Church combating diabetes

MEMBERS of the Seventh-day Adventist Church have been working with health authorities to combat non-communicable disease in Papua New Guinea.
The church’s health ministry took the initiative under the theme “Save 10,000 Toes” campaign through a partnership between the Government and stakeholders to reduce type-two diabetes cases and other lifestyle diseases in the country by 2030.
Morobe health authority (PHA) chief executive officer Dr Kipas Binga launched the programme in Lae last week, which was witnessed by New Zealand honorary consul Zoe Harrison and Australian consul general Mark Foxe.
Binga said the campaign was timely as lifestyle diseases were on the rise and the initiative would help the PHA to address the rise of these diseases and other health issues.
“We have the challenge of communicable and non-communicable diseases,” he said.
“HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and TB (tuberculosis) have not truly disappeared.
“How do we find a balance on that and rising lifestyle diseases?
“We must learn to spend to keep people healthy.
“Diabetes and other diseases such as cancer are on the rise everywhere, including Morobe.
“We look forward to partnering with the church for the cause of our people. We must have clear pathways for patient referrals and I think we can do this together.”