CHIP for health
IN a bid to highlight the NCDs crisis in the country, the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) Women’s Wing hosted a forum on the complete health improvement program (CHIP) on Thursday.
Guest presenter Dr Alipate Vakamocea said the health crisis facing the region was a concern.
“Fiji has the gold medal for being rugby sevens champions but in the same breath, we are working towards having the gold medal for type 2 diabetes,” he said.
Dr Vakamocea, who is also the health director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, said the NCDs issue was a result of poor lifestyle choices.
“How did we get to this state? It is actually pretty simple and then not at the same time.
“Our lifestyles have changed. The way we eat, the way we move, the way we sleep, our stress levels, our relationships and our lifestyles have changed.
“Lifestyle medicine has been quoted as being the key to the prevention of chronic diseases.
“More recently, it is now seen as a key in the management, reversal and even the cure of many chronic diseases.”
CHIP is a lifestyle medicine education and empowerment program that encourages a person to take control of their health.
The lifestyle intervention program targets chronic diseases.
The CHIP initiative was part of the association’s activities for the year and aims to promote and advocate for health and wellness among its members.
Members of the public who wish to join the program can send an email to the following email address –– chip.fiji@gmail. com. AUSPS Women’s Wing president Rosalia Fatiaki said the event encouraged members of the association to make healthy lifestyle changes.