Fiji’s chief surgeon Dr Josese Turagava says Fiji is amputating every 8.5 hours for diabetes and someone loses part of their lower limbs to diabetes every 12.6 hours.
Dr Turagava said 16 per cent of the 25 to 64-year age group had diabetes.
He said the common problems that led to these amputations were late presentation, preference of traditional medicine, non-compliance with medications, co-morbid factors and accessibility to health care.
THE Fijian healthcare system amputates every 8.5 hours for diabetes. According to Fiji’s chief surgeon, Dr Josese Turagava, in Fiji, someone loses a part of their lower limbs to diabetes every 12.6 hours.
He said 16 per cent of the 25-64 years age group has diabetes.
In 2014, Dr Turagava said they were conducting four operations a day for diabetes complications.
He said the common problems that led to these amputations were late presentation, preference of traditional medicine, non-compliance with medications, co-morbid factors and access to health care.
Dr Turagava said despite their coordinated efforts, the numbers continued to increase.
He added amputations could be avoided if patients were taken early to a health facility.
“Diabetic foot sepsis is just the tip of the iceberg of the problems diabetes and NCDs have for Fiji,” he said.
