RAROTONGA (Pacnews) — The increase of non-communicable diseases in the north of the group has alarmed Cook Islands health authorities.
A team of eye and skin doctors and nurses that visited Pukapuka found out that the island had a high number of people with skin related diseases and hundreds more were suffering from diabetes and hypertension.
A Health Ministry official, Dr. Roro Daniel, said the findings underscore the general need for more education on health issues in the country, as well as better medical services to remote islands.
Of the 168 adults and 260 children examined for eye problems, 134 require eyeglasses.
