Non-communicable diseases (NCD) continue to be the main disease burden for Fijians, contributing to 80% of all deaths in the country and 40% of premature deaths.

Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu highlighted this while speaking in Parliament on Monday.

He said he was grateful to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka for launching the Policy and Guideline on Healthy Catering at government agencies and institutions which should guide how the civil service can promote and implement healthy eating and meal preparation.

However, Dr Lalabalavu said the healthy habits to reduce NCDs in Fiji “do not start inside our hospitals and nursing stations.”

He said they began and were nurtured in homes, schools, villages, work places, offices, and also in the deliberations in Parliament.

Dr Lalabalavu said the NCD crisis in Fiji would require everyone’s collective effort and determination to control and stop.

He said the ministry was finalizing its Wellness and NCD Strategy with the help of partners, “which will guide our effort in addressing NCDs in Fiji.