Yaqona, sugary sweets, and cigarettes contribute to increase in NCD’s
Excessive consumption of sugary sweets as yaqona (grog) chaser is a contributing factor to the increase in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Consumer Council of Fiji Campaigns, Information and Media Manager Soneel Ram stressed this during his presentation at a one –day workshop by the Alliance for Healthy Living at the Suvavou House yesterday.
The workshop was focussed on combatting Non-Communicable Diseases
Mr Ram said the increase in NCD cases could be controlled through the restriction of risk factors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and alcohol. “Nowadays people do not consume yaqona if there is no chaser it's sort of become mandatory to have chaser in order for one to consume yaqona and smoking more than one packet of cigarettes during yaqona drinking sessions,” he said.
He said some common yaqona chasers that people normally consume are mixed bhuja , lollipops and carbonated drinks of which a single can contains 9.5 teaspoons of sugar.
“Chaser basically removes the bitter or numbing effect that the yaqona actually has on a person's tongue and this for some actually aids them to consume yaqona for longer periods,” he said.
Mr Ram said excessive consumption of yaqona leads to lack of rest and sleep, affects eating habits and productivity due to its sedative effects.
“Focussing on yaqona consumption trends if we go back a couple of years, this was only consumed during important functions and ceremonies and people only consumed yaqona for short durations but fast forward to today, there is daily consumption from work straight home they actually consume yaqona for longer durations starting in the evening till the early hours of the morning,” he said.
“80 per cent of deaths in Fiji are NCD related, everyone knows it's a rising crisis in Fiji. According to the recent World Life Expectancy diabetes report released in 2016, Fiji ranked second when it came to deaths related to NCDs, and in the Oceania region Fiji is first.”
He said healthier alternatives could also be used rather than sugary sweets when consuming yaqona.
“We are not saying to stop drinking kava or stop consuming chaser , you can do so but keep in mind to do so in moderation,” he said.
Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola