.gif)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling on Fiji and other Pacific island countries to protect women and girls from efforts by the tobacco industry to induce them to start smoking.
“Tobacco use is the second cause of death globally after hypertension and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults worldwide,” WHO representative in the Pacific, Dr Chen Ken has stressed.
Ken made the comments in the lead up to World No Tobacco Day on May 31 with the theme ‘Gender and Tobacco’ and emphasis being put on Marketing to Women.
He said the WHO wanted to draw particular attention to the harmful effects of tobacco marketing and smoke on women and girls.
“Tobacco use is the number one preventable epidemic that the health community faces and we want to encourage everyone to reduce tobacco use in Fiji and the Pacific,” he added.
Ken said women who smoke are more likely to experience infertility and delays in conceiving.
“Maternal smoking during pregnancy also increases risk of premature delivery, stillbirth and newborn death and may cause a reduction in breast milk,” he said.
“Smoking also increases women’s risks for many cancers, including cancers of mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, larynx, bladder, pancreas and cancer and having a tobacco-free environment is also a woman’s right.”
Chen is also calling on policy makers, civil society and nongovernmental organisations and the public to work together to protect women from tobacco marketing and smoke.
WHO and the Ministry of Health will launch World No Tobacco day on May 31 at Nabukaluka Village in Naitasiri which will also be declared the third Tobacco-Free village in Fiji.
The first Tobacco-Free village, Nabila Village in Fiji received the WHO World No Tobacco Day Award in 2006.
