SAGADA, Mountain Province – The Provincial Health Office (PHO), in partnership with the Provincial Department of Health (DOH) Office and the Transcending Institutions and Communities, Inc. (TICI), took further steps in strengthening its efforts to eliminate/lessen the use of tobacco cigarettes and vape in the province through an empowerment training held at the Sagada Homestay Inn and Restaurant on October 22-25, 2024.
The training, “EMPOWER and BTI Training,” is a preliminary activity for the implementation of the DOH’s “Smoke and Vape-Free Communities in the New Normal” playbook which aims to achieve a 100% smoke and vape-free community for Mountain Province while at the same time, reducing the victims of second-hand smokers.
The activity brought all together the members of the Provincial Anti-Smoking Task Force and health workers from the different hospitals, rural health units and other health institutions from the different municipalities in the province who were willing to hone their skills and enrich their knowledge on some strategies, methods and laws that support anti-smoking efforts which were proven to be effective.
The first two days of the training were focused on understanding the concept of MPOWER which is an acronym for 𝗠onitoring tobacco use and prevention policies, 𝗣rotecting people from tobacco use, 𝗢ffering help to quit tobacco use, 𝗪arning about the dangers of tobacco use, 𝗘nforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotions, and sponsorship, and 𝗥aising tobacco taxes.
Moreover, the last two days were concentrated on the Brief Tobacco Interventions. Some of the interventions highlighted include the use of the 5 As of smoking cessation (ask, advice, assess, assist, and arrange), the 5 Ds plus 1 to beat smoking urges (delay, drink water, distract yourself, deep breathing, discuss to others, and divine intervention), the use of pharmacologic therapy, and the use of motivational interview.
Meanwhile, all the discussions during the four-day training were facilitated by TICI Board of Trustees member Faustina Margarita Viriña, TICI Project Manager Cecille Agpawa, TICI Project Coordinator Ray-ann Bakidol, and from the PHO, Medical Officer Dr. Steven Pasayan. Also joining the TICI team was Christine Joy Fiasitao, the Admin. and Finance Officer of TICI. By Hail, MP
