Devina Nand, the head of Fiji’s Department of Wellness at the Ministry of Health, has encouraged the public to prioritise fresh local foods over processed products.
Speaking to the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation, Nand expressed concern over the “widespread anaemia across all age groups in the country”.
According to him, “poor diets and unhealthy lunch box choices are fuelling this”.
He advised families to plan shopping lists, monitor salt, sugar and fat content, and read food labels carefully.
Nand further noted that the problem is evident as “Fiji has high cases of childhood obesity and other non-communicable diseases”.
“We encourage homegrown vegetables or home gardening,” the official said.
“It would be lovely to have people doing their own gardens, not only just for food, but also as a form of physical activity.
“And it also becomes a family time, so it’s like a holistic approach to it.”
Nutrition critical to development
Following this, Nand urged parents to promote breastfeeding, saying: “If you’re somebody who is responsible for the food in your family, get the power to choose what you feed.
“As a small island developing state, where do we stand? Let us do better from here.
“You know, if we work together, I think there’s a huge, huge way we can do this. Proper nutrition is critical for a child’s development and learning.”
Nand also called for co-ordinated action amongst government and private sectors to tackle the crisis.
According to National Food and Nutrition Centre Acting Manager Kriti Prasad, Fiji faces a double burden of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, with anaemia one of the biggest challenges.
In particular, anaemia is a problem because it reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, leading to various health issues and impacting overall well-being.
It is moreover often linked to iron deficiency, making it a significant public health concern.
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