NCDs are man-made therefore it is preventable - Akbar

NCDs are something we have brought on ourselves, it is a man-made tsunami that is taking the country by force, and because it is man-made, it is something that is preventable.

Minister for Health Rosy Akbar highlighted this at the launch of USP’s Health and Wellness Week.

Akbar says the event is USP’s commitment to not only education  for all its students but also ensuring that there are opportunities to enhance the learning environment for important issues like health and wellness.

She says it is only through having a healthy life that people can prosper efficiently in their ambition and with health people have the strength and the confidence to work through their education and career.

Akbar says current risk behaviour prevalent in Fiji today can be changed by young people choosing to live a healthy lifestyle and getting screened to determine their wellness status.

She says the 2017/2018 national budget has involved consulting youths in secondary and tertiary schools.

Akbar says as future leaders of the country, youth need to be consulted and be well informed for their own health and wellness and of their family too.

This is USP’s fifth wellness and health initiative, and they have given students incentives for better health where the winner gets two free nights at The Pearl Resort.

The university has activities like cooking demonstrations, health walks, food and nutrition advice, medical clinics, mental health awareness and fitness sessions as part of this year’s wellness program.