National Advisor for Non-Communicable Disease Dr Isimeli Tukana

National Advisor for Non-Communicable Disease Dr Isimeli Tukana has stated that poverty is one of the major risk to illness.

Dr Tukana says this is why the government is putting in serious efforts to try and fight against poverty.

Being part of the first-ever National Poverty Forum, Dr Tukana says poverty has a serious impact on the health of people.

He says NCD’s can also spiral the poverty cycle given the seriousness of some of these diseases in Fiji.

“So the way the government is approaching it from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services is number one to improve the level of our health care services which means how do we improve the maternal and child health”

Dr Tukana says there is an urgent need for government to work with relevant stakeholders and formulate ideas to try and alleviate the growing issue.