The country’s partner in its campaign on Tobacco Control, Associate Director Enrico Aditjondo of Vital Strategies, is impressed with the commitment shown by the local leaders, health officials and other stakeholders in the province of Cotabato Province in its pursuit of a 100% smoke-free community saying that he’s convinced that the province will achieve its goal sooner than expected.
Director Aditjondo, who hails from Indonesia and has long been serving as one of the top officials of the abovementioned global health organization, made this statement during the First Provincial Summit for Smoke-Free Leaders and Champions for 2019 held at the Capitol Rooftop, Amas, Kidapawan City on September 17, 2019.
Aditjondo said that he was moved by the commitment shown by the province’s political, health and community leaders in promoting not just lung health but the overall well-being of its constituents.
“Way to go Cotabato Province! We are one with you in this endeavor”.
It was in 2013 when the provincial government under the leadership of Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza, launched its smoking prevention campaign and started reaping honors after three years as several of the province’s Local Government Units (LGUs) have been cited by the Department of Health for its anti-smoking campaign.
In 2016, the town of Alamada won the Red Orchid “hall of fame” award after being cited for three consecutive years. Other hall of fame awardees were the towns of Carmen and Makilala in 2017, Kidapawan City, Mlang, Tulunan and Pres. Roxas in 2018 while the towns of Magpet and Arakan were 2-time and first-time awardees for 2019 respectively.
Two of the provinces eight district hospitals meanwhile, the Mlang District Hospital and the Pres. Roxas Community Hospital were both 2-time Red Orchid awardees for 2019.
The provincial government pushes for a 100% smoke-free province in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 26, signed on May 16, 2017 and took effect July 23, 2017, prohibiting smoking in all government establishments nationwide.
Anti-smoking campaign boosted
Cotabato province’s campaign against smoking is highlighted by the testimony given by no less than former Sangguniang Panalalawigan Second District Board Member and now Provincial Administrator (PA), Van D. Cadungon who is a confessed chain smoker.
In a video clip recorded by the DOH Regional Office 12 with the help of the province’s partner agency, the Vital Strategies, Cadungon said he used to consume up to 3 packs of cigarettes a day and used to smoke even inside the mosquito net beside his sleeping wife.
His addiction to smoking lasted for 46 years and not until his wife died of lung cancer that PA Cadungon finally realized that he has to quit.
Cadungon, whose health woes didn’t stop with the death of his wife, was also diagnosed with heart and kidney ailments and underwent heart surgery and kidney transplant, stressed in the short video clip that “giving up smoking may be too late for his wife but he’s certain that it’s still never too late to help save other people’s lives especially his constituents in the province. //pgo/ozg\\
