Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic lung diseases are the leading cause of death in Solomon Islands. They are also a major cause of morbidity and mortality in a country where health facilities were originally designed to treat acute illness.
The import of food products containing too much fat and sugar and the move away from the more traditional diets that were commonly grown and consumed by the people has, over time, led to the reported deterioration in public health and morbidity.
I point to the high prevalence of diabetes being of major concern in the country and led to pressure on the National Referral Hospital (NRH) and brought about amputations of limbs and lasting disability for many citizens.
I have written about NCD''s and the cost implications to health and life in the SI for a quarter of a century and regrettably I see little has changed and the latest WHO reports confirm my concerns,
A move was made by a dedicated group of health minded islanders to change what people ate but I feel much more needs to be done to change dietary habits and ways by limiting the importation of known unhealthy food products and I believe the MHMS must take the lead.
The Solomon's diplomatic partners and its traditional donor sources must also take a lead in seeing NCD's and the importation of unhealthy foodstuffs, essentially causing NCD's, are controlled are restricted as far as possible and more emphasis placed on home use of natural foods and support offered to those, locally, who recognise changes need to be made.
A person like Patrick Gwao living locally is one such person and I believe he has plans to cultivate crops to aid in reducing NCD's but needs sponsorship by way of funds to see his aims take shape.
