The people of Kadavu benefitted from a three-day heart echo screening outreach conducted last week by the Ministry of Health’s Echo Surgical Team.
The outreach, carried out in collaboration with Sai Prema and Heart Heroes Fiji, was held at the Daviqele, Kavala and Vunisea health facilities and formed part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to address cardiovascular diseases.
Cardiovascular disease remained the leading cause of death in Fiji, claiming lives prematurely and placing a heavy burden on families and communities.
Health officials said non-communicable diseases, including heart disease and stroke, continued to rise due to largely preventable risk factors such as unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption.
The screening program focused on early detection of heart-related conditions and raising awareness of warning signs associated with cardiovascular disease.
Medical teams conducted echocardiogram assessments to identify underlying heart conditions that may otherwise go undiagnosed.
Early detection allows timely medical intervention, improving long-term health outcomes and quality of life for patients.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to taking essential health services to maritime and rural communities as part of its broader NCD prevention strategy.
