AIMING to make the ASEAN region smoke-free, the ASEAN Smoke-Free Award Programme, a collaboration between the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance and the ASEAN Secretariat, was introduced on 13 May 2022 at the 15th ASEAN Health Ministers’ Meeting held in Bali, Indonesia.

ASEAN members were invited to participate in the programme. Among the established smoke-free areas in Myanmar, the Bagan ancient cultural zone competed for the ASEAN Smoke-Free Award and was selected by the established selection criteria.

Iloilo City of the Philippines claimed the gold medal, whereas Bogor City of Indonesia secured the silver medal. Myanmar’s Bagan and Thailand’s Saensuk Municipality jointly won the bronze medal. The consolation award went to Luang Prabang of Laos.

The ASEAN Smoke-Free Award will be presented in a ceremony at the 16th ASEAN Health Ministers’ Meeting to be held in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, on 8 August 2024.

MNA/KZL

#Global News Light of Myanmar