7 February, 2011

New figures indicating the incidence type 2 diabetes will double over the next 25 years is not news to health crusader Dr Jimmy Little AO.

Research just out by the Australian Bureau of Statistics alerts mainstream Australians to an epidemic that has been plaguing the Indigenous community for some time.

The soaring rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes are touted as one of the main reasons an Australian won’t reach the ripe old age of 90 or 100.

“We have been fighting this crippling problem for years in the Indigenous community with our people living, on average, 17 years less than other Australians,” the recent Golden Guitar winner said.

“Kidney disease is nearly 50 times worse than the national average in some Indigenous communities in Central Australia and that is where The Jimmy Little Foundation has spent much of its time to date,” Dr Little said.

“Indigenous Australians are eight times more likely to die of diabetes than other Australians.

 “We are using music and new media to get the messages to children about making wise, healthy food choices so you can live a long life that’s not plagued by disease.”

Apart from working on the ground with young people aged between five and 16, The Jimmy Little Foundation has partnerships with community stores to promote healthy food choices with the Uncle Jimmy Thumbs Up! Seal of approval on fruit, vegetables and water.

“We see the importance of attacking diabetes and kidney failure at a number of levels,” JLF chief executive officer Buzz Bidstrup said.

“Our Thumbs Up! School Program allows students to create and record their own songs, often in language, calling for the whole community to make healthy tucker choices and drink more water.

“Then the Thumbs Up! Seal of approval will be visible in more than 40 remote community stores across the top end of Australia by the end of February and into selected QLD SA and WA stores by the middle of the year.

“As well as these programs, we have secured funding through Medicines Australia to build and equip a mobile renal truck which will be operated by the Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjakt Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation, from its base at the Purple House in Alice Springs.”

The Jimmy Little Foundation partners with Vibe Australia and Music Outback Foundation as well as major health providers and other associations and foundations to raise awareness about diabetes and kidney failure.

“I was prompted into this work after contracting diabetes following my kidney failure in 2004, two years on dialysis and eventual kidney transplant,” Dr Little said.

“This disease is preventable; we need to work hard to reverse the shocking incidence of the sickness that is taking the lives of so many of our people – all Australians.

“It was the single biggest challenge I have faced, even after six decades in the music industry and I could have prevented it with more awareness and education.”

The Jimmy Little Foundation is finalizing its program for 2011 with the first Thumbs Up! School Program being delivered in the NT community of Wadeye this month.