4 May 2017

Fiji's Levuka goes tobacco-free

7:55 pm on 4 May 2017

The Fiji town of Levuka has been launched as a tobacco-free town.

The old capital of Fiji, Levuka, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The old capital of Fiji, Levuka, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Photo: RNZI

The website Fijivillage reports that Levuka will join other towns like Nadi town, Suva Central Business District, Nasinu town, Labasa town and Savusavu town in being tobacco-free.

At the launch, the health minister Rosie Akbar said research had shown that making public places and workplaces smoke free encouraged smokers to quit.

The Pacific regional director of the World Health Oragnisation, Shin Young-soo, congratulated Fiji on its progress in controlling tobacco use.