Tagum City’s anti-smoking campaign gets Red Orchid

The City Government of Tagum, through its City Health Office, was recently awarded the 2015 DOH Red Orchid Award for its massive and comprehensive efforts to implement a 100 percent Tobacco-Free Environment.
The accolade, which was given last February 26 at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City, is the highest award given by the Department of Health (DOH) on the anti-smoking advocacy of local government units, government hospitals and offices and DOH centers nationwide.
It was conferred by the DOH’s Davao Regional Office following the conduct of validation and site visits by the members of the validating team from the DOH, Department of Interior and Local Government, Civil Service Commission, and the Civil Society Organization.
The City of Tagum was awarded based on a set of criteria using the World Health Organization’s MPOWER Initiative which uses six proven tobacco control policies: 1) Monitor tobacco use and prevention; 2) Protect people from the effects of tobacco smoke; 3) Offer help to quit tobacco use; 4) Warn about the dangers of tobacco; 5) Enforce ban on tobacco advertising and promotions; and 6) Raise taxes on tobacco.
The Red Orchid Award is the Search for 100 percent Tobacco-Free Provinces, Municipalities, Cities, Government Offices, Government Hospitals and DOH Centers for Health Development and follows the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Article 8 that recommends the adoption of measures to provide protection from exposure to smoke in indoor workplaces, public transport, indoor places, and other public places.
Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon was also conferred by the DOH with the Heroes for Health Sandugo Award for Outstanding Local Government Units for the second year as a recognition of his active involvement in the promotion of blood safety, rational use of blood, and efficiency of blood services in the country.
Other winners from Tagum City who were recognized during the DOH Regional Harmonized Awarding Ceremony were Tagum City Jail for Red Orchid Award and the Local Chief Executives of Barangays Cuambogan, Magugpo West, Busaon, Canocotan, La Filipina, Madaum, Magugpo East, Magugpo South, New Balamban, Nueva Fuerza, Pandapan, Visayan Village, Apokon, Mankilam, San Agustin, Magugpo North, Magdum, Magugpo Poblacion, San Miguel and Pagsabangan who each earned a Sandugo Award for their dynamic participation in maintaining adequate safe blood supply in the city. Richi Gulle/CIO Tagum