21st July 2016 Along with a 180 other Tongans, Lesieli (name changed) signed up for “QUIT line” just a few weeks back. This helpline which assists and counsels people wanting to give up smoking, commenced operations on the 31st of May this year.
Lesieli (name changed) was one of the first people to call and sign up for QUIT line’s program, and has been consistent with it ever since. Last week however was extra special, and it was hard for her to wait for her “assigned day” to connect with the QUITline centre. As TupouTu’ilautala (Senior Tapaka Officer) picked up the phone, he was pleasantly surprised to hear an animated Lesiela speaking nineteen to a dozen! “My husband wants to join me too!” she exclaimed. “He wants to quit smoking as well”.
This is just one example of how “Tuku Ifi Leva”- the intensive 6 week campaign that was launched end of May is impacting Tongans. This campaign is an initiative of the Ministry of Health, supported and funded by the Government of Tonga, Government of Australia, World Health Organization and TongaHealth. TongaHealth is also funding and coordinating the Monitoring and Evaluation for this campaign. This funding is part of the five year, A$2.1 million dollar (T$3.2 million) agreement, between TongaHealth and the Government of Australia to support the implementation of Tonga’s National NCD Strategy 2015 – 2020.
This week on Tonga Mo’uilelei, we invite you to come hear what a father and a church leader, Rev. Laki Pifeleti has to say about this campaign and it’s consequent effects. Also get to know concrete facts and figures of the campaign through Dr. Ofa Sanft Tukia, from the NCD-HPU of the Ministry of Health.
They had so much to share that we have ended up shooting 2 episodes with them! We invite you to join us for part one …
Thursday the 21st of July 2016
7:30pm On TV Tonga 1
Tonga Mo’uilelei! Mo’uiLelei, Mo’uiFiefia!
Tuku ifi Leva’s website is: http://www.tapuifitonga.com
Issued by the: Tonga Health