This week is “Hospital Week” in the Methodist Church in
Fiji.
According to Rev. Maraya Ryland Nasenaivalu, chaplain at
the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, who prepared the week-long reflections on the
theme “Jesus is Life,” the aim of the week-long devotions is not only to
encourage members to reflect on Jesus as the source of healing and fullness of
life, but to also be careful with their own life style every single day.
Figures shared by Rev. Nasenaivalu from the CWM Hospital
show that between 2008 and 2012, at total of 128,755 patients were admitted of which 124,355 were
successfully treated while 4,206 died.
Approximately 692,728 outpatients were seen during the same period.
While the Methodist community is reflecting on the issue
of life and health, we as a nation should
also be reflecting with gratitude on those who continue to serve, as a
vocation, as doctors, nurses, orderlies, paramedics, nurse-practitioners, lab
and x-ray technicians, dentists, physio-therapists and the many others who we
come to for healthcare.
On Monday a Fiji Times article stated that “thirty per cent of Fiji's population or
102,000 people above the age of 25 suffer from diabetes,” calling non-communicable
diseases (NCDs) “Fiji's biggest killer.”
The Ministry of
Health’s 2010-2014 NCD Prevention and Control Strategic Plan, has the following
shocking statistics which are already more than 10years old:
Tobacco use has an overall prevalence of 36.6%, 42% of
which smoke daily. The mean age for initiation of smoking is approximately 18
years. There is generally low consumption of fruit and vegetables in Fiji, 65%
consuming less than one fruit serving a day. Only 1.2% of males and 0.6% of
females consume 5 or more servings of fruit a day. In terms of vegetables
consumption 2.9% of males and 2.2% of females consume 5 or more servings per
day. In fact 26.4% were found to eat less than one serving of vegetables in a
day. 77.3% of alcohol drinkers were binge drinkers (i.e 77.3% of 45%
prevalence). The prevalence of kava drinkers was 65% with 79.6% continuing to
do so.
Women, people aged 35 years and over, urban dwellers and
Indo Fijians were found to be the least active cohorts in terms of physical
activity. Physical activity at leisure is wanting in the Fiji population. 29.9%
of people were overweight and 18% were found to be obese. Females were by far
more obese than males in terms of BMI and abdominal obesity. There was evidence
of rapid increase of obesity with age up to 30-34 year age group implying
maximal weight gain is occurring in the younger generation in Fiji
The prevalence of diabetes in the 25-64 year age group is
16% of which 53.2% were previously unknown. Of the known cases, 2.1% were not
on medication, 32.2% were on medication but had uncontrolled fasting blood
glucose, and only 12.5% were on medication with good glucose control. Diabetes
is the most common cause of non-traumatic amputation and second most common
cause of adult blindness in Fiji.
The prevalence of hypertension is 19.1% of which 63.3%
were previously unrecognised. Of the known cases, 10% were not on medication,
15.4% were on medication but had abnormal blood pressure, and only 10.9% were
on medication as well as controlled blood pressure.
82% of all deaths are attributed to NCDs, with coronary
heart disease and stroke responsible
for all deaths in the 40-59 age group. Another Fiji Times
article on Monday quoted Ministry of Health NCD advisor Dr Isimeli Tukana sharing that diabetes led to
about 400 amputations per year and that
the latest survey conducted in 2011 with the WHO revealed that the
contributing factor towards NCDs was the change in lifestyle.
"If we don't
change our lifestyle, particularly our children, and the way they eat and the
way they live, we won't be able to solve the problem. We have to protect our
children, "he was quoted as saying.
Within the
community of faith in which I serve, the recent call by the chief shepherd of
the flock, Rev. Dr. Tuikilakila Waqairatu for the church to become “smoke-free”
and for ministers, pastors, leaders and members to break the habit of excessive
kava consumption has been a challenge for many.
 |
| The writer says the recent call by the chief shepherd of the flock, Rev. Dr. Tuikilakila Waqairatu for the church to become "smoke-free" and for ministers, pastors, leaders and members to break the habit of excessive kava consumption has been a challenge |
Those who give
excuses and go to the extent to quote scripture to justify their habits may
need to look at the bigger picture or the reason behind what a number of news
media organisations refer to as “the kava ban” within the Methodist Church.
Rev. Dr. Waqairatu
has explained his concern for the spiritual and physical vitality, or lack
thereof, of members of the Methodist community whose excessive consumption of
kava is really substance abuse. His challenge is for those who have “given
their lives to Christ, “to use these lives responsibly, in the service of God
and creation and to keep the “temple of the Lord” (the body) holy and clean.
Beyond the
theological aspect, the issue of physical vitality – health and wellbeing
should also be considered. Those of us who have had the unfortunate experience
of feeling like the “living dead” after a late night (or early morning) “grog session” can understand the level of
productivity we struggle to have the day after. Translate that to Saturday
night and you can understand the condition of church goers or even the preacher
on Sunday morning .
The vitality of
the family is also at stake in this equation. Second-hand cigarette smoke
inhaled by chidlren, money that could be used for essentials or saved for when
the need arises (instead of going to moneylenders who ensure that they get
their “pound of flesh”) spent on cigarettes, kava, water bills and electricity
(can’t mix without water, not many drink in the dark) and the lack of quality
family time take their toll on the family’s health and wellbeing – physically,
emotionally and spiritually.
The sentiments expressed from a physical perspective by
Dr. Tukana and a spiritual one by Rev. Dr. Waqairatu are, if we reflect on them
honestly, true. The challenge lies in our willingness to break habits we know
to be bad, in order to embrace a lifestyle we believe, and, in some cases actually
preach, to be good.
Yesterday (Tuesday) morning as the sun rose, my son joined me for our
first early morning swim together. As I finished a lap and turned back to see my Tuisawau working hard
on the kickboard, I had no regrets in hanging up my “black belt in under-kava”
in order to embrace this challenge lifestyle change for my own physical and
spiritual health, and that of my family. I am grateful for my friends around the tanoa
who respect my decision and my limits and are happy with my company anyway.
To those who may scoff at this article and protest the
challenge, two quick questions:
What is the reason that you drink – because its cultural,
because of the taste, the effect or just to drink the time?
If we can’t do something or consume something in
moderation – is it worth doing it at all?
The desire to live a life to the full is not only an
issue of intensity but also full in terms of duration. It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly.
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