As the new year beckons, amidst resolutions and aspirations, one of the country’s well known former rugby stars is determined to inspire men to lead healthier and fitter lifestyles. Melina Etches reports.

George George, also known as “The General”, is a former Cook Islands rugby star, an Avatiu Nikao Mongoose Golden Oldies Rugby member, and president of the Cook Islands Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Passionate about men’s health and wellbeing, George encourages men to prioritise their health and wellbeing as their New Year’s resolution.

“I want men to please take care of themselves. It’s been sad attending too many funerals for young men,” said George.

“New Year’s is a time when some people make new resolutions.

“This is that golden moment when men can make a decision to make changes and live a better life, to live a longer good quality of life.”

According to Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health’s second and third quarter report from April to September 2023, there were a total of 391 noncommunicable diseases (NCD) cases identified.

The primary contributors to NCDs deaths in the Cook Islands are cardiovascular diseases (CVD) including heart diseases, stroke, and myocardial infarction at 44 per cent, cancer at 36 per cent and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) such as asthma, bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis and emphysema at 11 per cent.

Additionally, diabetes accounts for 3 per cent, and hypertension contributes 6 per cent to the overall NCD mortality.

George is urging men to embrace healthier choices to live a longer good quality of life.

“You never know how valuable your health is until you’re fighting for it,” he said.

“So, for me, fight for a healthy life now, before it becomes too late and you’re in a situation when you need serious medical attention which could affect you for the rest of your life.

“What is the use of living longer if you don’t have a good quality of life.”

George started playing rugby at the age of around 16 or 17 and continues to maintain his physical fitness at 66. He exercises daily, and attends regular medical check-ups.

Well aware that some men are scared or “forget” to go the hospital for a check-up, he encourages men to get checked on their birthdays – “a date they don’t forget”.

“Man up, and get yourself checked,” he said.

George applauds Terry Strickland, manager of the Tupapa Maraerenga Community Gym and Fitness Centre, who supports pensioners 60 years and over. But he says men are not listening to the call to look after themselves and stay in shape.

“I still don’t see many men at the gym, it’s more the women who go,” George said.

“If you are fit and healthy then you can do many things like play with your grandchildren, attend events and get more involved with your family and community.”

George encourages men who are out of shape to take small steps and to ask for help and advice.

His advice to men is to do the things that can be achieved – quit smoking, cut down on drinking, and eat nutritious food.

George has also noted the copious amount of kaikai (food) present at every event, including funerals.

“We have a bad culture of umukai after umukai,” he said.

“Every event has food which we don’t need and the saddest thing is that our younger generation are seeing how we eat and are now piling their plates so high with food.”

George is also reaching out to women, to wives, daughters, nieces and aunties, to get the men in their lives moving and getting healthy.

“Men are stubborn,” he said, “so we need all the help we can get”.