PEOPLE of Cakaudrove will be vegetarians once a week every month as the province strives for a healthy lifestyle.
Endorsed by the Cakaudrove Provincial Council meeting yesterday at Yaroi Village in Savusavu, the program known as Cakau Green is planned for next month.
The program is an initiative of the newly-formed Cakaudrove Yaubula Committee headed by Orisi Seruitanoa.
Roko tui Cakaudrove Ro Aca Mataitini said the committee would sit this month to outline the finer details before informing district reps and village headmen of the procedures.
It is about living a healthy lifestyle and improving our health conditions. Many are dying from non-communicable diseases and it has to do with what we eat, Ro Aca said.
We are promoting healthy living for our people and we will work with district reps and village headmen to inform their villages about the reasons of the program and also encourage them.
We are not forcing anyone but the proposal was endorsed for the vanua of Cakaudrove and we hope that people realise the importance of living a healthy lifestyle as it is for their own benefit.
Cakaudrove subdivisional medical officer Doctor Tiko Saumalua urged district reps to promote the importance of eating the right food and to fight the rise in NCDs.
He told the meeting his team had continuously raised awareness about NCDs in the province so the support of the council was imperative.