So around 41 per cent of all the employees in the workforce have cardiovascular risk?
Now that is a concern!
Not a very pleasant scenario either!
Yet that’s the word from the Health Ministry’s head of wellness, Dr Devina Nand.
Speaking at the 2024 Fiji OHS conference at Pacific Harbour last Friday, she said this was an area of concern.
It highlights a critical public health issue and the need for early intervention.
Dr Nand emphasised the gravity of the situation, suggesting almost half of the workforce is at risk.
She spoke about heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular complications.
There was emphasis also on early intervention.
She also acknowledged risk factors for other non-communicable diseases across all age groups.
She noted the issue of obesity.
It is scary when you consider the revelation that any employee in this category has the risk of developing a heart disease, heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years.
In terms of major NCDs, Dr Nand said almost everybody has a risk.
For this, the worrying issue is the revelation that risk factors were being seen now in younger people.
Mental health concerns were also raised, and males, she noted, were more susceptible to depression, anxiety and distress.
It brings us to the point where we must be relooking at lifestyles, and perhaps, for the powers that be in the workplace, to put in place wellness programs focused on more than just physical health, but also touching on mental wellbeing.
Dr Nand believes there is a need for a multi-pronged approach, emphasising the need for early intervention.
To that end, we agree that early intervention is critical in the fight against NCDs, and especially cardiovascular diseases.
The onus though is also on us as individuals.
We need to be relooking at our lives.
We need to be watching our diets and considering physical activities.
We live in a fast-changing world where a lot of emphasis is on the takeaway mentality.
Our diets have changed.
Perhaps healthy eating may not be cheap for many people.
But this is where the movers and shakers of our nation come in.
Exercising isn’t at the top of many lists, and many of us are now accustomed to easy meals that are loaded with carbs, salt and sugar for instance.
The key here, as the good doctor has highlighted continues to be early intervention.
But there is also a great need for a change in mindsets!
