Saturday – 3rd October, 2009 – 10am

Indian College Grounds

The Dean, Professor Ian Rouse
Heads of Department
Staff, Students and Friends.

I do not intent to make a long speech but I am delighted to be invited this morning to be part of this Fun Day Activity. I have also been informed that this fun day is intended to also launch your health promoting workplace initiatives. Whatever process and framework that you decide to follow, I must congratulate FSMed Management and your organizing committees for being in the forefront to lead by example.

The buzz words these days is; “lets walk the talk” and for FSM to take that first step collectively to turn your workplace to become health promoting is certainly commendable.  It will demand political will from your leaders and commitment by everyone to changing the mind sets and the norms in the FSM community in order for the members of your staff, students and families to reap the benefits of your program.  I have also noted that you have chosen a challenging theme” Moving FSM forward with winning game plan”.  In any game winning matters but of equally importance is our participation and sharing that spirit to enjoy the moments.

Since the launching of Healthy Islands Settings in Yanuca, Fiji, in 1995, a number of initiatives have been started including the various settings approach. While community and school settings have been progressed little progress has been recorded from workplaces. There is widespread agreement in the literature that public health interventions based on ecological model can influence health behaviour including: the intrapersonal factors such as motivation, skills, knowledge, social support, social networks, and social norms.

The Fiji School of Medicine had played a significant role in the development of the Healthy Islands concepts in the Pacific and it must remain in the forefront not only in providing training but in initiating research projects, providing community services and playing other key roles in improving health services and programs such as this. In the 1998, the government of Fiji had endorsed and also launched the policy framework for health promoting workplaces. I shall be quite keen therefore to know the progress of your program because it can be used as a pilot setting for other workplaces in Fiji and the Pacific. You will certainly be settings the yardstick for the rest of other workplaces to follow. 

You have chosen to organize your Fun-Day to also launch physical activity as your entry point to establishing this Health Promoting Workplace initiative. That is the secret behind health promotion movement, it should be made easier, accessible and exciting to be part of our daily lives to ensure sustainability. Other action areas may be identified later according to your needs and priorities. I believe that taking the first important step is always the greatest challenge in any social change project.

I had being informed that this is a collaborative effort of FSM Management, FSM Employees Association, TROPIC Research, OHS Committees and Club Champions that are working together to improve the health of all staff and students by promoting the physical and social benefits of belonging to a sporting and recreational club.
The physical health benefits of participating in sport have been well documented. Belonging to a sporting club provides opportunities for people to develop friendships, interact with others from varying backgrounds, become part of a team, and develop a strong sense of belonging and sense of purpose.
Participating in sport has also been linked to increased levels of self-esteem, lower levels of overweight and obesity, and decreased involvement in risky behaviours such as drug-taking and crime.
Cardiovascular diseases are the world’s and Fiji Public Health Number one problem  claiming 17.5 million lives a year globally and locally in Fiji and the Pacific Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) is the leading cause of death accounting for 3 out of every 4 (70%–75%) deaths. The majority of heart disease related deaths were due to ischaemic heart and cerebrovascular disease (stroke) – that are the result of changing diet and nutrition patterns inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables, declining physical activity levels , high levels of tobacco use raised blood pressure, high cholesterol and glucose levels in the region. Overweight and obesity rates in PICs including are among the highest in the world.

It is through these realities that the World Heart Day was observed last week in major centres around Fiji.  And I am encouraged by the thoughts behind this sports day to also observe World Heart Day  and launch your health promoting workplace with fun.  You have my Ministry’s full support and it is with great pleasure therefore that I declare it open and may all your health be the winner.

Vinaka Vakalevu.

Neil Sharma.

Minister of Health