Dr. Devina Nand, Head of Wellness at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, has raised urgent concerns regarding the alarming rise in diabetes mellitus (DM) cases leading to lower limb amputations in Fiji. She emphasized the importance of taking action to address this growing health crisis.
In her statement, Dr. Nand referenced two critical studies. The first study revealed that between 2010 and 2012, there were a total of 938 amputations performed on patients with diabetes. The second study, covering the period from 2012 to 2015, indicated that around 648 individuals underwent their first amputation due to diabetes complications.
Dr. Nand described these statistics as alarming, noting the significant number of Fijians living with disabilities as a result of these medical procedures. She pointed out that diabetes is a significant contributor to disabilities in the community.
Moreover, she highlighted a troubling fact: almost 80 percent of all deaths in Fiji can be attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with 30 to 40 percent of these being premature deaths related to diabetes. Dr. Nand also mentioned that many Fijians do not live beyond the age of 70, making the situation even more concerning.
The age of patients requiring amputations ranged from 30 to 91 years, indicating that many affected individuals are still in their productive years. This highlights the need for a societal shift in how diets and lifestyle choices are approached, as Dr. Nand noted the impact of food on overall health.
In conclusion, this information serves as a wake-up call for the Fijian population to re-evaluate their health habits and pushes for proactive measures to curb the incidence of diabetes and its complications. Emphasizing lifestyle changes could lead to improved health outcomes and a reduction in disability rates nationwide. It is indeed possible for Fiji to foster a healthier society through collective efforts in education and preventive health measures.
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