7 October 2022
I was presented by some very grim facts by a correspondent today writing to me from the Solomon Islands following my latest letter to the media on the impact of NCDs and the figures related to mortality and the spate of NCD rates being experienced locally.
I am rather reluctant to give notice of the worrying impact of NCDs (but at least 6 deaths at day from NCDs at the NRH, and instead, quote the report made my Samson Sade writing in the in the Solomon Times last July.
From what I was told today, Samson’s report was accurate in 2021 but mortality rates from NCDs and increase in NCD cases are higher now and possible at crisis point, needing a crisis response similar to how the government brought the Covid pandemic under effective control.
Here is Samson’s report dated 26 July 2021
Quote.
Solomon Islands has one of the highest rates of non-communicable diseases (NCD) in the Pacific region.
Recent research conducted by Pacific Possible states that NCD’s are now the leading cause of death in Solomon Islands – an estimated 60 percent of deaths in the Solomon Islands are caused by NCD’s.
The four main types of NCDs include cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes.
Such research indicates that a large segment of our population is very vulnerable should there be an outbreak of COVID-19. Vaccination rates are currently low, and government, with the support of donor partners, is working hard to change that.
More vaccines are on their way and relevant health agencies are now going out to communities, making the vaccine more accessible.
In trying to manage a possible COVID-19 outbreak, we already have a crisis that has not been managed – NCD’s are not transmittable but it is still killing our people.
This comes back to people’s choices – we all know the source of NCDs, it is bad eating habits and lifestyle. Yet, the rates are still rising.
Non-communicable diseases are, as the name implies, not transmissible, it is entirely up to the individual to save him or herself from the disease simply by changing lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, people choose to ignore early warning signs, leading to fatal outcomes.
Similarly, to protect one from COVID-19, it is really up to the individual – take the jab and you protect yourself and your loved ones, don’t take the jab and you put others at risk. Yet vaccination rates are low, people have a chance to save themselves, we know that the virus kills, yet we choose to watch and wait.
We must change our attitude if we are to protect ourselves from this virus – otherwise, like the NCD crises, we will lose the fight before it even starts by not vaccinating.
End of quote.
Source – Solomon Times Online.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
