Over 600 million cigarettes are smoked in the country each year and 16% of the total population are smokers.
The Health Ministry organized the World No Tobacco Day Launch in Nausori this morning where chief guest Commissioner Central Mosese Tikoitoga said despite warnings that smoking causes cancer, we still have a lot of smokers in Fiji.
In Fiji there is a greater proportion of male smokers that is 53% than females which is 18% and a higher proportion of smokers, 41% are in rural areas compared to 26% in urban areas.
Picture warnings on packets of cigarettes will soon be implemented in the country to increase public awareness of the serious health risks of tobacco use.
WHOs representative and officer-in-charge Dr Corrine Capuano while speaking at the function said people still do not realize the deadly effects of smoking.
WHO believes if the present consumption patterns continue the number of deaths around the world will increase to 10 million by 2020, 70% of these deaths will occur in developing countries.
Tobacco claims more than 5 million lives a year around the world.
16 percent are smokers
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