DG Tokon calls for lifestyle changes to tackle HIV and NCDs

Jan 28, 2026 | News | 0

The Director General (DG) of the Ministry of Health (MOH), Shirley Tokon, has outlined the links between Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), saying that while the two conditions are different, both are closely connected to lifestyle choices and personal responsibility.

Speaking recently on the Capitol FM107 Talkback show, DG Tokon said NCDs are largely influenced by factors such as diet, physical activity, and how individuals care for their overall health. She added that similar principles apply to HIV in relation to risky behaviours and personal decision-making.

“I want to bring them back together. I want to prevent HIV, NCDs, and any other infections. Responsibility is where we bring back lifestyle,” she said.

DG Tokon explained that health responsibility goes beyond physical wellbeing and also includes spiritual and mental health, noting that all three must be balanced for individuals to take full responsibility for their overall wellbeing.

She also discussed the importance of collective responsibility, involving chiefs, pastors, churches, communities, and families, to support government efforts in addressing social and public health challenges such as HIV.

“We need to work together. Everyone has a different role to play. Churches, chiefs, communities, and government must support each other,” she said.

The Health DG further outlined the role of parents, husbands, and wives in making informed lifestyle choices and promoting healthy behaviours within the home.

The discussion also pointed to the responsibility of parents and families to educate and guide young people, noting the shared role of both the MOH and households in safeguarding the wellbeing of young people in Vanuatu.

While NCDs and HIV differ in nature, DG Tokon said they share important connections in how they affect individuals, families, and communities.

NCDs, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and hypertension, are not infectious and cannot be passed from one person to another. They develop over time and are strongly linked to lifestyle factors including unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, and stress. Prevention focuses on long-term behaviour change, healthy living, regular screening, and early treatment.

HIV, on the other hand, is an infectious disease transmitted through specific behaviours, including unprotected sex, sharing of contaminated needles, and from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding if not properly managed. Prevention efforts focus on safe sexual practices, testing and counselling, treatment adherence, and reducing risky behaviours.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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