High rates of Maori SUDI (Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy) in Wellington prompt workforce and community gathering
Exceptionally high rates of Maori SUDI (Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy) have prompted a call to action hui being
held at Kokiri Marae in Petone this Thursday 27 August.
“We are convening this hui to reach both community and workforce, because rates of SUDI for Maori in this area are so
high,” says Whakawhetu Regional Advisor for Wellington Jeanine Tamati-Paratene. Whakawhetu is a government funded
national SUDI prevention programme for Maori.
“From 2008-2012, 31 babies died of SUDI in the three district health boards covering the Wellington region. That equates
to six deaths a year or one baby every two months. More than half of these deaths were in the Hutt Valley District
Health Board and overall 71% of these deaths were pepi Maori.”
Over 100 whanau and workforce are expected to gather at Kokiri Marae on Thursday to explore the factors that lead to
SUDI.
“There are many factors that lead to SUDI,” says Whakawhetu National Manager Kathrine Clarke. “For Maori the combined
factors of high rates of smoking amongst our Mums and bed-sharing mean that our pepi are especially vulnerable.
“Encouraging whanau to use the safe-sleeping device Wahakura and supporting Mum to quit smoking are two of our most
significant strategies to bring Maori SUDI rates down.
“We have also developed the PEPE model, which is made up of four simple messages about keeping baby safe. This has been
designed into a resource which families can keep on their fridge. This is the first stage of designing a suite of
resources to support great parenting in whanau.”
The Protecting our Mokopuna Seminar has emerged out of a collaboration with Kokori Marae and other health providers in
the Hutt Valley region.
Participants at the hui will hear from SUDI experts at the seminar including:
- Dr David Tipene-Leach and Professor Ed Mitchell who are both leading experts in the area of SUDI prevention
- Leith Porter-Samuels a Maori midwife and Kaupapa Maori birth educator
- Kahurangi Ross an advocate for Shaken Baby Prevention
- unique testimonials from a group of young Maori parents.
Ends