Fiji's Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry says he is concerned by declining health standards amoung youths caused by diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.
The leader of Fiji's Labour Party, Mahendra Chaudhry Photo: AFP
The comment follows a Fiji Times report that revealed the country's youngest diabetic patient was an 11-year-old.
Mr Chaudhry says there is a strong connection between diabetes and heart disease, and the increasing impoverishment of people in lower income groups.
He says the 2017 census confirms the problem is growing with only 3.2 per cent of the population living beyond the age of 65.
Mr Chaudhry says malnutrition, growth of squatter settlements and a lack of physical activitiy have contributed to the poor health standards.
