Measles vaccination

Amrit Singh, Nausori

The measles outbreak in the Navua region has been well managed and the Ministry of Health. They need to be thanked for that. But one true champion in this modern era is social media.

There are plenty of bad remarks for social media. Even I don’t feel great about Facebook, but it has caught the attention is our citizens and was the very prompt in getting many people persuaded to get immunised for measles.

Friends and family members were vigilant in telling their loved ones to get immunised and social media played a great part to it. More people are turning up to the health facilities to get immunised. It is a great gesture from all Fiji citizens. It felt like people were going to voting polls.

I hope more people become aware of these types of diseases; not only for measles, but for NCDs as well.

This is the right time where we can not only get vaccinated, but ask ourselves about preventing diabetes, heart attack’s and strokes. If people can spend so much just to eat food and drinks or to drink kava worth $50 on a Saturday night, I feel they can afford machine items for blood pressure and diabetes. Even cholesterol machines are now being sold online.

This is not to blame anyone, but it is just advice on what needs to be done. Ask yourselves, when was the last night time you had your weight checked, or the last time your blood pressure and sugar levels were tested? More people ranging from ages 30 to 50 at least need to have a full body medical done.

Even if you are not travelling to overseas. You can have your X-ray, blood and various tests done at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital or by visiting Sai Prema Foundation Hospital based in Nasese or at any other health care facility.

This is the right time since December holidays are on the horizon and kids will be on holiday as well. Why not visit a health facility? Take your mums and dads, your grandads or grandmas. If you want to go far then go alone, but if you want to go further go together.