COTABATO CITY—The Ministry of Health (MOH), together with the Department of Health (DOH), awarded the BARMM Local Government Units, government offices, hospitals, and jail facilities for implementing 100% tobacco-free environments on Thursday, Jan. 27.
“The Red Orchid Awards, is the first of its kind in the world in giving out recognition to cities, municipalities, government offices, and health facilities that are strictly enforcing tobacco control measures,” MOH Minister Bashary A. Latiph said.
The 2021 MOH Red Orchid Awardees-
LGU category include the municipalities of Kapai and Calanogas of Lanao del Sur.
Meanwhile, Maguindanao Provincial Hospital, Buluan District Hospital, Wao District Hospital Datu Blah Sinsuat District Hospital, Unayan District Hospital, South Upi Municipal Hospital, Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) Lanao, and IPHO Maguindanao were recognized for the hospital category.
From the jail facilities, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP-BARMM) Regional Office, Cotabato City Jail, Upi Municipal Jail, Parang District Jail, Wao Municipal Jail, Malabang District Jail, Lamitan City Jail, Jolo District Jail, and Bongao District Jail were also given Red Orchid awards.
“Aside from trophies and certificates, the Hall of Fame awardees received Php500,000.00 project grant to sustain their tobacco control activities, while the LGUs proclaimed as Red Orchid awardees this year will receive additional Php100,000.00 worth of drugs and medicines that they can use for smoking cessation of non-communicable diseases,” Minister Latiph said.
The winners are chosen based on the strength of their comprehensive efforts to implement a 100% Tobacco-Free Environment following the World Health Organization’s “MPOWER” initiatives.
The acronym MPOWER stands for M: monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; P: protect people from tobacco smoke; O: offer help to quit tobacco smoking; W: warn about the dangers of tobacco; E: enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and R: raise taxes on tobacco.
The Red Orchid Awards was created a year after 2009 when the Department of Health issued the comprehensive 100% Smoke-Free Environment Policy or Administrative Order No. 10. (Majid Nur/BIO)
