By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan — A hospital, a health insurance agency and a municipal government in Aklan received the Department of Health’s (DOH) Red Orchid Award.
Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) Aklan Field Office and the municipality of Buruanga were recognized for their strict enforcement of tobacco-control measures.
They received trophies and certificates of appreciation during the awarding ceremony at the Kalantiao Hall of Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center in Iloilo City on July 1.
The provincial hospital was cited for ensuring a 100-percent tobacco-free environment.
PhilHealth and Buruanga, on the other hand, were models in enforcing a smoke-free policy in their respective areas.
Aside from the trophy and certificate, Buruanga was also entitled to P100,000 worth of medicines for noncommunicable diseases.
Assistant Health Secretaries Dr. Enrique Tayag and Dr. Paulyn Jean Russel–Ubial, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, and DOH regional director Dr. Marlyn Convocar graced the awarding ceremony.
Red Orchid awardees in Western Visayas were judged based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “MPOWER” initiative:
- 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.
DOH started conferring the Red Orchid Award in 2010 after issuing in the previous year Administrative Order No. 10, which seeks to encourage the total ban on smoking in hospitals and other health facilities, government offices, and public places.
Now on its fifth year, the initiative gathered this year 23 entries in four categories: local government units, government hospitals, government offices, and DOH Center for Health Development hospitals.
A multi-sectoral validation team validated the entries through the latter’s self-assessment and nomination forms.
Qualified nominees were submitted to the DOH Central Office Awards Committee, which comprised representatives from the Health department, WHO, Civil Service Commission, Philippine Ambulatory Pediatric Association, and Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines, for final deliberation, rating and announcement of winners.
In 2001, WHO used the red orchid in its World No Tobacco Day advocacy as a symbol of a tobacco-free world and to remind the public of the hazards of tobacco smoking. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
