Japan helps to fight NCD with creation of local healthy dishes

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Japan is helping Solomon Islanders eat healthy, simple and low-cost diet in response to government’s plea to help in the fight against NCDs especially diabetes in the country.

NCDs is now the leading killer in the country and Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has asked Japan to help Solomon Islands in the fight. Six people die in the country each day due to NCD, mostly because of food.

Ambassador Miwa Yoshiaki shared with media Japan’s dishes are well balanced, and they don’t use too much oil additionally they don’t eat too much sugar and sweet products.

NCDs is rapidly increasing due to changes in social environment and lifestyle. In response to this situation, Japan has been tackling this issue of NCDs through some projects.

For example, JICA conducted a project called “Health Village” from 2016 to 2020. Through the training of village-based health promoters, this program supports activities to raise people’s awareness of health and to change their behavior and environment. Moreover, Japan and Pacific countries made a statement in PALM 10 held in Japan in July 2024.

Today, the focus was on a Japanese nurse who served in the Solomons in the past two years and her experience with NCD.

Ai Koyasu, JOCV has served in the Solomon Islands and has helped health authorities to create local dishes that are balanced, with right quantity and content.

She highlighted that it’s important in controlling one’s blood sugar and it’s not about what you eat but also about when you eat.

Koyasu emphasized the need for a small portion diet rather than huge portions.

Furthermore, she discourages Solomon Islanders from eating too much bread instead they should eat local food but in moderation.

The Japanese nurse also promotes the practice for food to be eaten several hours before one goes to bed.

The session ended with the display of locally healthy dishes cooked with Solomon Islands ingredients.

The dishes were cooked with vegetables that are widely available in the country, including ferns, cabbage, tomatoes, and many other greens with local tuna in the mix.

The dishes prepared according to recipes edited by JOCV members for healthy meals that can be easily cooked using local ingredients.

They also introduced “Washoku” (traditional Japanese cuisine) which is known as a healthy food and is listed on UNESCO’s

Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

What was evident in the diets is carbs are significantly reduced with more fruits and vegetables on the table.

These meals encourage the inclusion of fruits and vegetables which had been hugely absent from Solomon Islanders meals.

Around 90% of Solomon Islanders don’t eat their food with fruit and vegetables.