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Vietnam: WHO Rep. Spreads Misinformation and Proposes E-Cig Ban

Speaking at a seminar on new-generation tobacco regulations held by Vietnam’s Ministry of Health, Nguyen Tuan Lam, a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam, inaccurately stated that e-cigarettes are encouraging teens to start smoking.

Diane Caruana

April 16, 2020

Lam cited a study which allegedly found that the number of teens who vaped before switching to smoking had more than tripled. Interestingly the vast majority of scientific research indicates the exact opposite, but sadly the WHO remains set on its rigid nonsensical stance. This is tragic when considering that data from countries where vaping is fully endorsed for smoking cessation such as the UK and New Zealand, confirm that its position is wrong.

The WHO’s counterproductive stance

The WHO’s rigid stance on vaping is costing millions of lives lost to smoke-related diseases, which could have been saved by switching to e-cigarettes.

In fact, the Executive Director for CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia-Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates), Nancy Loucas, believes that sadly the WHO’s rigid stance on vaping is costing millions of lives lost to smoke-related diseases, which could have been saved by switching to e-cigarettes.

“Because of WHO’s unmoved position, smokers in many countries remain highly vulnerable and are likely to stick with smoking until they die. Let’s not forget that about 80 percent of the world’s 1.1 billion smokers live in low and middle-income countries like the Philippines,” she says.

America’s misinformation informs Vietnam’s policy

Meanwhile, Tran Thi Trang, Vietnam’s deputy head of the Ministry of Health’s Legal Department, said that the department will propose a ban on the sale, production and import of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

Quoting numbers from the US, where misinformation remains rife, Le Thi Thu from Health Bridge Canada in Vietnam, also expressed concern over the increase in teen vaping. She said that from 2011 to 2018, the US saw the number of teenage vapers rise from 1.5% to an alarming 27.5%. Sadly, she left out the fact that this increase in vaping has corresponded to a decrease in smoking.

She added that in Vietnam 1.1% of the population vape, pointing out that the country has yet to issue any e-cig regulations. Sadly, both Thu and other participating representatives at the seminar, proposed Vietnam introduce a ban on the devices, rather than suggesting the introduction of sensible regulations.

Read Further: Vietnam Net Global