Bangkok: Jiraporn Sindhuphrai, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, has been awarded the “Hero of Thai Children Protected from E-Cigarettes” accolade by the EC. This recognition highlights her efforts and the government’s commitment to safeguarding Thai youth from harmful products.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Jiraporn also received the “Hero of Thai Children’s Protection from E-Cigarettes” award from the Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University. She underscored the government’s dedication to collaborating with various sectors to shield young Thais from potentially dangerous products.
Ms. Jiraporn presided over the opening ceremony of the 23rd National Academic Conference “Tobacco and Health,” with the theme “Joining Forces to Unmask the E-Cigarette Business: Young People Understand Strategies.” The event was organized by the Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Center (TCCM), Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, in partnership with 23 networks and nine youth networks.
At the ceremony, Ms. Jiraporn mentioned her meeting with Dr. Tedros, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), who stressed the significance of protecting young people from harmful products like e-cigarettes, which pose serious threats.
The government’s policy, under Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra, issued in February 2025, directed all relevant agencies to collaborate in addressing the prevalence of e-cigarettes among children and youth. Efforts have been made to prevent smuggling, crack down on sales in physical and online stores, and conduct public relations, especially in educational institutions. Between February 26 and August 2, 2025, officials arrested over 3,157 e-cigarette cases and seized 2,945,674 items valued at 579,324,618 baht, surpassing the totals for 2023 and 2024. Additionally, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has blocked over 11,000 URLs related to e-cigarette offenses, exceeding the total for 2024, Ms. Jiraporn reported.
Ms. Jiraporn stated, “These statistics reflect the government’s determination to combat the spread of e-cigarettes to protect children, youth, and the nation’s future. Despite challenges, the government remains committed to continuing its crackdown, requiring cooperation from all sectors.”
Ms. Jiraporn also received recognition from the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) for her contributions to reducing e-cigarette spread among children and youth. The conference, held on August 4-5, 2025, included seminars, research presentations, and youth networking activities, reinforcing cooperation for a smoke-free society in Thailand.