NCD v Fiji

THIS battle has been going on from a long time and at times when looking at the number of deaths due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), it seems we are being conquered by our enemy - NCDs. It was shocking to hear Minister for Health disclosing in the last Parliament session that 80 per cent of the people dying in the country are because of NCDs.

I applaud the honourable PM for launching the National Policy on Healthy Catering for Government Ministries last month because it has to start from our leaders, however, the success of this policy will depend on the monitoring mechanism and the action taken against the offenders. If monitoring is not done stringently, and appropriate actions not taken against the offenders than this policy will be no different than a few others which are lying idle and just adding to the number of policies.

On the other side, the time is just right as the policy has been launched and the discussion at parliamentary level has taken place while the Government is doing its numbers for the 20242025 budget and the nationwide consultation is going on for the next NDP. I just hope and pray that NCD issue is considered in the budget for some immediate solution and in NDP for long term solution. For budget, at least decrease in the prices of items that are good for health and increase for items that are harmful would be a good way to start. Fruit juice, fruits, cereals, imported nuts and other healthy items prices must be decreased and should be less than fizzy drinks, unhealthy snacks and candies.

Apart from the government’s commitment, each and every individual also has a part to play. It reminds me of the words of the former National Adviser for non-communicable disease and Head of National Wellness Centre, the late Dr Isimeli Tukana who once in a workshop said that, “our biggest problem is that we can’t control what goes in our mouth”, which is so true and it is now haunting the nation with so many different types of NCDs.

While the policymakers are doing what they can do, I think if we don’t start at our family level with healthy diets and healthy eating habits amongst our children, then expect NCD winning this battle and leaving us with painful results.

ROHITESH CHAND Lomawai, Nadroga