Health development center, Negros town nominated for DOH 'Red Orchid'

CEBU, Philippines - The municipality of Amlan in the province of Oriental Negros as well as the Center for Health Development-7 were nominated in the Red Orchid Awards, or the search for smoke-free offices, hospitals and local government units, initiated by the Department of Health.

The DOH Red Orchid Awards was launched last year following the guidelines set by the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 and its corresponding Implementing Rules and Regulations; the DOH Administrative Order No. 2009-0010 on the rules and regulations promoting a 100-percent smoke-free environment; and the Civil Service Commission’s Memorandum Circular No.17 or the smoking prohibition based on 100-percent smoke-free environment policy.

Dr. Judita Tawatao, head of the Department on Non-Communicable Diseases at the DOH Central Visayas, said that for the LGU category, which includes cities and municipalities, the town of Amlan in Negros Oriental and the CHD-7 here in Cebu, for DOH central offices, centers and its attached agency offices, are the nominees for the entire Region 7.

Further, awardees are chosen based on the strength of their comprehensive efforts to implement a 100-percent smoke-free environment following six control strategies. These are monitoring of tobacco use and prevention policies, protecting people from tobacco smoke, offering help to quit from tobacco use, warning about dangers of tobacco, enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and the raising of taxes on tobacco.

Somehow, Tawatao said, the residents in Amlan responded positively to the ordinance. “Sa among mga interviews didto, okay ra man ang mga tawo…even the resort owners miingon nga okay lang sa ilaha. Wala ni effect sa ilang mga visitors and clients.”

Moreover, storeowners in Amlan admitted that the sales of tobacco and cigarettes in their area have already dropped.

The final reading will be done this month with the validation team created by the DOH Central Office Awards Committee, while the awarding for the winners will be on May 31.

The winners will be hailed as ones with the “Best Practices in the National Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Program” in official documents, statements and releases of the DOH.

The LGU that will be in the awards roster for three consecutive years shall be provided with grants to sustain its tobacco use prevention/control efforts. – Antoniette T. Parce/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)