Māori health leaders take a stand against smoking

May 30, 2016

South Island Māori health leaders take a stand against smoking

South Island Māori health leaders are taking a united front to tackle some of the tougher health issues affecting Māori.

Te Herenga Hauora has been established by the five South Island DHB Māori Leaders and chair Hector Matthews says there are a number of major health issues Māori disproportionately face with smoking remaining one of the leading causes behind many of them.

“While we’ve seen a declining prevalence in smoking amongst Māori in the last decade, there’s still significant disparity in prevalence between Māori and non-Māori,” Hector says.

“Te Herenga Hauora has agreed smoking is a significant health issue for Māori, and it needs to be addressed as an ongoing priority.”

Hector says smoking causes a wide range of diseases and other adverse health effects, including cancers and cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, fetal deaths and stillbirths, pregnancy complications and other reproductive effects, cataracts, peptic ulcer disease, low bone density and fractures and diminished health status and morbidity.

“Our goal is to encourage cessation, and never smoking, not just for individual health reasons, but for whānau and future generations.”

Hector says Te Herenga Hauora is exploring ways to promote being auahi kore (smokefree) at home and on Marae.

“It’s about whānau and doing the right thing for our future generations.”

Te Herenga Hauora is behind World Smokefree Day tomorrow (May 31).

“Why not use smokefree day as a great time to give up?

“We know most smokers want to quit, and there are immediate and long-term health benefits for those who do.

“The risk of premature death from smoking decreases soon after someone quits smoking and continues to do so for at least 10 to 15 years.”

Hector says one of the biggest advantages to quitting, beside the improvements to health, is the cost savings.

“Smoking is an expensive, bad habit. We know many Māori still sit below the poverty line and smoking only drags us down more. If you smoke a packet a day – that’s around $8000 a year. It makes sense – and cents literally – to give up and put that money towards something you and your whānau will benefit from.”

ENDS

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