Collaborating to lower non-communicable disease risk in Fiji

The George Institute for Global Health will support Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) to lower the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and heart disease across the country through a project funded by the Australian Government as part of The Fiji Program Support Facility. 

In collaboration with the MHMS and the World Health Organization (WHO), The George Institute will support the MHMS to plan and implement the STEPS Survey, which will collect household data to help Fiji identify public health priorities. 

The Institute will also provide ongoing support for data management and analysis, co-produce the final report and make recommendations for policy and programmatic action.

  
“Fiji is currently experiencing an alarming rising trend in deaths from NCDs - particularly heart disease and diabetes before the age of 70,” said lead researcher from The George Institute Dr Bindu Patel. “This project will provide critical data to help the MHMS plan health services and identify public health priorities to prevent and treat NCDs before they occur.”

The project will also monitor and evaluate population-wide NCD interventions in the country for effectiveness through the collection of consistent data across Fiji.