A new health initiative between the Ministry of Health and Tonga's churches aims to reduce non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, a major health issue for Tonga, where an estimated 40% of the population either have diabetes or are at risk of developing it.

Diabetes, a lifestyle disease that has life-threatening consequences, afflicts 18% of Tonga's population and another 22% are identified as having an increased risk of developing diabetes, according to the Ministry of Health.

Tonga's diabetes patients increased from 6,500 in 2008 to 7,000 in 2009 and the disease is putting enormous strain on the health care system. Diabetes is known to be the commonest cause of kidney failure in Tonga and the second commonest cause of blindness. There is an increasing number of amputations due to Diabetes.

Another 8,500 Tongans are considered to be at increased risk of developing diabetes.

Task force

A new organisation initiated by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organisation met for the first time today to appoint a task force with HRH Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu as Patron.

The Health Promoting Churches Partnership taskforce will include 10 members from the main denominations, including the Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Free Wesleyan Church, Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, the Seventh Adventists, the Salvation Army, the Tokaikolo Church, as well as health officials and a WHO representative.

The Country Liaison Officer for the World Health Organisation in Tonga Dr Pratap Jayavanth said that this partnership is important because churches play a very significant role in the life of the community.

"The task force will be tasked to implement the programs aimed at promoting healthy living in Tonga thus reduce non-communicable diseases such as diabetes caused from an unhealthy lifestyle."

Education

He said strategic objectives were in place to achieve this, which included advocacy, recognising NCDs and informing people of its life threatening consequences, whether from smoking and unhealthy diet.

Another is the mobilisation of health resources to put together community-based activities to promote healthy living. While another plan is to do capacity building and empower churches to take an active role in leading health activities such as self-management and care in communities.

Dr Jayavanth said Tonga is ranked fourth in the Western Pacific in terms of diabetes prevalence, with an estimated 6,500 people with diabetes in March 2008.

"Non communicable diseases also known as lifestyle diseases account for four out of five top causes of death in Tonga."

He said these statistics show the importance of reducing non-communicable diseases.