500 Fijians with type one diabetes, Akbar tells
Youngest type one diabetic patient in the country is a 10-year-old living in the Northern Division.
There are 500 Fijians living with type one diabetes from 2014 to 2018, latest statistics from the Ministry of Health has revealed.
What is more alarming is that the youngest Fijian with type one diabetes is a 10-year-old living in the Northern Division.
She further revealed that the youngest person living with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in the North was 19 years of age. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus or GDM develops during pregnancy (gestation). It causes high blood sugar that can affect your pregnancy and your baby’s health.
These alarming statistics were highlighted yesterday by the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Rosy Akbar, while opening the Northern Diabetes, Rheumatic Heart Disease and Tuberculosis youth camp at Bethel Primary School in Labasa.
She said it was of greater concern that people developing diabetes, regardless of what type, were getting younger.
“But the fact remains that NonCommunicable Diseases like diabetes is a lifestyle disease which is preventable,” Ms Akbar said.
“If we take good care of our health, which means being committed to eating healthy, avoiding food high in salt, sugar and oil content and ensuring to have 30 minutes of exercise every day plays a key role in staying NCD free.
“The key to good health is to keep your blood sugar levels within the range your doctor gives you.” The minister also told the youths that the camp would further enhance their opportunities to seek ways to improve their lives.
She reiterated that the ministry was committed to work with its stakeholders to tackle NCDs.
There are almost 3500 Fijians living with RHD, Ms Akbar revealed. “In the North, there are approximately 800 people registered as having being diagnosed with RHD,” she said.
“RHD is the chronic damage to the valve(s) of the heart, which results from repeated episodes of rheumatic fever. In the country, one child in nearly every classroom has confirmed RHD.
This disease, the minister said, most commonly started from a sore throat or infected skin sores, specifically from a bacteria or germ called Group A streptococcus or ‘strep’ for short.
“Once someone has RHD, they will need to take their monthly Benza (penicillin) injection to stay well,” she said.
Through the ministry’s 2018/19 Budget allocation, the RHD programme is allocated $40,000. “We will work collaboratively with organisations such as CureKids to conduct wider community outreach and awareness programmes on RHD,” Ms Akbar said.
Tuberculosis (TB)
Last year, 358 cases of TB were recorded nationally, of which 60 per cent were notified from the Central and Eastern divisions, 30 per cent from the West and 10 per cent (or 36 cases) in the Northern Division, Ms Akbar revealed.
“70 per cent of cases affected the lungs and are deemed infectious, while children represented 14 per cent (or 51 cases) of all. “People with diabetes accounted for 14 per cent of all cases. TB deaths stands at approximately 26 per year.
“Diabetic represented a significant risk to TB control efforts in the country because a diabetic was three times more likely to develop TB disease if they became infected. “When it comes to TB it is curable and largely preventable. Being aware of your risk as well as the signs and symptoms of the disease and presenting promptly to a health facility for a diagnostic test is important as well as being faithful to the entire course of treatment. In this way you not only protect yourselves, but also your community,” she said.
The ministry has been allocated $500,000 for TB national awareness/ education and administration of services for TB in patient care and specialist clinics located in Labasa, Lautoka and Tamavua in Suva.
Targeting youths
The minister congratulated the youths who were selected to attend the first Northern Youth Camp organised by Ministry of Health, Diabetes Fiji, Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) Programme and Tuberculosis (TB) Unit.
“We are targeting the youths because it’s easier to influence behaviour change at a young age compared to when they are older and have set routines and behaviour that are more resistant to change,” Ms Akbar said.
“This is a great platform to address health issues that affects the lives of our youth. Diseases like diabetes, rheumatic heart disease and tuberculosis need to be taken very seriously.
“In dealing with chronic conditions such as diabetes, RHD and TB, young people first need to understand more about their condition, which will then help them manage their conditions and lives well. They need to learn how to manage their conditions at a young age so that when they get older, they’re able to continue managing their health well.”
She believes patients are the best people to advocate for better services, raise awareness not only on how to manage conditions, but how to prevent it as well.