DOH launches tobacco cessation contest for smokers, vapers

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday launched a tobacco cessation contest to encourage smokers and vapers of all ages to quit the vice and win cash prizes.

Citing a 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey, Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) Executive Director Dr. Vincent Balanag Jr. said 13.5 million Filipino adults were smoking manufactured cigarettes.

“The goal is increasing awareness of the public with regards to the ill effects of smoking and the benefits of stopping smoking. We also want to assist smokers who want to quit through the various strategies available,” he said.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Philippines Executive Director Dr. Maricar Limpin also said they were conducting the contest to help smokers to reclaim control over their lives by turning their backs on the addictive habit.

“Alam naman natin na ang paninigarilyo ay isang addiction. Therefore, kung ikaw ay addicted, nawawala ang control mo sa buhay mo. We want now people to be able regain ‘yung control sa kanilang mga buhay,” she explained.

(We all know that smoking is an addiction. Therefore, if you are addicted, you lose control over your life. We now want people to be able to regain control of their lives.)

The "Stop and Gain: A Quit and Win Tobacco Cessation Contest" is open to those who have quit smoking or vaping from July 2022 until February 2023. Registration will be from August 8 to October 31.

Winners from Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao will be determined via raffle draw and will receive cash prizes worth P5,000. There will also be a consolation prize of P1,000 for winners in select provinces with the most number of eligible participants.

Aside from the contest, Balanag said there was a national quitline (#1558) that offers free services to those who wish to quit smoking.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy, including an 8-week supply of nicotine patches, was also available for free at the LCP to support those who wish to quit tobacco use.

Balanag said that only about 20% of the calls they received were from smokers who were ready to quit.

“Most of the jobs of our smoking cessation agents are calling back… regularly for the next 8 weeks to ensure that they provide necessary support or preventing relapse,” he added. — DVM, GMA Integrated News