Fighting NCDs
ON this day in 2022, we highlighted the fact that Fiji was lagging behind in its STEPS Non Communicable Disease Risk Factor Survey. It was apt then as it is today!
Dr Devina Nand, the Health Ministry’s head of Wellness said the survey was critical to find out the health of a country’s population.
The STEPS survey, she said, was done by many countries, was a World Health Organization tool, and the research tells us how healthy our population is and is done every 10 years.
The WHO website stated: ‘The WHO STEPwise Approach to NCD Risk Factor Surveillance (STEPS) is a simple, standardised method for collecting, analysing and disseminating data on key NCD risk factors in countries. ‘The survey instrument covers key behavioral risk factors: tobacco use, alcohol use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, as well as key biological risk factors: overweight and obesity, raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, and abnormal blood lipids. Through the use of expanded modules, the survey instrument can be expanded to cover a range of topics beyond these risk factors, such as oral health, sexual health and road safety.
‘By using the same standardised questions and protocols, all countries can use STEPS information not only for monitoring within-country trends, but also for making comparisons across countries. The approach encourages the collection of small amounts of useful information on a regular basis.’
In our case, the STEP survey in 2011 showed that about 70 per cent of our people were overweight and obese.
About 14 per cent of our population, she noted, had high blood sugar, 31 per cent of our population, when screened, had high blood pressure and 31 per cent had taken alcohol in the last 12 months.
It showed that 85 per cent of Fijians did not eat the recommended five servings of vegetables and fruits.
These figures serve as a call for action. While interventions can be discussed, ultimately, it is our individual lifestyle choices that hold the key. A paradigm shift, starting from within each of us, is paramount. Embracing a healthier diet, regular exercise, and actively discarding harmful habits are crucial steps in this journey.
When we consider the diverse factors that can impede change, we must acknowledge the need for supportive measures.
We say the powers that be have an important role to play in implementing policies and programs that benefit all of us, regardless of social status, while remaining mindful of economic realities.
Fighting NCDs is not an individual battle; it requires a collective effort.
We can create an environment that fosters healthy choices and empowers Fijians to take charge of their well-being. So let us walk this path together, towards a healthier and brighter future for us all.