IN four years, more than 70 per cent of global diseases would be related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and this posed an important health challenge in Fiji and the Pacific region.
Fiji National University associate professor Masoud Mohammadnezhad, during a presentation at the Pacific Update Conference in Suva yesterday, said NCDs were growing at a rapid rate and health and policy-makers needed to address this. Mr Mohammadnezhad said based on the literature review conducted, most researchers and program groups on NCDs in Fiji and the Pacific focused on the adult population.
“However, this should not be the case and we should put more focus into the younger generation and in children in order to prevent this,” Mr Mohammadnezhad said.
“This links to studies based on schools, which showed the lowest percentage, and schools should be the first place of concentration because we can effect change in these children.
“Interventions at grassroots level are cost effective so we need to consider this point for policy-makers in future to help people and educate them and do more interventional study that could encourage behavioural change.”
Consultant and former principal adviser Ravi Ram said health and healthy living should be promoted to the entire population in all policies, including those outside the health sector.
Mr Ram said policies should not be conflicting because this would affect the nation’s fight against NCDs.
