The Talisay City District Hospital, and two other Visayas hospitals have garnered top honors in the government’s anti-smoking campaign.
Awarded with the 100 percent Red Orchid Award by the Department of Health (DOH) last Wednesday, aside from the Talisay City District Hospital were the Schistosomiasis Control and Research Hospital in Palo, Leyte and the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban City, Leyte.
Two other Cebu hospitals, the Eversley Child’s Sanitarium General Hospital in Mandaue City and the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City were awarded the Red Orchid Award 95-99 percent. The Don Jose Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo, Ilo-ilo also share the honors.
The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City and the Western Visayas Sanitarium were elevated to the Hall of Fame for winning the Red Orchid Award for three consecutive years.
Health Assistant Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said the Red Orchid Award is based on the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
The DOH pays tribute to institutions and agencies that work for a smoke-free environment, Ubial said.
Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag also pitched for the anti-smoking campaign by dancing Korean K-Pop sensation Psy’s new hit Gentleman./Christine Emily L. Pantaleon