Non Comminicable Diseases (NCD) have reached Epidemic proportions in the Pacific and Fiji is Ranked the fourth obese nation in the region, says the Minister for Health Dr Neil Sharma.
Dr Sharma made the comments while speaking at the three-day Fiji Food Summit 2009 held at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi today.
He said NCD arises as a result of imbalance lifestyle of what we consume particularly he said it is due to avoiding local produce to canned and still worse processed food contribute to the equation especially in these times of global economic crisis.
Therefore Dr Sharma stressed, “ Food security, safety and quantity has become an important issue for the individual, community, nationally and internationally. Towards this effort the Ministry of Health with support endorsement from WHO, has developed this program.”
According to Dr Sharma the three-day food Summit will bind all, stakeholders of food security, safety and equality.
“ We acknowledge the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade and Commerce, food producers and processors, food importers and exporters,”he said.
The three key areas Dr Sharma said are Food Security, Safety and Quality. He said according to the recent studies Fiji shows high incidences of anemia in children, women and even men.
He said this calls for the need to use our traditional diets, adapt healthy eating and physcial activities is of paramount importance.
“There are clinical problems of using imported non iodized salt and the need to police our legislation is essential.
Dr Sharma said the MOH initiative on “supplementation” which commenced on October 1st this year will ensure that all children in Fiji are provided Iron, Vitamin A and additional medication to reduce parastic worm infection.
“All pregnant women are provided iron/folic acid into the six month period after delivery to reduce maternal and child anemia,” he said.
In addition Dr Sharma said the Food Act Gazette is in full force now and all importers along with traders are notified to ensure that food items are of quality.
“Our Food Unit has since June 2009 when Gazetting was undertaken, monitored Food Safety on a case by case basis. With the full applicationall food items imported need to comply with the legislation in place. We have the services of the Food Unit in thye MOH and will also consider undertaking chemical/ DNA analysis on a case by case basis randomly for locally processed food,” Dr Sharma added.