Thank you moderator.
Your Excellency the Minister of Health of Fiji, Excellencies, esteemed colleagues, Dr Capuano, WHO Representative and Director of Pacific Technical Support, dear participants, (NAMES of attendees required, as applicable.)
Thank you very much for your participation today in the launch of the FCTC 2030 project in Fiji.
As you know, tobacco is one of the greatest public health threats the world has ever faced.
And we can affirm that, even now, in the midst of a global pandemic.
Tobacco kills more than 8 million people every year, with 1.2 million of those deaths occurring among non-smokers who die from exposure to second-hand smoke.
The evidence is clear ¬– up to half of all long-term smokers will die of tobacco-related diseases, many of them at a premature age.
More than 80 per cent of the world’s smokers live in low- and middle-income countries.
The situation is likely to get worse because developing countries – including Fiji – are growth markets for the tobacco industry.
And, as we all know, the tobacco industry increasingly targets women and youth.
Tobacco not only destroys lives, it impoverishes families, slows economic progress, imposes an immense burden on health systems and causes harm to the environment.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is a human-made epidemic with far-ranging consequences.
But those consequences are entirely preventable. It also is an epidemic driven by an industry attempting to maximize profits by increasing the number of people dependent on their products and on nicotine.
After considering the compelling evidence, WHO Member States in 2003 adopted the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in an effort to end the global tobacco epidemic.
The treaty legally binds governments to implement effective tobacco control measures that will improve health and well-being – and ensure a better future for all.
The WHO FCTC is also an accelerator for sustainable development.
In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the inclusion of Target 3.a on strengthening the implementation of the WHO FCTC recognizes the tremendous burden tobacco places on health and health systems ¬– and the threat it poses to sustainable development.
Strengthening implementation of the WHO FCTC will support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, including those that call for alleviating poverty, hunger and inequalities; increasing productivity; and improving air quality, aquatic life and our ecosystem.
Fiji in October 2003 was the first developing country to ratify the WHO FCTC. Since becoming a Party to the treaty, Fiji has made significant progress in implementing the treaty.
A tobacco control law, strong regulations and effective enforcement are in place in Fiji.
And, in an effort to ensure legal instruments remain effective against the ever-evolving tactics of the tobacco industry, regular amendments are being made to strengthen those laws and regulations.
As a result, regulations on smoke-free places are enforced, advertising is banned, sales are restricted and graphic health warnings are required on tobacco packs.
The taxes in place on tobacco products make cigarettes less accessible to youth and low-income earners in Fiji – but even higher tobacco taxes are needed to bring Fiji up to the minimum levels recommended by WHO.
Well done Fiji!
Fiji should be commended for its tobacco control efforts, but more work must be undertaken to fully protect people from the deadly impact of tobacco.
I am pleased to know that with the assistance of the FCTC 2030 project that we are launching today, we will be able to support the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in developing systems to address violations of the law, in improving governance by preventing tobacco industry interference in public policy, and in generating much-needed, national-level evidence on the economic impact of tobacco use.
Through these efforts, we are committed to support Fiji as it continues to implement the WHO FCTC and end the use of tobacco nationwide.
As the world continues to struggle with the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, there will be economic ramifications for all countries.
Let us use this opportunity to redouble our efforts to curb the tobacco epidemic.
There has perhaps never been a better moment to quit tobacco use, and to also position tobacco taxes and price policies as part of the national COVID response.
Tobacco control has an important role to play in the COVID recovery process as we strive to build healthier, more resilient societies and sustainable economies.
I am confident that despite these difficult times, Fiji will manage to make the most of the FCTC 2030 project and bring about lasting change that will improve the health and well-being of its people.
I’ll conclude by offering our sincere congratulations to Fiji for being selected as a FCTC 2030 project country.
Your Excellency, please be assured of the Convention Secretariat’s full support for your country in this endeavour.
Thank you very much, and congratulations again for a successful launch.