NCDs worry

CLOSE to 80 per cent of deaths in Fiji are from non communicable diseases (NCDs) which have become the biggest killer in Fiji causing thousands of deaths every year.

NCDs rate in Fiji is very serious. Cardiovascular disease together with high rate of diabetes is a worrying factor. One in three people in Fiji, or 30 per cent of the population, suffer from diabetes.

The FijiFirst Government has often ignored the seriousness of this major health issue over the past 16 years and our public health facilities are at its frailty under the current Health

Minister.

NCDs tend to be of long duration and are the results of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors. The four main types of NCDs are:

■ Cardiovascular disease (heart disease such as heart attacks and stroke); Cancers;

■ Respiratory disease (lung disease such as asthma and COPD); and Diabetes.

It is heart breaking to see many amputates walking the streets as Fiji has a very high rate of amputations because of insufficient education and poor control of diabetes.

Diabetes related amputations in Fiji account for 40 per cent of all hospital operations, says Eddie McCaig, Professor of Surgery at the Fiji National University.

Taking good care of your health and wellbeing is your responsibility. Your health is in your hands. Promoting a healthy diet, physical activity, reduced alcohol use and cutting down on tobacco use are simple and cost-effective measures to reduce premature death and disability from NCDs.

The new NFP/PA government in 2023 will allocate sufficient resources to the Health Ministry and facilities will be improved, while allowing people to speak about health facilities freely and provide helpful critique.

Health is very important and we cannot lose precious lives through negligence. Life does not get better by chance, but by change and change is all that is needed in the mind, in the health sector and in government. In Fiji, change is on its way. KIRTI PATEL

Lautoka