Lautoka City declared as a Tobacco free city

Lautoka City has been declared as a Tobacco free city.

This initiative which was launched by the Assistant Minister for Health, Veena Bhatnagar will mainly focus on ensuring that the Lautoka bus stand and market will be no smoking areas.

The Lautoka City council says it will be gradually declaring other areas around the city as Tobacco Free Zones in the coming months.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has declared seven Tobacco Free villages to date.

There are also 42 villages with declared Tobacco Free Community halls.

All government departments including health facilities such as hospitals, health centres and nursing stations are all tobacco free premises.

Meanwhile, 230 people have been fined for tobacco control related offences for the first half of this year.

The spot fine for smoking in public places is $200 while the fine for other offences is $1,000.