Fiji is lagging behind in its STEPS Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Survey, says Dr Devina Nand.
The Health Ministry’s head of Wellness said the survey was critical in finding out the health of a country’s population.
“The STEPS survey is done by many countries,” Dr Nand said.
“It is a World Health Organization tool, and this research helps tell us how healthy our population is.
“It is done every 10 years. “For us in Fiji, we are lagging.
“Our last survey was in 2011, so we are due for another survey and we are in preparation for another survey.” Dr Nand said the last STEP survey showed very alarming figures for the country.
“It showed about 70 per cent of our people were overweight and obese.
“About 14 per cent of our population, when seen, had high blood sugar, 31 per cent of our population, when we screened them, had high blood pressure and 31 per cent of our people had taken alcohol in the past 12 months.
“The survey also highlighted that 85 per cent of our people don’t eat the recommended five servings of vegetables and fruits.
” Dr Nand said the study showed the many factors that contributed to people’s lack of a nutritious diet.
“We can talk about poverty, access, backyard gardens and if people are aware that these are the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables that they need to be eating.
“The survey also showed us that about 17 per cent of our people smoked daily.
“These are very alarming figures that highlight the issues we are facing when it comes to NCDs.
“And according to our comparison of the stats from the previous STEP survey in 2002 with the 2000 study, we found that our figures or our health have actually worsened.”
