Three Tongan men, including a 28-year-old seasonal worker, have undergone cardiac procedures in Fiji after blocked arteries were discovered, highlighting the serious burden of heart disease facing Tonga.
The patients — Manase Likiliki, 40, Sione Aleamotua, 28, and Sio Lino, 45 — travelled to Fiji for treatment at Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH Hospitals) in Nadi.
The treatment of the three relatively young men comes against the backdrop of Tonga’s severe NCD crisis. Tonga has one of the highest obesity rates in the world, while non-communicable diseases account for about 83 percent of deaths in the Kingdom.
Tonga told the World Health Assembly that cardiovascular disease alone accounts for 29 percent of deaths and that almost half of NCD deaths occur before the age of 70. The country’s 2017 STEPS survey also found that 99.9 percent of Tongans were exposed to behavioural risk factors for developing an NCD.
Global Obesity Observatory figures currently rank Tonga fifth in the world for adult obesity, while Tongan women have the highest estimated obesity prevalence globally.
Their treatment was funded by the Tongan Government after doctors at Vaiola Hospital determined that they required cardiac services unavailable in Tonga.
Aleamotua, who received a stent after doctors discovered a blocked artery, urged Tongans not to delay seeking medical attention when experiencing chest pain.
“If you have chest pain, don’t delay — go to the hospital straight away,” he said.
Likiliki, a construction worker, said he suddenly experienced severe chest pain while working and immediately sought medical attention.
He subsequently underwent angiography and angioplasty and had two stents inserted.
Likiliki thanked the Tongan Government for funding his treatment and praised the care he received from medical staff in Fiji.
Lino, a graphic designer and print-shop operator, had experienced pain for about seven months before travelling to Fiji after being placed on a waiting list.
He also underwent treatment for a blocked artery and received one stent.
The Tongan group is accompanied by Dr Annalisa Faanunu, a Vaiola Hospital medical officer specialising in internal medicine.
Heart disease remains a major health threat in Tonga, where cardiovascular disease, particularly ischaemic heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death.
Non-communicable diseases account for about 83 percent of deaths in the Kingdom, while diabetes is also a major contributor to deaths from heart disease and stroke.
The experiences of the three patients underscore both the importance of recognising early warning signs and Tonga’s continuing dependence on overseas facilities for some advanced cardiac procedures.
