The President of the S.I.D.S Conference, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, has reminded world leaders who are in Samoa about their “obligation to future generations.”
That is a must to ensure partnerships are formed between small island countries and international partners to fight non-communicable diseases (N.C.Ds). Sustainable development, he said, cannot be possible unless N.C.Ds are addressed.
Tuilaepa was speaking during a side event on the prevention and control of non communicable diseases for healthier islands, held at the Manono building at the Faleata S.I.D.S venue. The event also featured Minister of Health, Tuitama Dr
Talalelei Tuitama, Puleleiite Dr Shin Young-soo and Regional Director of WHO Western Pacific Region and UNDP Administrator, Ms Helen Clark.
“What we need to do now is set definitive targets that will achieve the Millennium Development Goals,” Tuilaepa stressed.
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He highlighted the importance of strengthening national partnerships to come up with practical actions to eliminate or reduce N.C.Ds.
Tuilaepa said the major N.C.Ds affecting S.I.D.S include heart diseases, strokes, diabetes and cancer among others.
In Samoa, the Prime Minister said his government has initiated a number of initiatives to tackle N.C.Ds. These include a strong push for preventative measures as well as laws to reduce the risk of people getting sick.
For Ms Clark, she said there is no doubt that N.C.Ds is a growing concern for S.I.D.S.
U.N. figures show that in the Pacific region, there are eight deaths out of ten from N.C.Ds. Similar statistics are recoded in the CARRICOM region.
Of countries with the highest obesity rates, 14 out of 15 were S.I.D.S.
“The major challenge posed by these diseases is the challenge of sustainability,” she stressed.
Puleleiite said prevention and control of N.C.Ds ensures sustainable development for S.I.D.S.
He said this could be done by reducing the importation of unhealthy food and drinks. He also called for N.C.Ds-related goals to be priority items on the post -2015 Development agenda.
“In the Pacific and the Caribbean – where most Small Islands Development are located, N.C.Ds create a huge economic burden for families and society,” he said.
“We have developed nine global targets and 25 indicators for the prevention and control of N.C.Ds and one of the targets is a 25per cent reduction in premature mortality from N.C.Ds by 2005.
“We need to look at trade issues and we must enhance the capacity of S.I.Ds to monitor imports and safeguard health.”
Lastly, he said: “Fighting N.C.Ds require a whole government and whole of society approach.”
Background information from WHO
In the Pacific and the Caribbean, N.C.Ds cause four out of five deaths. Most of these deaths are among economically productive age groups and are preventable. N.C.Ds create a huge economic burden for families and society. In Fiji for example, as many as six people have a foot or a leg amputated every month because of diabetes
From subsistence farming and fishing, communities have been propelled into the global stage. Unhealthy food and drinks have flooded their markets. Tobacco and alcohol also became freely available. In Samoa, around 90per cent of adults are overweight, and almost one in four students currently use any form of tobacco.
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