NON-COMMUNICABLE diseases (NCDs) are killing Fijians, yet many are still unwilling to make the lifestyle changes needed to prevent them.
This was the stark message shared by Dr Unaisi Veilawa, acting senior medical officer at Western Health Services Diabetes Hub, who said recent data highlights a critical gap between awareness and action.
Dr Veilawa said a survey conducted by the Hub in Fiji found that at least 98.5 per cent of adults aged between 18 and 69 are living with at least one NCD risk factor.
“We need to move beyond knowing,” she said.
Dr Veilawa said interventions addressing NCDs have been integrated into the 2025–2029 National Development Plan, with a shift from passive education to active enforcement and clinical tracking.
“We are no longer just telling people to be healthy. We are changing the environment they live in and the systems that monitor their recovery.”
She described Fiji’s wellness system as unique because it adopts a “settings approach,” where health initiatives are embedded in every day environments.
“This means that health isn’t just discussed in the doctor’s office. It is integrated into the places where Fijians live, learn, work, and play.”
Screening is conducted within these settings to identify individuals at high risk, who are then referred to wellness-promoting clinics.
From these clinics, the focus shifts from treating illness to maintaining overall health and well-being.
Dr Veilawa said the goal is to ensure Fiji’s healthcare system remains functional while empowering people to take greater control of their health.
