Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde said World Health Day is an opportunity to take action against the diabetes epidemic in First Nations communities.

Beleaguered said the epidemic of diabetes among First Nations people stems from a number of factors including loss of land and access to traditional foods, poverty, poor housing and inequitable health care.

Type 2 diabetes remains one of the AFN’s highest priorities in health as the situation in First Nations communities is profound and growing.

Recent studies indicate diabetes is five times higher in the indigenous community than the general population.