Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka expressed his personal battle with diabetes as he emphasized the importance of health awareness during the launch of the Diabetes Campaign 2024 at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva. He reflected on the loss of family members to the disease, sharing his mother’s tragic story of losing two infant sons and becoming blind due to diabetes.
Rabuka revealed that his doctor recently advised him to monitor his blood sugar levels, prompting him to be more vigilant about his health. He highlighted the severe impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Fiji, noting that in 2020, approximately 5,700 Fijians died from related conditions, with 80 percent of deaths attributable to diabetes and NCDs.
The Prime Minister pointed out the alarming burden these health issues place on individuals, families, the workforce, and the government. He emphasized that unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, exposure to tobacco smoke, and excessive alcohol consumption contribute significantly to the risks associated with NCDs. He warned that many lives are cut short due to heart diseases, diabetes, strokes, hypertension, cancers, and other chronic conditions.
Rabuka concluded by mentioning that globally, one in ten adults has diabetes, with a significant portion of cases being type 2 diabetes, and many remaining undiagnosed.