VN hopes for smoke-free young generation
VGP – Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan on Thursday called for a tobacco-free generation of young Vietnamese” while attending a meeting in response to the World No Smoking Day and the launching ceremony of the National Non-Smoking Week.
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Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan, May 24, 2012 – Photo: VGP/Tu Luong |
The World Health Organization reported that around smoking-related diseases claim an estimated six million lives worldwide annually. Meanwhile, secondhand smoke some 600,000.
It is estimated that by 2020, 8 million people would die from smoking, of which 70% come from developing countries.
Vietnam is among developing countries suffering most from smoking with 40,000 deaths and over US$ 1 billion expenditure losses.
Addressing the event, the Deputy PM assessed that the fight against smoking has helped to raise people’s awareness. Smoking in working places and schools are no longer populous.
He called on ministries, agencies and people to take part in preventive activities of smoking and campaign for the National Assembly’s adoption of the draft law on tobacco harm prevention.
The Ministry of Finance was asked to early propose a roadmap on smoking levies and measures to enable more resources for the fight against smoking./.
By Kim Loan
