Diabetes Fiji Inc donated a foot care equipment to the Ministry of Health yesterday.

The acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health, Maciusela Tuicakau, received the donation from Diabetes Fiji Inc chairperson, Abdul Wahid Khan, at the Children’s Hospital conference room.

Mr Khan said: “The items have been donated by Dr Bal, the eminent foot care surgeons, who visited our shore last November, on a two-weeks training with our local surgeons to improve Diabetes foot surgery done in major hospital.”

The foot care equipment’s includes Podiatry kit, Monofilament 10g/5.07, Infrared thermometer, Gullie wire saw, Vibrometer.

“Diabetes Fiji together with the MOH is working on both these fronts and our footcare project at a decrease in the amputation rate by December 2016,” Mr Khan said.

Mr Tuicakau said: “The prevalence has increased from about four per cent in 1985 to 16 per cent and now 30 per cent in 2011.

“Amputation related to diabetes is currently at a rate of one every 12.5 hours. I am certain that these equipments will go a long way in helping Fijians with diabetes have long quality lives.”

A three-year survey conducted by Diabetes Fiji revealed that a total of 938 amputations were performed at the country’s largest referral centre, CWM Hospital from 2010 to 2012.

Meanwhile, Diabetes Fiji is working with Dahia Footware to make special footware for diabetic people at an affordable price.

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