Pima County has been recognized with a Health Leadership Award by a non-profit organized to save lives through education about the hazards of tobacco use.

Arizonans Concerned About Smoking presented the award to Pima County Human Resources Director Allyn Bulzomi at its fourth annual awards ceremony in Mesa on February 9.

PimaCountywas honored as a result of the decision by the Board of Supervisors in November to make all County properties tobacco-free.

As of Jan. 1, smoking and tobacco use is forbidden not just inside County buildings, but on properties owned or operated by the County.

“We are honored to receive this special recognition for our efforts to not only encourage our employees to make healthier choices, but to ensure that visitors won’t be exposed to harmful secondhand smoke when they are on County property,” Bulzomi said.

Philip Carpenter, a spokesman for the non-profit, said the non-profit was impressed with the comprehensive nature of the policy, which included not only cigarettes and cigars, but smokeless and chewing tobacco, snuff, water pipes and e-cigarettes.

Also appreciated, Carpenter said, was the extent to which the new policy affected not just buildings and courtyards, but parking structures, County vehicles and construction sites.

“PimaCountygovernment has an outstanding tobacco-free environment policy in effect that is worthy of health leadership recognition,” Carpenter said, adding he hopes other entities throughout the state will consider emulating the program.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 13th, 2013 at 8:29 am and is filed under Board of Supervisors, Health, Pima County, Southern Arizona, Tucson. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.