A new piece of technology promoting healthy eating is being rolled out to even the remotest islands of Fiji.
It's hoped the My Kana app will help combat a rising tide of disease like diabetes and obesity with its easy to understand symbols and details about local foods.
The app has been been developed by a team at the University of the South Pacific with Fiji's Ministry of Health.
The university's Irene Yee Chief said the app, together with hotspot technology, meant even those without internet access could download the tool.
"We realised that because we have 300 islands, to travel is a very expensive way of communicating, so since a lot of people have phones we thought people could use the phones to self-regulate their health and before they even go to the medical centres."
Local food on display in a Fijian market Photo: RNZI/Sally Round
Ms Chief said the app was not meant to replace doctors or dietiticians.
She said, with its easy to understand symbols and details about local foods, the app gives Fijians an idea of portion control and nutrition.
She said it used the concept of 'the healthy plate'.
"It's not focused on calories. What we use is the World Health Organisation measure of using a fist, a palm and a thumb. In that way the people of Fiji are able to roughly measure the portion of carbohydrates they are eating."
Irene Yee Chief said the app could be adapted for people in other countries in the region.
The My Kana app, designed for Fiji, gives local people an idea of portion control and food nutrition Photo: Supplied
