400 Fijians die annually due to NCDs

400 Fijians die every year due to Non-Communicable Diseases like heart attack, mental illness and diabetes.

This has been clarified by NCD adviser Dr Isimeli Tukana during a workshop that was held over the weekend.

Dr Tukana said that from 1995 to date, the trend shows that more people are dying at the age of 40 to 45 years mainly due to Non Communicable Diseases, while in South Africa, the same age group dies from HIV/AIDS.

He added the Ministry has established that if people are dying at 40 years, than they would be sick at 20 years and their behavior pattern would change from 10 years.

That is the sole reason why the Ministry is trying to focus on educating students in primary schools of the types of food they have to eat and the importance of having a balanced diet.

In this respect the Ministry will have to train their personnel in getting the message across in the simplest way for the children to understand.


Story by: Selina Navuso