The 11th Pacific Health Ministers Meeting has been told that its Healthy Islands Vision has fallen short when it comes to creating a healthy Pacific.
Health Minister’s from across the region are meeting on the Coral Coast to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the vision and to address health issues still affecting the region.
President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau says evidence of NCDs are widespread.
“What used to be rare occurrences 20 or so years ago like amputations are now sadly everyday occurrences let us be honest with each other for some of our countries this is a sorry state of affairs.”
The Pacific’s health sector faces many challenges, while the rest of the world is moving forward we continue to lag behind.
Health Minister Jone Usamate says his ministry is fully aware of what it needs to do.
“In Fiji’s case we are now developing our strategic plan now for the health sector so what that Healthy islands vision means will be articulated in the next few years in the targets of strategic plan.”
The World Health Organization says while there has been a reduction in child mortality and Hepatitis B, as well as major strides in the elimination of tetanus, measles, Filariasis and leprosy …the regions NCD rates are the highest in the world.
