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A senior Fiji health official has called for the enactment of adequate laws and regulations to oversee the marketing of tobacco and alcohol in the country.
Speaking at the national food summit in Nadi, the National Advisor on non- communicable disease prevention Dr Isimeli Tukana said smoking was the leading cause of the growing trend in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Fiji.
NCDs, including heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, were fast becoming a concern for Fiji given the growing number of people suffering from the diseases, said Tukana.
He said until serious steps were taken to curb the killer diseases, Fiji would continue to suffer the burden of it.
He said people must realise that smoking is not only harmful to smokers themselves but can also affect anyone who is around a smoker.
Comments have been sought from tobacco and alcohol manufacturers.
Tukana said the government, civil society, industries and consumers should all work together to curb NCDs in Fiji.
He has advised people to be cautious about what they eat and in particular, to eat nutritious food, be responsible with alcohol, and engage in physical activity for 30 minutes daily.
