Dong Thap Determined to Become a Drug-Free Province

(DTO) On the morning of November 7, at Hung Vuong Square in Dao Thanh Ward, the Dong Thap Provincial People’s Committee held a drug prevention and control awareness campaign under the theme “Determined to Build a Drug-Free Dong Thap Province.”

Attending the main event were Mr. Tran Van Dung, member of the Standing Board of the Provincial Party Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Major General Lam Phuoc Nguyen, member of the Standing Board of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Provincial Police; representatives of the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security; leaders of provincial departments, agencies and mass organizations; alongside a 3,000-strong crowd comprising armed forces personnel, civil servants, public employees, workers, Youth Union members, young people, pupils, students and local residents.

The programme was livestreamed on the platforms of Dong Thap Newspaper and Radio and Television to 97 commune-level venues across the province. It was also broadcast live on the digital platforms and social media accounts of police units and localities, as well as by participants at the main venue.

Speaking at the event, Major General Lam Phuoc Nguyen said building a drug-free Dong Thap was a shared responsibility of the entire political system, with the police playing a core role. However, the goal could not be achieved without coordination among all levels and sectors and the support of the people.

The provincial police called on departments, agencies, mass organizations and local authorities to strengthen coordination and implement comprehensive measures, particularly efforts to build drug-free communes and wards as a step towards making the entire province drug-free.

The provincial police chief also called on every resident to become a community advocate, every family to serve as a source of support, and every commune and ward to stand as a stronghold in the fight against drugs.

In his directive remarks, Standing Vice Chairman Tran Van Dung stressed that drugs pose a major threat to human health and are a root cause of many types of crime, seriously affecting family happiness, the future of younger generations and sustainable social development.

He said the campaign aimed to raise awareness and responsibility among all levels, sectors and the public, while demonstrating the political determination and collective commitment of the entire political system.

To turn this goal into reality soon, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee called on all levels, sectors, localities and residents to focus on five key tasks.

First, Party committees and authorities at all levels, particularly their leaders, must strengthen their sense of responsibility and regard the effort as a regular, long-term political task, implementing measures decisively and comprehensively.

Second, legal education and public awareness campaigns must be expanded through practical and accessible formats, with particular attention to schools, residential areas, industrial parks, rural communities and at-risk groups. Every resident must resolutely refuse to experiment with or use drugs, or abet drug-related crimes.

Third, the police must strengthen their core role, maintain strict management of local areas and suspects, and proactively detect, prevent and strictly handle drug-related crimes.

Fourth, departments, agencies, mass organizations and local authorities must enhance coordination, while paying greater attention to drug rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation management, providing vocational training and employment support to help former drug users reintegrate into the community and prevent relapse.

Fifth, the public’s role in the “All People Protect National Security” movement must be promoted, with every family serving as a stronghold, every residential area becoming a safe community and every resident acting as a drug prevention messenger.

Immediately after the programme, participating forces paraded through the streets with banners, slogans and broadcasting vehicles to spread drug prevention messages among the public. At the main venue, the motorcade departed from Hung Vuong Square, travelled along National Highway 50 and the following streets: Dinh Bo Linh, Thu Khoa Huan, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Nguyen Trai and Hung Vuong, before returning to Hung Vuong Square.

By TUAN LAM
Translated by X.QUANG