Non Communicable Diseases continues to be the biggest killer in Fiji.
With this in mind the Ministry of Health continues to look at strategies of advocating for the prevention of NCDs.
President Joji Konrote today challenged students, lecturers and the public to eat healthier and exercise regularly.
Stroke, Diabetes, heart attack and cancer are some of the major NCD’s which affects our population.
The Ministry of Health has set out a plan to strengthen its awareness program.
“we are reaching the end of the month now so hopefully by the end of this month we would have screened 80 thousand Fijians this is called NCDs screening month the new thing there is getting people health conscious to come forward to any nursing station and health center get screened so that you will know your status.” said Dr Isimeli Tukana
Not only is the Ministry of Health worried about the status of NCD’s in the country – a collective fight is needed.
“You hear speakers now talking about multi sectoral approach and in Fiji when we say multisectoral we mean the government is doing its part but we need the faith based organization and we need the vanaua the people the society to come together because the nature of this disease we fortune in Tamavua we learn to kill organism bacteria but NCDs there is no bacteria.” said Dr Tukana.
Continous awareness on NCD remains the primary focus.
“but the message to the Fijian people is caused by lifestyle we have the best medicine but if Fijians don’t change their lifestyle we won’t win we need to change our lifestyle and we need to start changing our lifestyle from childhood right up to senior citizens.” he added.
The World Health Organisation report confirms that Fiji has the second highest rate of NCD-related deaths in the Pacific.