Tuitama says recent studies have shown that between 60 to 80 % of deaths are attributed to NCDs.
“The top 10 countries with the highest rates of overweight and obesity as well as diabetes are mostly from the Pacific region,” he told a UN forum on Economic and Social Affairs in New York.
“A critical factor in health for Samoa and our Pacific neighbors is the double burden of diseases caused by NCDs and communicable diseases, including emerging and re-emerging diseases.”
Tuitama also highlighted concerns about the impact of climate change on health.
