THE City Government of Cagayan de Oro will soon put up smoking cessation clinics in all of its 50 health centers, as a commitment for undergoing a three-day training on smoking cessation attended by 50 medical doctors and nurses.

The training, initiated by the Department of Health on March 1, aimed to prepare health professionals at the City Health Office (CHO) help nicotine-dependents overcome smoking addiction.

According to the CHO, this is part of the efforts of the Smoke Free Task Force of Cagayan de Oro on its anti-smoking campaign in public places.

Councilor Ma. Lourdes Gaane, chairperson of the committee on health earlier said, that “the campaign is against second-hand smoke and how to isolate our non-smokers, especially our youth, from its harmful effects."

The campaign is a response to the Executive Order (EO) 26 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017.

The executive order mandates that there should be a designated smoking area (DSA) in each of the establishments. But the DSA should not be built within 10 meters from entrances, exits, or any place where people pass or congregate, or in front of air intake ducts.

Minors are prohibited from DSAs, the order said. The EO, however, bars the establishment of DSAs in schools, hospitals, clinics, food preparation areas, and locations in which fire hazards are present. (PJO)