Fiji's interim Prime Minister has commended the United Nations for turning its attention to lifestyle diseases.
The UN's General Assembly, which is in its 66th session in New York, has held an inaugural high level meeting on non-communicable diseases, which are grouped into cardiovascular and lung diseases, cancers and diabetes.
Commodore Frank Bainimarama says a large percentage of Fiji's population is at risk of contracting those illnesses and he says the interim government has taken key actions to deal with the crisis.
"Including being the first country to sign and ratify the framework convention on tobacco control. It is also one of the first countries to pilot the salt reduction programme."
Fiji's interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
