Tobacco use claims more than 1,200 Fijian lives every year – Dr Tudravu

Every year, tobacco use claims more than 1,200 Fijian lives, with 71 percent of these deaths occurring in individuals under the age of 70 — representing a significant number of premature deaths.

This has been highlighted by the Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor Jemesa Tudravu while speaking during the Stakeholders Meeting on the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products at the Holiday Inn this morning. Dr Tudravu says about 27 percent of lives lost to tobacco use are due to exposure to second-hand smoke.

He says the prevalence of smoking in Fiji remains notably high, particularly among adults and young people, posing a severe threat to our public health.

The Permanent Secretary says the impact of tobacco-related diseases results in increased morbidity and mortality, affecting families, communities, and our entire nation.

While speaking on the economic impact of illicit trade of tobacco products in Fiji, Dr Tudravu says in 2019, tobacco use is estimated to have caused substantial economic losses amounting to $319 million.

He says these losses are equivalent to 2.7 percent of Fiji’s GDP and are approximately 4.3 times more than the revenue generated by cigarette taxes.

Dr Tudravu such losses include $11.5 million in healthcare expenditures and $307 million in indirect losses due to tobacco-attributable mortality and ill health.

He says Fiji has ratified the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in 2013 and to further strengthen Fiji’s capacity to implement this Protocol effectively, Fiji, in collaboration with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat, is conducting a comprehensive needs assessment.

He says this assessment aims to identify existing gaps in Fiji's tobacco control infrastructure and develop tailored strategies to address the challenges posed by illicit tobacco trade.

Dr Tudravu confirms the findings will inform the development of a national action plan, ensuring policies align with international best practices and effectively combat illicit tobacco activities.

WHO Representative to the South Pacific and Director of Pacific Technical Support Dr Mark Jacobs says WHO will continue to support the Government of Fiji to strengthen the implementation of the Protocol to protect the health of future generations of Fijians.

He says this includes support for raising awareness about tobacco use as a preventable risk factor for noncommunicable diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and other health conditions including vision loss, hearing loss and reduced fertility.