26 October 2016
Action plan to improve Pacific health and wellbeing
Pacific peoples living throughout Wellington, Porirua and Kapiti will be better supported to live healthier and more
independent lives through Capital & Coast DHB’s (CCDHB) new Pacific action plan – ‘Toe timata le upega’.
The plan outlines the initiatives and services CCDHB will focus on for the next three years to improve Pacific peoples’
health. ‘Toe timata le upega’ is a Samoan fishing proverb reflecting the need to constantly repair the net to protect
the catch.
“The plan sets out a new way of working with the Pacific communities in our region,” said CCDHB chief executive Debbie
Chin.
“Developed with extensive engagement and input from the community, it is a more strategic and integrated approach
through which we will work more closely with local health providers and PHOs to improve the health of Pacific families.”
Launched in Porirua last night, the plan sits under the Ministry of Health’s four-year Pacific strategy to deliver high-quality health services to Pacific peoples.
“‘Toe timata le upega’ takes the goals and objectives of the Ministry’s nationwide strategy, and guides how we will
achieve this at a local level,” said 3DHB Sub Regional Pacific Strategic Health Group chair Fa’amatuainu Tino Pereira.
“It acknowledges that there are different ethnicities and cultures that come under the broad term ‘Pacific’, and
recognises the importance of developing strong and respectful relationships with those different communities in order to
achieve positive health gains for Pacific families.”
‘Toe timata le upega’ enables DHBs, PHOs and GPs, Pacific and non-Pacific health and disability providers to
consistently plan and deliver health services to CCDHB’s Pacific population.
“Our focus is to provide Pacific peoples with better access to health and disability services and support them to use
those services, to encourage them to eat healthily and stay active, and to give Pacific children the best start in
life,” said Debbie.
“This plan marks a new way of working with Pacific leaders and communities, and demonstrates CCDHB’s commitment to
improving the health and wellbeing of Pacific families.”
Click here for a copy of Toe timata le upega Pacific Action Plan 2017-2020.