Municipal Health office of San Vicente was among the Local Government Unit in Ilocos Sur, validated by the Department of Health National Office for the Red Orchid Awards 2017. This award is conceptualized to combat tobacco use and to work for a tobacco-free environment. Tobacco use has been identified as the major contributor in cardio-vascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes and Cancer.
The DOH Red Orchid Awards winners are judged based on the strength of comprehensive efforts to implement a 100% 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 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.