Community-driven plan to improve Pacific health

27 May 2014

Community-driven plan to improve Pacific health

A new community-driven plan aims to help significantly improve the health of the Pacific population in Auckland.

The plan, Our Health in Our Hands, has been developed by Waitemata and Auckland DHBs in partnership with Pacific communities and Primary Health Organisations across both districts.

Launched at the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in Sandringham this evening, the plan includes six priorities developed in consultation with Pacific communities in Auckland, west Auckland and the North Shore. These are:

• Pacific children are safe and families are free of violence
• Pacific people are smoke free
• Pacific people eat well and are physically active
• Pacific people seek medical and other help early
• Pacific people use hospital services when needed
• Pacific families live in warm houses that are not overcrowded

Waitemata DHB chief executive and lead CEO for Pacific health, Dr Dale Bramley, says the plan acknowledges the shared vision for Pacific families to live longer and healthier lives and the importance of this vision to the overall health of communities.

“Too many Pacific people die early from heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes, obesity and stroke,” says Dr Bramley, “We want to realise the aspirations of our Pacific communities to live long and healthy lives.”

“The plan implements sustained, comprehensive and evidence-based population health strategies that aim to reduce health risks and enhance protective factors associated with health outcomes across the Pacific populations of Auckland and Waitemata.”

The plan was developed by a group that included key community members, representatives of Alliance Health Plus and Procare Public Health Organisations (PHOs), representatives of Pacific providers as well as the planning and funding teams of both DHBs.

Auckland DHB chief executive Ailsa Claire says a development approach has been used to work from the grass roots up, harnessing existing leadership and networks within the Pacific community.

“The strategy reflects priorities identified by our Pacific communities and we are committed to working in partnership with them to further improve their health.”

ENDS

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