DoH awards Aklan partners and stakeholders

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Three partners from Aklan were recognized by the Department of Health (DoH) Region VI for advocating health programs and services recently.

The regional awarding for DOH’s partners and stakeholders was held at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center in Iloilo City on March 31.

The Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (Universal Health Care) awarded the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH), Municipality of Buruanga, Aklan and PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Office-Aklan for promoting 100% smoke-free environment.

The province of Aklan was also recognized for establishing a Provincial Blood Service Network.

Over-all, twenty-five institutions, agencies and LGUs were awarded the Red Orchid 2014 for their outstanding anti-smoking innovations and programs.

PhilHealth local offices of Kabankalan City, Bacolod City, Capiz, Antique, Passi City, Sagay City and Sara, Iloilo; PhilHealth Regional Office VI; Bureau of Jail Management and Penology of Iloilo City, Bago City, Sagay City and Kabankalan City; the municipalities of Valladolid, Negros Occidental; Anilao, Iloilo; Dumalag, Capiz; New Lucena, Iloilo and Iloilo City were recognized also for promoting smoke-free environment.

Other hospitals in the region in the list were Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital, Western Visayas Medical Center, Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital and Camp Peralta Military Station Hospital. 

The Red Orchid award recognizes tobacco-free provinces, municipalities, cities, government offices, government hospitals and health centers for promoting and preventing smoking-related illnesses in pursuance of Republic Act 9211, otherwise known as the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.  

World Health Organization used the red orchid in its 2001 World No Tobacco Day advocacy as a symbol of tobacco-free world and to remind people that the campaign to end the tobacco epidemic is far from over. 

The DOH Red Orchid Awards winners are judged based on the strength of comprehensive efforts to implement a 100% Tobacco-Free Environment using the World Health Organization  MPOWER initiative. 

MPOWER is an acronym for six proven tobacco control policies, namely: Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; Protect people from tobacco smoke; Offer help to quit tobacco use; Warn against the dangers of tobacco; Enforce bans on tobacco advertising; and Raise taxes on tobacco.