It’s the quitters who win in this DOH ‘ contest’
MANILA – Jesus Samson of Carmona, Cavite, had his first drag on a cigarette at 17. What started out as a curiosity soon became a habit demanding more than a pack per day, and went on unbroken for more than three decades.
Upon t u r ni ng 49, Samson stopped, heeding the alarming signals from his body: “I was getting tired quite easily and frequently experienced headaches. I also got weaker and started to feel sick.”
Now 51, he considers himself “smoke- free,” his t wo- year consistency achieved through both personal sacrifice and public intervention.
Samson was among the 1,100 participants of “Stop and Gain,” a smoking cessation “contest” organized by the Department of Health (DOH) in partnership with the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP).
The initiative, a first in the country, was also supported by the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Philippines, an affiliate member organization of The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines.
Added incentives
Samson was one of the three grand prize winners, the others being Noel Mandawe of Baguio City and Juvie Ann Yatar of Kalibo, Aklan.
It was called a contest, but the way they won was, well, as random as the shape taken by smoke: Out of the 1,100 participants, their names were actually picked by raffle and the DOH handed them a cash prize of P5,000 each during a program held on Feb. 6.
“We were just trying to give additional incentives to those who stopped [ smoking] other than the good quality of life they have already achieved. I would like to think that this contest is not the one which encouraged them to quit smoking, but it was the cessation program and their willingness to have a better quality of life,” said ASH Philippines officer Dr. Maricar Limpin.
Kicking the habit, of course, was not easy. For Samson, there were the cravings, the restlessness, the grouchiness — all normal symptoms of withdrawal.
Nicotine patches helped, until the day came when he no longer needed them.
For this quitter, the rewards were deep and went beyond health matters. “Before, I would spend at least P180 per day for cigarettes. Now I can spend this on more important things for my family,” he said.
Cessation facilities
As part of its program held last week, the DOH recognized the smoking cessation facilities that played a crucial role in finding and helping the likes of Samson. Through these clinics, Stop and Gain was able to enlist a large number of participants across the country.
Among the facilities credited with the most quitters were the Carmona City Health Office in Cavite (97); Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Hospital in Kalibo, Aklan (50); Maasin City Health Unit in Southern Leyte (17); and Sanchez Mira Health Office in Cagayan (10).
Seeking professional help through these clinics made a big difference, according to Dr. Glynna Ong-Cabrera, an adviser to the LCP
Smoking Cessation Program. Numbers falling, but…
Tobacco use around the world has actually been on the decline.
In the Philippines, based on the last Global Adult Tobacco Survey taken in 2021, 19.5 percent or 15.1 million Filipinos age 15 and older were current tobacco users. The number was lower than the 23.8 percent recorded in 2015.
Health experts, however, warn against the growing lure of novel tobacco products, like electronic cigarettes or vapes, especially among the youth.