Fighting NCD, New Year’s Resolution for Tokelau Health

^{Physical activities on Atafu under the Tokelau Health Programme}
Tokelau Health targets Non-communicable Diseases for 2012.
With Non-communicable Diseases levels rising in the Pacific, health has set out to combat for a change of life style which aims at decreasing consumption of salt, sugar, alcohol and smoking and health activities for the people of Tokelau.
The Department has recently appointed Alapati Tavite as the National Public Health/NCD Focal point.
 “Alapati brings a wealth of experience & knowledge to the role and we look forward to a more structured approach to NCD & Public Health programmes,” Director of Health Lee Pearce said.
 According to the Tokelau Health Director, health will always need to be a step ahead to keep our people safe and to avoid any new cases.
“The recent potential Public Health issues related to the Drought & Water crises was averted due to upfront planning, preparedness and the Department always being in Risk reduction mode,” the Director stated.
“We were carrying out daily surveillance that would serve as an early warning,”
 The Department wishes to thank all the communities and visitors to Tokelau for their patience, support & compliance in assisting to avoid more serious events that could have occurred.
With planning so far ahead Health Director has made many achievements which not many countries can say they have achieved such as the Millennium Development Goal outcomes
“Tokelau should be proud of its record, hundred percent immunisation for the children, zero maternal deaths, zero neonatal deaths and hundred percent breastfeeding rates – breast milk provides baby with the first protection it needs,” says Tokelau Health Director, Lee Pearce
This could not have occurred without the cooperation of the local health staff, but more importantly, it was the communities that assisted.
 The next phase is to build on the NCD projects and empower each Village to take ownership of their health as community & individuals for family centred outcomes.
Health is our currency for the future, without it, we will have a limited or no future!
For next year we know  the sun will shine, the stars will twinkle, the birds will sing, the oceans will provide food, the winds will blow,  the pages in our book of life will be blank, but only God knows what will be written on those pages and it will b e up to us.
The Department would like to wish everyone a very Merry Xmas & Happy New Year.