Amidst all the efforts and achievements Fiji is making, it would be a pity to still have many of our people dying young – at the peak of their productivity – from Non Communicable Diseases.
President Jioji Konrote has highlighted this at the closing ceremony of the Primary Health Care Symposium in Suva.
He says recent statistics show the rate of tobacco consumption in adults has decreased from 17.5% to 16.6% and the diabetes rate among Fijian adults has also decreased from 16.5% to 15.6%.
Konrote quotes National Advisor for NCDs, Doctor Isimeli Tukana in saying that NCDs are not genetically inherited, they are the result of poor lifestyle choices.
He says NCDs are greatly affecting the health and well-being of our people, societies and the nation and given its potential to complicate lives within a family and community, NCDs can be a serious hindrance to greater national productivity and prosperity.
However President Konrote says it is encouraging to note that the efforts to date have begun to show some favorable and positive outcomes.
