80% of deaths in Fiji caused by NCDs

80% of deaths in Fiji have been caused by non-communicable diseases over the last few years.

This was confirmed by Ministry of Health and Medical Services Chief Dietician, Ateca Kama during a round-table discussion at the French Ambassador’s residence in Suva.

Kama says the government has spent over $500 million in screening and treatment per year towards NCDs in Fiji, and that is a lot of money.

She says according to the NCD survey and National Nutrition Survey, there are some behavioral risk factors like consuming unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, smoking and consuming alcohol and also metabolic risk factors like high sugar and high blood pressure that is also a major cause of death.

Kama says the deviation from traditional root crops, fruits and vegetables for more cereal-based diets is also one of the major factors of NCDs spreading in Fiji.

She also says the Fijian population has become more import food dependent and that is why the MOH, Ministry of Agriculture and the University of the South Pacific have been working together over the past few years to come up with ways to counter this major issue.

Kama says one of the initiatives they have come up with was the Mai Kana App which encourages families and households to grow their own food.