Call to fight $406m NCD burden

Participants of the 2018 Vaka Pasifiki Education Conference at USP’s Laucala campus. Picture: USP COMMUNICATIONS

By WANSOLWARA STAFF

Pacific Island educators attending the 2018 Vaka Pasifiki Education Conference were encouraged to incorporate wellness programmes into their education initiatives and promotional messages by President Jioji Konrote as efforts continued to tackle the $406 million economic burden of non-communicable diseases in Fiji.

While opening the two-day conference at The University of the South Pacific’s Laucala campus in Suva yesterday, Mr Konrote said other Pacific Island countries also faced similar loses relative to their respective economies.

“As educators, you all have a pivotal role to play in the success of the Pacific peoples and nations,” he said.

“You could help influence lifestyle changes if you lead by example by being fit and healthy.”

President of Fiji Jioji Konrote. Picture: USP COMMUNICATIONS

He said the theme for this year’s Vaka conference – “It takes an Island and an Ocean; Rethinking Pacific Education for Resilient, Healthy Communities” – was an appropriate and important reminder of the challenges that needed to be addressed not only as individuals but as a collective group in an effort to lay a solid foundation for the children of the Pacific.

“The theme reflects our islands’ culture and our community approach to living life the Pacific way, that we share a holistic approach to life, to raising our children and the value we place on our relationships,” Mr Konrote said.

“It suggests that education is both holistic and lifelong. It also suggests that as a community, we are all responsible for educating and preparing our children for the future. The theme further reflects our Ocean, which unites us.

“It draws from the late Pacific writer and anthropologist Professor Epeli Hau’ofa’s Oceanic philosophy expressed in his seminal work of ‘Sea of Islands’. Professor Hau’ofa reminds us of our ancient history, of our connectedness to each other and to the Ocean. He also reminds us that Oceania is vast, hospitable and generous.”

He said the 2018 Vaka was also a celebration of Oceanic research and scholarship, and coincided with USP’s 50^th Anniversary celebrations this year.

As many as 113 papers were presented during the conference, which was attended by more than 300 participants.

The conference theme was deliberated four platforms – the Tok Stori, which is drawn from the Melanesian cultures of sharing information and stories; the Ako, drawn from the Polynesian reference to education, schooling, and learning; the Maneaba, from the I-Kiribati and Tuvaluan traditional format for communal dialogue; and the Lan, which is from the Marshallese word for sky, reflecting our hope for the future.

“The Vaka is a conference for the classroom teacher, the school principal, the educator, the researcher and for all those who consider the Pacific Ocean home. The success and future direction of the Vaka is a collective responsibility for Pacific islanders,” he said.

“It takes an Island and Ocean, rings true in that it will take a collaborative effort and holistic approach to change and to rethink our current situation and to encourage more resilient and healthier communities.”

USP Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council Winston Thompson said the Pacific Island region was facing unprecedented challenges, which could only be effectively addressed by the collective approach that the conference presented.

To support the Vaka, the University also launched an App which will allow users to view the programmes and conference papers.

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