KILLER CRISIS
PM: NCDs cause productivity losses of up to $400m a year
NON-communicable (NCDs) have a major crisis diseases become for most Pacific Island countries and in particular for Fiji with 15 per cent of the population diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
This was brought to the fore by
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, while speaking via a video message at the launch of the World Health Organization Global Diabetes Compact, who said, Fijians suffer from diabetes well above the global average.
“Fiji loses out on over $400 million a year in productivity and our people lose more than 264,000 years of NCDs.” healthy living due to
Putting it in context with the current global pandemic, COVID-19, the Head of Government said knowing the risk that it posed, the Fijian authorities acted quickly to keep the virus at bay. “It took us 30 days to contain our outbreak of COVID-19, and this month marks one full year since our last local case.”
“NCDs, however, are a crisis with no clear end. It will take far longer than a single month, a single year, or even a medical marvel – like a vaccine – to defeat diseases like diabetes.”
“Instead, we must change hearts and minds across society by raising awareness about how we stop this disease from stealing so much from our people. And we must ensure those who suffer from it can access the best care possible.”
Prime Minister Bainimarama said while 15 per cent of Fijians are diagnosed with a type of diabetes, the real prevalence was likely much higher “but regardless, what we do know is shocking”.
“Those are the raw numbers; but they cannot capture the true weight of the pain our people endure. Feeling your mobility slip away, missing time with your children, watching loved ones leave too soon – none of that heartbreak can be calculated. But it can be averted.”
Prime Minister Bainimarama added in Fiji, the Government was equipping health facilities to offer better and more affordable healthcare to Fijians living with diabetes and other NCDs.
“We are helping our people help themselves through access to better information, outdoor recreation, and more nutritious food.”
“But the economic crisis that has come with the pandemic puts all that work at-risk. The sooner we get our people vaccinated, the sooner we bring our tourism-driven economy back to life, the more progress we’ll make against this disease. It’s that simple.”
Fiji is a proud signatory to the pandemic treaty to protect humanity from a future that looks anything like the past year.
Amongst its other initiatives, the Government has encouraged programmes such as backyard gardens and Wellness Wednesdays to ensure Fijians eat healthy and exercise regularly.