“PEOPLE of Fiji need to make wiser decisions on what to put on their plate.”
Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu issued the call to all Fijians following a recent study that found three out of four people in the country do not meet World Health Organization nutritional requirements.
The study, conducted by Azupogo et al. and published in the 2025 edition of Maternal & Child Nutrition, shows a growing concern over poor diets and lifestyle choices in Fiji, sparking fresh calls for national action on nutrition and public health.
“That report, if you look down to the core result of it, it all goes back to individual lifestyles, how you choose to live a healthy lifestyle,” Dr Lalabalavu said in response to the findings.
“People should look after their health and recognise how important it is to eat the right foods.”
He says the Government is prioritising early childhood development as a foundational step in addressing nutrition and long-term health outcomes.
“Early childhood development covers a whole range of things, from maternity care, birth and antenatal care to the well-being of the mother and child.
“If a child gets all the necessary support early in life, they are more likely to become productive adults who can make informed and healthy choices.”
The minister adds a whole-of-government approach is necessary to address the country’s nutritional challenges, pointing to collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and food safety agencies as key.
“This is not just the Ministry of Health’s responsibility. It covers a wide range of areas across government, and it requires a whole-of-society approach.”
As NCDs continue to burden Fiji’s health system, Dr Lalabalavu has also called on parents to instil these healthy eating habits at home.