Mrs Bigeni, a non-smoker, is living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or lung disease, after continual exposure to second hand smoke as a child.

Her father, a heavy smoker, was a diagnosed with lung cancer at 47 and doctors removed part of his lung.

He continued to smoke, the lung cancer recurred and and claimed his life at age 75.

Mrs Bigeni said adults had a choice and it was her father’s choice to smoke but children did not have a voice.

“I think it is time it is addressed,” she said about second hand smoke exposure by babies and children.

“I am still seeing it all the time so obviously the awareness and education is not out there or not enough out there.”

Infants and children are particularly at risk from second hand smoke.

They breathe faster and their lungs are still developing.

There can be impacts of maternal smoking during pregnancy, through to health impacts for babies and children, and beyond.

Mrs Bigeni wants children to grow up in a smoke-free environment and she believes education is the priority.

She said: “Who is standing up for these little children?

“Someone has to stand up and say we have to give them a voice.”

Mrs Bigeni supports quit smoking campaigns and on the spot fines for smoking in a car with a child under the age of 16.

But she thinks education campaigns should go further.

Mrs Bigeni has called for an education campaign highlighting the health impact of second hand smoke on babies and children.

That could include billboards highlighting the health dangers of smoking with children in the car.

Infants and children are most likely to be exposed to second hand smoke in the home and car.

Mrs Bigeni said dealing with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was not what she expected for her adult life.

“I can’t do anything about that but I’d like to be able to do something for these babies and children for them not to have that outcome for their adult life,” she said.