On December 14, 2010, the Coalition for Tobacco-Free Armenia and the Center for Health Services Research and Development of the American University of Armenia (AUA/CHSR) organized the first Smoke-Free Awards Ceremony at the Akian Art Gallery of the American University of Armenia.
The Awards Ceremony aimed to support and promote the establishment of smoke-free worksites in Armenia. The facilities were selected based on suggestions from the members of the Coalition for Tobacco-Free Armenia and results of smoke-free monitoring in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor by the CHSR/AUA.
Diana Petrosyan, Secretary of the Coalition for Tobacco-Free Armenia and Ruzanna Grigoryan, Research Associate of the CHSR/AUA, hosted the Awards Ceremony.
Nominations were made in the following categories: Smoke free and Smoky health, educational, governmental, cultural and sports facilities. The smoke-free awardees received a Smoke-Free Flag with a Certificate of Achievement for their success in maintaining a smoke-free worksite. Those facilities that failed in maintaining a smoke-free worksite were provided a symbolic ashtray covered by a cap with a no-smoking sign such that no smoker could use the ashtray. This memento was designed to motivate them to become smoke-free.
The following facilities were awarded for achievements in establishing a smoke-free environment: Yerevan State University, Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction, Ministry of Health of RA, “Muratsan” University Hospital, Health Departments of Shirak and Lori Marzes of RA (as well as “Berlin” Polyclinic, “International Red Cross” Polyclinic, Polyclinic No. 2 after Meliqyan and the Center of Mental Health in Gyumri and Polyclinics No. 3, 4 and 5 in Vanadzor), Yerevan State Puppet Theatre after H. Tumanyan, Chamber Music Hall after Komitas, and “Aquatek”, “Gold’s Gym” and “Orange” sports centers.
In addition, the “YerevanTrans” CJSC was awarded for their efforts aimed at making public transport smoke-free and the “VivaCell-MTS” CJSC for their continuous support to the tobacco control public movement in Armenia.
A number of health, educational, government, and cultural facilities in Armenia still need to become smoke free and events such as the Smoke-Free Awards Ceremony could help this transformation.
The anti-smoking awards ceremony was organized with support from the American Cancer Society, Cancer Research UK and the Framework Convention Alliance.
For additional information please contact Varduhi Petrosyan, the Coordinator of Coalition for Tobacco-Free Armenia at 51 25 92, or Narine Movsisyan, the CHSR Senior Project Manager at 51 26 17 or 51 26 21.