Iloilo City wins the World No Tobacco Day Award

Bacolod City health advocates recently spoke before University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos students to discuss the dangers of secondhand smoke. A Philippine Information Agency-Region VI release defines secondhand smoke as the “smoke that originates from lighted cigarettes breathed out by smokers.”
“It’s not enough that we don’t smoke, it is also important and we have to remember that secondhand smoke can also kill us,” explained Bacolod City Health Office non-communicable diseases cluster head, Dr. Ava Joy Infante. “In the great, grand scheme of things, you will still have to pay for it because you’ll get sick [and] your children will get sick.”
She also pointed out, tobacco smoke holds over 7,000 chemical, 70 of which are carcinogenic, or contain cancer-causing components.
“If you’re smoking, you’re practically picking up diseases [for] yourself,” the health officer noted. “This is not just limited to your lungs; it spreads all throughout your body.”
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization for the Western Pacific region recently awarded Iloilo City the World No Tobacco Day Award.
“This recognition is based on our legislation; what we are doing to protect our children against smoking, like having school forums; and storytelling for kids,” said  Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Taskforce Director Iñigo Garingalao.
Iloilo City is the only locality in the country to be recognized with the award./WDJ