NCDs

Australia shows support to Tonga in fight against NCDs

This is after they handed over a new vehicle to the Ministry of Health, last week.

A statement issued by the government sad “This new vehicle will facilitate NCD's outreach services to Tongatapu’s communities.”

The new vehicle was handed over by Australia's Deputy High Commissioner Erin Gleeson to Tonga's Minister of Health, Dr Saia Piukala.

     

Pacific guidelines for healthy eating during pregnancy

The Pacific guidelines for healthy eating during pregnancy is a handbook for health professionals and educators designed to maximise health outcomes for both expectant mother and her child.

Dr Si Thu Win Tin, team leader for the Public Health Division’s (PHD) NCD Prevention and Control Programme at the Pacific Community (SPC) says, “To address the NCD crises in the Pacific region, SPC advocates for early interventions to nurture a future population with reduced risks of developing NCDs through policies and guidelines”.

Tonga still wants Forum Leaders to champion Pacific war on junk food

He's told the Forum partners dialogue with business leaders that participating Forum Leaders can be weighed on a regular basis, with the winner being the person who loses the most weight and those leaders who have not lost or have gained weight also being awarded a prize - they will get bicycles.

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa responded in kind to the weight loss challenge from Tonga's Prime Minister, welcoming it but noting his colleague would win it all the time - and that the challenge needed to consider those like Nauru's President who were made of muscle.

Tonga PM to promote weight loss by Pacific leaders

Tonga's Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva made the appeal in an interview with the Samoa Observer while discussing the impact of child obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Pacific.

Mr Pohiva said NCDs had everything to do with eating habits and lifestyle.

Pacific leaders meet and talk about the issue, yet initiatives they advocate do not have an impact, he said.

The effect in Tonga was telling, with life expectancy falling from 71 to 68 years of age, the prime minister said.

NCDs, climate change, security effects on Pacific private sector discussed

The meeting discussed actions the private sector needs to take in the Pacific region to challenge climate change, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and other relevant issues. 

The preparatory meeting is held annually ahead of the annual Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting, where Pacific Island leaders consider the recommendations from the preparatory meeting. This year, the Pacific Island Forum Leaders meeting will be held in Nauru on September 4.

USP assists Tonga Health Ministry with NCD-prevention messaging

IOE has been assisting Pacific countries to achieve quality education through its Research & Development programme, Professional Development & Learning programme, and the Waka Publications programme since 1976.

The Waka Publications programme has been publishing children’s reading books, teacher guides, and classroom resources in more than eight (8) Pacific languages over the past 40 years.

Tongan minister providing Pacific voice against NCDs

In March, Saia Piukala was appointed to the World Health Organisation's Independent Global Commission on NCDs.

Dr Piukala said the commission was compiling a report which would be presented to the WHO for discussion shortly before being released next month.

He said there would be four main areas of concern.

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Tonga shares experiences on preserving marine diversity, tackling NCDs

“Tonga attaches great importance to Sustainable Development Goal 14 and believes it can be attained through set targets and indicators,” he said, adding that Tonga looked forward to the upcoming UN conference Goal 14 as an opportunity to see where the international community stands on the Organization’s efforts to preserve this precious resource, by, among others, build on existing successful partnerships and stimulate innovative and concrete new partnerships to advance the implementation of the Goal.

Coherence between Pacific trade and health policy needed to combat NCDs

RNZ reports heart disease, cancers, lung disease and diabetes are the leading causes of death in the Pacific with most countries losing their productive citizens to NCDs.

The United Nations Development Programme's Ferdinand Strobel says health and trade interests in the region are often developed in silos and end up undermining each other’s' efforts.

He said with the right legal framework they could be made to work together to help in the fight against NCDs.

Fatty meat tax introduced in Tonga

An increased excise tax of 40 seniti, about US$0.15, a kilogram went on various foods, including chicken, mutton and turkey tails, on Tuesday.

The new law focusses on fatty meats and other food items that contribute to NCDs.

The price of tobacco is also up by nearly a third.