Levuka was launched as a Tobacco Free Town this week, followed by the launch of Bureta Tobacco Free Community Hall by the Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar.
This launch will see Levuka join other towns like Nadi town, Suva Central Business District, Nasinu town, Labasa town and Savusavu town in declaring it tobacco‑free.
Currently there are six tobacco free villages and 52 tobacco‑free village community halls in Fiji.
While speaking at the launch of Bureta Tobacco Free Community Hall, Akbar says research has shown that making public places and workplaces smoke free encourages smokers to quit.
Pacific Regional Director World Health Oragnisation Shin Young‑soo congratulated Fiji on its progress in controlling tobacco use and second‑hand smoke exposure.
He says the reduction of 10% of students aged 13 to 15 who reported being exposed to second‑hand smoke in public places between 2009 and 2015 shows that the efforts made by the government of Fiji are now paying off.
