In Fiji, deaths and disabilities caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are on the rise, and the disease shift from infectious diseases to NCDs is rapidly progressing. The Ministry of Health of Japan has formulated the “Annual Implementation Plan 2020-2021” and the “National Strategic Plan 2020-2025” to promote comprehensive measures against NCDs, aiming to reduce the prevalence and risk factors of major NCDs. Under these circumstances, the Japanese government has supported the country’s NCDs countermeasures, focusing on strengthening the capacity of healthcare professionals through the acquisition of the Motivational Interviewing (MI) method (Note 1). MI also contributed to strengthening the capacity of healthcare professionals to deal with other health issues, such as its application not only to NCDs but also to existing counseling (e.g., family planning counseling and nutrition counseling for undernourished and overnourished children), while at the same time contributing to improving health service satisfaction of patients receiving counseling and health literacy. However, it did not lead to the comprehensive systematization of the wellness clinic system (Note 2) or the full-scale implementation of workplace health checkups. In addition, it could not take root as a national-level system due to the government’s budgetary measures, securing medical personnel, and other issues.
This collaboration aims to strengthen the capacity of primary level health care workers engaged in the fight against NCDs and establish a system of workplace health checkups throughout Fiji, thereby contributing to sustainable prevention and control of NCDs and improving the status of NCDs management throughout Fiji.
(Note 1) Motivational Interviewing: An interviewing method based on a counselor-centered counseling approach that aims to encourage the counselor to change his/her own behavior, rather than to give one-sided instructions.
(Note 2) Wellness Clinic System: A follow-up system for the results of health checkups, which includes re-checkups and walk-in guidance based on the standards.
© Source JICA