Diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are imposing significant economic and health burdens in Fiji.
While speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan, former President of the Fiji College of General Practitioners and a general practitioner with a special focus on NCDs, child health, and natural medicine, Dr. Rajesh Maharaj, says the annual cost of diabetes alone is $145 million, while the total burden for NCDs reaches $591 million.
Dr. Maharaj expressed concern over the alarming rise in heart attacks among people aged 20 to 40—an age group considered to be in their most productive years.
He attributes these premature deaths to unhealthy lifestyles and poor dietary choices, emphasizing the need to return to a more natural, healthy way of living and eating.
Naturopath and nutritionist Barbara O’Neill also commented on the worrying trends.
She referenced Dr. Malcolm Kendrick’s book, “The Clot Thickens,” which underscores the vital role of the cardiovascular system.
O’Neill explained that recent research has identified fine, hair-like filaments coating the endothelial cells lining the arteries, which serve a protective function.
She says diets high in sugar, wheat, and inexpensive seed oils can damage the protective filaments, leading to complications such as the bursting of micro-capillaries in the kidneys and eyes.
Both Dr. Maharaj and O’Neill agree that addressing the rise in NCDs requires lifestyle changes, particularly returning to natural, whole-food diets.
