A netball program to combat Non Communicable Diseases - the main public health challenge in Tonga was launched in Nuku'alofa on 22 May and for a second year will hold a national netball tournament and community outreach programs to encourage a more active and healthier lifestyle for Tongans.

The second phase of the Kau Mai Tonga launched by the Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre is aimed at combating the health crisis by encouraging women and girls to take control of their health through regular physical activity and ensure families and communities support them.

Dr Viliami Tangi, a Chief Surgeon Specialist at Vaiola Hospital said NCDs are the main public health challenge by far and responsible for four out of five of the most common deaths in Tonga, with the fatal four being cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

He said NCDs accounts for around 60 percent of the 600 deaths per year in Tonga. "There are currently over 10,000 people suffering from NCDs in Tonga," he said. "Reducing the burden of NCDs in no longer just a technical issue but a political problem."

He said diabetes prevalence continues to rise with 4,500 diabetic patients recorded in Tongatapu, 1,000 in Vava'u, 400 in Ha'apai and 250 in 'Eua.

Tongans can stop the suffering of chronic diseases. Addressing NDCs requires multi-sectoral approach and everyone needs to play their role including government, churches, communities, families, NGOs and development partners, said the Chief Surgeon.

Physical activity

Tonga's Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano said NDC's reduces the quality of life of many Tongans and causes the premature deaths of many more which impacts the lives of families and the wider Tongan community.

He said the economic and social cost of NCD's is very real in Tonga as one in every 10 patients admitted is NDC-related, resulting in the Ministry of Health spending one in every $5 dollars on treatment of the diseases. The costs required to continue treating and maintaining those affected by these diseases continues to rise annually, he said.

Non- communicable diseases in Tonga are not inevitable and are preventable. "The path to good health is through each of us choosing healthy eating, regular physical activity and moderate consumption of alcohol and by not smoking. Behaviour change is not easy and different sectors working tougher is crucial in advocating change like what has been done here between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Internal Affairs can we expect to achieve significant change," he said.

The Prime Minister noted the importance of involving non-government organisations like the Tonga Netball Association which manages grassroots delivery of netball in communities.

"I encourage women and girls to seize Kau Mai Tonga as an opportunity to start a journey into health through regular physical activity and healthy eating and I encourage the Tongan community to support women and girls on this journey."

The Australian High Commissioner HE Mr Brett Aldam also expressed his full support for the program.

Outreach

Kau Mai Tonga is a joint initiative between the Governments of Australia and Tonga uses the Strategic Health Communication approach of using the news media together with the coordinated community outreach program as the most effective way to bring about change in health related behaviours.

The netball tournaments will be held on June 22 to July 13 in Tongatapu, Vava'u, Ha'apai and 'Eua.

Last year the program had 160 teams registering for the Tongatapu tournament with more than 90 in Vava'u, 50 in Ha'apai and almost 70 in 'Eua.