Protecting people from second-hand smoke is one way to reduce death and illness from tobacco, so Fiji is expanding smoke-free public places. Fiji’s capital city, Suva, and one of the region’s most popular tourist destinations, Nadi Town, have just increased the number of public places where smoking is prohibited. Furthermore, Nadi Sangam Primary School has been declared a Tobacco Free School.
In the Western Pacific Region, two people die every minute from tobacco-related disease, and half of all men, women and children are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke at home and in public places. Fiji is taking exposure to second-hand smoke seriously by banning smoking in several public places to protect the health of its people.
Children are exposed to second-hand smoke in many settings. To help safeguard the health and well-being of children and teachers alike, Nadi Sangam School one of Fiji’s Health Promoting Schools Programme (HPS) in Nadi became a model school and declared a smoke-free campus.
Fiji HPS is encouraging the declaration of other school premises to be tobacco-free. “Schools are in a position to play a major role in preventing initiation of tobacco use through awareness of the dangers of tobacco as well as through adults modelling healthy behaviours. This is why Nadi Sangam School has declared our campus smoke-free,” Mr Jai Ram, Headmaster of Nadi Sangam School shared.
“Health Promoting Schools have the potential to fulfil the Healthy Islands vision where children are nurtured in body and mind, by focusing efforts on children who can develop healthy habits for life at an early age” Dr. Temo Waqanivalu, WHO Coordinator, NCD and Health Promotion stated.
Meanwhile Special Administrator for Suva City Council, Mr Chandu Umaria, stated, “Smoke-free settings are not about taking away individual rights; it is about protecting the right of all individuals to breathe fresh air.”
Busy areas of Suva City’s Central Business District such as the historical landmark, Ivi Triangle, the municipal market and handcraft centre; as well as busy areas in Nadi Town such as the municipal market and the bus stand are now smoke-free. This will reduce public’s exposure to the dangerous toxins in tobacco smoke.