A call for action

THE fact that more than 12,000 Fijians lost their lives to NCDs over a two-year period is a concern. Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu revealed the number as he called for action, urging stakeholders to unite in addressing our NCD crisis.

He wants us to focus on a healthier, more prosperous future.

He did not specify the years these deaths happened but said a proposed policy called the Fiji Policy on Food and Nutrition Security (FPFNS) aimed to ensure Fijians have access to safe and healthy food that meets their dietary needs and cultural preferences. Transformative policies, multi-sectoral engagement, targeted investments, and enhanced data collection, he said, were integral components of a collective strategy to combat chronic diseases in Fiji.

Speaking at a policy development workshop on chronic diseases at the Holiday Inn in Suva, the minister said chronic diseases like NCDs impacted communities and healthcare systems because of their complex nature.

They spanned genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioural factors.

We learn that more than 15 million people worldwide succumb to NCDs annually between the ages of 30 and 69, with a notable proportion of these deaths happening in low- and middle-income countries like Fiji.

Dr Lalabalavu said more than 80 per cent of Fiji’s annual mortality were attributed to NCDs, with heart disease and diabetes emerging as major contributors.

The risk factors for NCDs in Fiji, he noted, were significant and included the high prevalence of overweight or obese people, elevated blood sugars and blood pressure levels in our communities.

Insufficient daily consumption of healthy food options in fruit and vegetables, he said, and the presence of a significant percentage of daily smokers are also risk factors.

This is why importance has to be placed on targeted interventions to address risk factors and bridge nutritional gaps.

We have been warned.

Our challenge is to live a healthy life. However, that’s easier said than done.

While the onus is on us to be proactive in terms of healthy living, a lot comes back down to financial stability. And how much we can put aside to buy healthy food.

So the onus is also on the powers that be to make this affordable.

We face a critical health challenge.

We know the negative impact of NCDs on our lives. We hope the statistics will compel us to understand NCDs, the risk factors and how we can improve our lives.

The fight must involve a comprehensive strategy that embraces education and awareness, promote physical activity, support local agriculture, and perhaps encourage the powers that be to look at policies and healthy food options with targeted taxation.

We must be engaged!