After meeting my husband, I have had a long and continued love for Mauritius. There is everything to be enchanted about the island: the heavenly scenery, the sun and most precious of all the kindness of Mauritians, their warmth and their ready smile.
However, I think that there is a dark side to this beautiful place, and it is in the state of the health of its people. I began to understand the ravages of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCD; related conditions of type II diabetes [T2D], stroke and cardiovascular diseases) when in 2001, my father-in-law suddenly passed away of a heart attack at 65 years old. We were very sad to lose him at such a young age. And we know so many other Mauritian friends who have lived the same situation with a sentiment of despair of losing a loved one to CNCD. Heartbreakingly, we know 80% of such tragedies can be prevented by the simple measures we are proposing in the 5-2035 plan. All of us in the Foundation are Mauritians and friends of Mauritius who are dedicating our time and professional expertise to improve the terrible situation in the island.
Any person of goodwill can help in both big and small ways to aid our mission to lower the prevalence of T2D to 5% by 2035 in Mauritius as a model for the rest of the world. In France we grow up understanding that ‘Le mot impossible n’est pas français’. Let me humbly challenge you to also consider that the word “impossible” is not Mauritian. If we all work together, besides being an enviable paradise island, Mauritius can benefit the whole of humanity by showing how better health can be achieved by individuals in communities working together. We must take action and mobilize ourselves, we must be committed to the goals of 5-2035; we have to, for our families, for our children and for the world. En avant!