Create tide of wellness, health – Konrote
TALKING and sharing our experiences in effectively controlling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will help us understand how to prepare the nation to become healthier and more resilient in the face of global outbreaks and pandemics.
This was highlighted by President Jioji Konrote during the Multisectoral Health and Wellness Forum in Pacific Harbour last Friday.
“I would like you in this forum to think about how to change the narrative — how to create a tide of health and wellness, helping people to understand that it starts with every one of us,” he said.
“Let us think about how we influence our own families, communities, schools and workplaces in making healthy choices.
“For example, in supporting Government’s wellness program, I lead my staff by ensuring that we run and walk to keep fit and well, we serve healthy and home-grown food to our visitors, and I have a home garden that you may want to visit.”
Mr Konrote said Fiji did not have to look far to learn about prevention and promotion of health and wellbeing.
“You have recognised that what we have been doing to date has only been able to take us so far.”
He said the approach taken towards the issue of addressing NCDs needed to change.
“You have been innovative in bringing new influencers and sectors into the room. It is now up to you to take advantage of this opportunity and truly come together beyond this forum to develop an effective multi-sector strategy for addressing the curse of NCDs in Fiji.
“But do not stop there. We need a strategy that can and will be implemented. One that breaks new ground. We need innovation, commitment and collaboration.”