cultural environment, creating a playground for cultural and sports exchanges for youth union members of Binh Thuan province and Vietnamese youth in general.

Participating in the Running Tournament was the participation of 20 athletes with more than 400 union members and young people.

Mr. Tran Van Dong, Member of the Standing Committee, Deputy Chief of the Central Office of the Youth Union, said that the running race was organized with the purpose of improving the spirit of physical training and improving health for studying and working of the committees. Youth union members in Binh Thuan province in particular and youth union members across the country in general. Thereby, promoting the impulsive role of cadres, union members and young people in participating in the prevention and control of tobacco harms, contributing to the renewal of contents and modes of operation of unions at all levels.

“The union members and young people will respond to the commitment not to use tobacco and e-cigarettes, heated cigarettes to protect health and build a healthy lifestyle, a smoke-free environment. ”Mr. Dong said.

At this year’s race, 20 teams of athletes enthusiastically participated in the collective running competition and propagated slogans to prevent and combat the harmful effects of tobacco. Each participating team has a video clip conveying messages calling on union members and youth to not use tobacco and e-cigarettes and join hands in building a smoke-free working and learning environment.

The theme “For a smoke-free environment” has been strongly spread among union members and young people, contributing to raising awareness of union members and young people about the harmful effects of tobacco, as well as promoting building build a healthy lifestyle among Vietnamese youth to protect the health of themselves, their families and the community.

Over the years, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (Ministry of Health) together with technical support from the Global Public Health Organization Vital Strategies have effectively implemented many propaganda activities to prevent the harmful effects of tobacco among teenagers.

Dr Tom Carroll, Senior Advisor for Communications and Policy, Vital Strategies Global Public Health Organization, said that communication campaigns raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and new tobacco products. E-cigarettes for the environment will contribute to promoting a healthy lifestyle, encouraging people to give up smoking and comply with the law on prevention of tobacco harms, especially with teenagers.

At the ceremony, the Organizing Committee also launched an online race “For a smoke-free environment” for union members, children and people from May 22 to June 22, 2022.