Diabetes accounts for second-highest rate of NCD-related deaths in Fiji - O'Connor

 Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Alex O’Connor says that Diabetes is a major NCD, which accounts for the second-highest rate of NCD-related deaths in Fiji.

Speaking at the launch of the National Diabetes Foot Care Symposium, O’Connor says that in 1980 the rate Of Diabetes was 10% and in 2011 the rate has increased to 15.6%.

Complication of Diabetes has also increased as such the amputation rate in Fiji is 1 in every 8 hours.

According to a study carried out by the Pacific Eye Institute in 2011, eye complications were high among those with diabetes.

O’Connor adds that data collected by the Ministry’s Health and Information Unit shows that a total of 669 amputations were done in 2015 alone and similarly in 2016 a total of 791 amputations were recorded.

This was an increase in amputation rates from 12.1 % in 2015 to 12.6% in 2016.

O’Connor says that the increase is a clear indication that there is a need for an alternative measure to contain the challenge.

He adds that one of the many Government strategies in reducing the number of NCDs is to increase the taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages, alcohol, tobacco and reducing taxation on glucose testing machines.