Non-communicable diseases

This comes especially at a time when the government has heavily invested in roads and infrastructure while there has been a notable increase in the incidence of non-communicable diseases.

The Department of Health has launched a public campaign to inform people that prevention is important, and this includes lifestyle changes.

Health Secretary Pascoe Kase said the health system provides a mix of responses and treatments, whether it is primary health care from an aid post or health centre or sophisticated surgical interventions from a tertiary hospital.

This time it is now attacking the younger generation and posing a real threat to the future of Bougainville’s coming referendum.

An officer within the health division in Buka says excessive consumption of alcohol and other sweet stuff, including lack of exercise, are the major contributors to diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.

“In health we’re trying our very best to educate and even treat people, make open tests to the public, giving out handouts, go to outreach in remote areas,” he said.