Diabetes has created a lot of inequities – Health Minister

Diabetes is the one Non-Communicable Disease that has created a lot of inequities especially with the way health resources are utilised in Fiji.

While launching the research on the risk for lower limb amputation amongst diabetics, Minister for Health Jone Usamate said that no doubt that the big complications of kidney failure, cardiovascular events and lower limb amputations have hugely impacted the country’s productivity and therefore the sustainability of any development project or plan.

Usamate said out of the major complications mentioned, diabetic lower limb infections and amputations is a major contributing factor to the high cost of health care today and creating more burdens on families, communities and the nation.

He said the lower limb amputation rate of 1 in every 12 and half hours is a statistic he is not proud to speak about, but it is a reality the country is facing and will get worse if nothing is done.

He added that the quest to eliminate or significantly reduce this embarrassing and outrageous statistic, they must go through relevant and contextualised research work and the ones that will have applicable results.

Usamate added that this is a challenge that needs the collaboration of anyone who cares about the well-being of a fellow Fijian whether they are young or old or of any ethnicity.

He added that in order to achieve positive outcomes and targets on any part of the national strategies on NCDs, an integrated approach is needed at all healthcare stages which are primary care, secondary care and tertiary care.