Akbar to public: Join Diabetes fight
The Minister for Health and Medical Services, Rosy Akbar, is calling on Fijians to stand united against diabetes. To help tackle the problem, she believes that engaging with faith-based organisations will help boost their campaign. Ms Akbar believes these groups will play a key role because they have a lot to offer in terms of promoting and changing lifestyles and behaviour of members of their organisations.
“Most of our lifestyles in Fiji are influenced by our religious beliefs. Therefore the Ministry of Health and Medical Services believes that FBOs are an important stakeholder in promoting healthy lifestyles to reduce diabetes in Fiji,” she said yesterday during the World Diabetes Day celebrations at the Suva foreshore. The country’s youngest patient is a 12-year-old, Ms Akbar revealed. “Our hope is that Diabetes can be prevented, detected early, and treated early to avoid and control complications. For this we need everyone on board! Ministry of Health and Medical Services cannot do this alone!” she said.
“Collaboration, multisectoral action, community participation empowerment mobilisation are key words for our fight against diabetes and all NCDs.”
The minister said diabetes continued to be a major cause of illness, disabilities and premature deaths in Fijians today. “We have found that children getting diabetes and the complications of diabetes are getting younger and younger,” she said. “Diabetes as in other NCDs is about lifestyle choices, and a lifestyle choice is nonmedical.
“Diabetes is said to be a medical consequence of lifestyle, therefore if we work together to promote healthy lifestyles choices then we can help a lot in the fight against diabetes.” Edited by Naisa Koroi
Our hope is that Diabetes can be prevented, detected early, and treated early to avoid and control complications. For this we need everyone on board! Rosy Akbar Minister for Health and Medical Services