The Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the Lung Center of the Philippines and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Philippines, kicked off the “Stop and Gain: A Quit and Win Tobacco Cessation Contest” at the DOH San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz Manila.
“We are heartened by this collaborative effort among the Lung Center of the Philippines and ASH Philippines in facing these issues head-on with the common goal of protecting our kababayans. We encourage the public and private health advocates and health champions to strictly enforce the provisions of the Vape Law, and implement our smoke-free and vape-free playbooks, such that we are enabled to live in a healthier and fresher environment, dahil sa Healthy Pilipinas, Bawat Buhay Mahalaga!” expressed DOH Secretary Teddy Herbosa.
“We encourage the public and private health advocates and health champions to strictly enforce the provisions of the Vape Law, and implement our smoke-free and vape-free playbooks, such that we are enabled to live in a healthier and fresher environment.”
The “Stop and Gain”: A Quit and Win Tobacco Cessation Contest is open to all smokers and vapers nationwide who are willing to take the challenge to quit smoking or vaping and become smoke- and vape-free.
Winners will be determined via a raffle draw to be announced on November 22, 2023, where registered entries can have a chance to win cash prizes.
“When you stop smoking, you gain so much more. You gain your health, reclaim your life, achieve quality life, and secure precious moments with your loved ones.”
“The goal of the contest is to encourage more smokers to quit while celebrating their choice for a healthier life and to emphasize the message that by quitting smoking, there is more to win. When you stop smoking, you gain so much more. You gain your health, reclaim your life, achieve quality life, and secure precious moments with your loved ones,” said ASH Philippines Executive Director, Dr. Maricar Limpin.
The contest is open exclusively to smokers and vapers who have quit since July 1, 2022 or in the last six months.
Interested individuals can join the “Stop and Gain” contest by registering online after completing the forms, accessible through the official ASH Philippines Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ASHPhilippines2016. All entries will be endorsed to the cessation staff in their respective areas for validation and eligibility verification.
Registration is open from August 8, 2023, until October 31, 2023.
The DOH continues to promote the seven (7) healthy habits, which include “don’t smoke/vape, avoid alcohol, say no to drugs” through the Health is Life campaign in both digital and community-level platforms.
To make these habits easier to do, health promotion playbooks are also implemented in Local Government Units to operationalize smoking prevention through the Smoke and Vape Free Communities playbook and to link individuals to community support for mental wellness and prevent maladaptive coping behaviors of substance use through the Peer Support Groups for the Youth playbook. All of these are accessible through the DOH platforms and healthypilipinas.ph.
Those who successfully register for the contest must commit to abstaining from smoking throughout the contest period.
Details about contest mechanics, prizes, and support resources are available on the ASH Philippines page.
