Last Updated on 10 years by Publishing Team

Address at SMOKE FREE LAUNCH

09/05/2014

Healthy city is a global initiative that is currently been implemented by 1000 cities across the globe. It engages local governments in health development through a process of political commitment, institutional change, capacity-building, partnership-based planning and innovative projects.

The primary goal of the WHO Healthy Cities Network is to put health high on the social, economic and political agenda of city governments.

Health is the business of all sectors, and local governments are in a unique leadership position, with power to protect and promote their citizens’ health and well-being.

Suva was declared a healthy city in 2011, and since then have been partnering with all key stakeholders in implementing activities that sets itself as a platform for addressing NCD.

Tobacco smoke is the leading single cause of death globally and any decision for cessation will increase longevity and quality of life.

This declaration coincides with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) meeting that will be convened in Nadi from Monday next week for all the Asian Pacific region and places Suva City high up on the recognition list among similar cities implementing the same around the globe.

The Tobacco Degree 2010 and the Tobacco Regulation 2012 sets the platform for further enhancing the tobacco free initiatives and provides the opportunity for the MOH to work closely with the Council on the same (Tobacco Free Program).

This is the first of a series of phases in the declaration process, declaring most places in the Suva CBD smoke free which includes (Terry Walk, Ivi Triangle, Handy Craft Centre, Market, Bus Stand, etc).

Consecutive phases will see further work around the construction of smoking booths as a requirement under the current tobacco legislation, and further progressing the initiative to see that Suva City becomes the first ever city in the region to be SMOKE FREE.