Biggest Cause Of NCDs Unhealthy Diets, PS Urges People To Choose Wisely

Around 80 per cent of deaths in Fiji are caused by Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

This was revealed by the Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secre­tary, Vinesh Kumar, during the 2022 World Food Safety Day at the Ministry of Agriculture Headquar­ters in Raiwaqa yesterday.

“According to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services - in recent decades, NCDs have become the biggest killer in Fiji, causing thousands of deaths every year - many of those deaths, premature and affecting the lives of many more,” he said.

Mr Kumar said the biggest cause of NCDs was unhealthy diets. He urged people to choose wisely.

“Food Safety is everyone’s busi­ness and The World Health Organi­sation [WHO] states that food safe­ty, nutrition, and food security are inextricably linked,” he said.

“A lack of safe food creates a vi­cious cycle of disease and malnu­trition which overburdens public health services, disrupts social and economic progress, and detracts from the quality of life.”

Food safety refers to handling, preparing and storing food in a way to best reduce the risk of in­dividuals becoming sick from food­borne illnesses.

Mr Kumar said food safety was a global concern.

He added the principles of food safety aimed to prevent food from becoming contaminated and caus­ing food poisoning.

“Proper cleaning and sanitising all surfaces, maintaining a high level of personal hygiene, storing, chilling and heating food correctly with regards to temperature, im­plementing effective pest control, and comprehending food allergies, poisoning and intolerance,” he said.

Participant at the event, Anur­agh Kumar, from Lelean Memorial School said spreading awareness on the safe practices of preparing food in order to have a healthier and longer lasting life was essen­tial.

Ana Railau of Adi Cakobau School said coming from a farming background and getting informa­tion on the safety of food was help­ful.

“My father and his brothers do yaqona, dalo and watermelon farming back in Kadavu, and come to Suva market every month to make their sales,” she said.

Feedback: nolishma.narayan@fijisun.com.fj