THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 received the Red Orchid Award of the Department of Health (DOH) during the 2018 Regional Health Summit and Awarding Ceremony last Nov. 15 at the Grand Convention Center of Cebu.

The DOH Red Orchid Award is an annual search for the 100 percent tobacco-free environment covering national government offices, hospitals and local government units and was conceptualized to combat tobacco use since it has been identified as the major contributor in cardio-vascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and cancer.

This is the first time that the regional office joined the annual tilt and the department has been implementing the “No Smoking Policy Campaign” within its office premises.

DSWD 7 Assistant Director for Administration Grace Subong and Human Resource Welfare Unit head Joseph John Orden received the plaque.

Other Red Orchid Awardees for 2018 are the Municipality of Siquijor; Siquijor (province); San Remigio, Cebu; Tuburan, Cebu; the Bureau of Quarantine 7; and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 7.

“Let us maintain our no smoking practices not just for the award but for our health and that of our families and even of the clients that we are serving,” DSWD 7 Director Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre told DSWD 7 staff.

The DOH Red Orchid Award winners were judged based on the strength of comprehensive efforts to implement a 100 percent tobacco-free environment using the World Health Organization MPOWER initiative.

MPOWER is an acronym that denotes the six proven tobacco control policies, namely: Monitor tobacco control 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.