A health research co-ordinator at the College of Medicine in Fiji says a programme to encourage women in Tailevu Province to exercise is essential.
A study by the College of Medicine at the Fiji National University, concludes there is a need for intervention programmes to address a lack of physical activity and excessive smoking, alcohol and kava consumption that are leading to the high incidence of non-communicable diseases.
A co-ordinator for nutrition and diabetes at the College, Kiti Bulamainaivalu says there is a need to encourage women to exercise as they are currently not as active as men and young people.
"We need to organise a programme and work with the community, go back to the community and talk to them about the importance of being physically active in relation to their health."
Kiti Bulamainaivalu says she would like to see women take up walking for at least half an hour a day.
