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First diabetes foot care symposium held in Fiji

The President of Fiji H.E Major general Jioji Konousi Konrote with Assistant Health Minister Ms Veena Bhatnagar and the senior staff and nurses of the Ministry of Health at the foot care symposium

The President of Fiji HE Major General (ret’d) Jioji Konrote (reti’d) opened the first Diabetes footcare symposium last week where the trained nurses in foot care presented success stories on the prevention of diabetes in Fiji.

The prevalence of NCD’s in quite alarming as almost 80% of deaths in Fiji occur as a result of NCD’s, including diabetes, which also contributes to heart disease and stroke.

Diabetes is caused by four main lifestyle factors: Smoking, poor Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical inactivity (SNAP). Additionally, poor diabetes control causes complications in other areas, which our health experts have termed as SNAKE: Skin, Nerves, Arteries, Kidneys and Eyes.

H.E President Konrote said the main strategy of the Fijian Government through the Ministry for Health and Medical Services is to control SNAP to prevent SNAKE! And this could be done through healthy lifestyles.

“For this to happen, all Fijians must choose a healthy lifestyle. We need to eat healthy and balanced diets. We need to be physically active by doing regular exercises on a daily basis,” he added.

“Importantly, we need to shift the spectrum of thinking from curative to preventative. This will go a long way in controlling diabetes and causing premature deaths”.

World Diabetes Foundation Mr Nilles Bent acknowledged the work on diabetes in Fiji and encouraged the Health Ministry to increase the advocacy on the prevention of diabetes as this is the best way to help people avoid diabetes related illnesses.

Meanwhile the Minister for Health and Medical Services Mr Jone Usamate together with National Advisor NCD Dr Isimeli Tukana attended the Regional Minister of Health’s meeting Co-sponsored by WDF and SPC in Tonga to map out strategies to address Diabetes in the region earlier this week.