Cigarette cessation desks now at 7 city districts

THE cigarette smoking cessation desks are now operating in seven city health centers in the districts of this highly urbanized city, according to Iloilo City Anti-smoking Task Force (ICAST) executive director Iñigo Garingalao.

Earlier, the city, upon the approval of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, has established a smoking cessation clinic at the City Health Office (CHO) for those who wanted to stop smoking after realizing the dangers to health and life and the high cost of smoking.

Garingalao said the cessation counseling desk will help smoke quitters in the different areas of the city nearest to them by just walking in the facility and seek help to quit smoking with a referral to the CHO cessation clinic.

An intensive cessation training was conducted January 17-18, 2013 to equip health personnel with the necessary skills and knowledge on anti-smoking. The training was handled by Dr. Julia Vilanueva of the Department of Health, Carlos Garcia of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines and Ma. Fe de los Santos Gonzaga as focal person of Tobacco Control at the West Visayas Sanitarium.

ICAST chairman Joshua Alim facilitated the training for health workers. Evelyn del Rosario, PLDT Vice President for Community Relations, donated the funds for the training, actual desks, signages and incidentals while the small tarps were donated by Harder Art Prints, and materials and leaflets are from the FCAP and DOH.

Garingalao said the cigarette cessation clinic and facilities are important components of tobacco control and part of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control “Offer Help to Quit Tobacco Use.”

Iloilo City will, once again, vie for a second Red Orchid Award in March 2013 after winning the first National DOH Red Orchid Award in 2012 for a smoke-free environment local government unit level. (Lydia C. Pendon)