21 June 2017
Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ support NZMA Health Literacy Policy Briefing
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ fully support improving health literacy across New Zealand. Our commitment to
this focus area was evident in the 2015 Ministry of Health, University of Otago and Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ
collaborative report; ‘Asthma Health Literacy for Māori Children in New Zealand’.
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ is pleased to see that the New Zealand Medical Association policy briefing also
recommends that this be a key area of improvement for the health and well-being of ALL people living in New Zealand. The
Foundation see the patient-centred and multi-sectorial system at the forefront of this approach to be an important step
towards increasing health literacy.
“If we are to influence core health issues in New Zealand, such as Asthma and Respiratory illness rates, then we have to
start early in changing our approach to empowering people with health knowledge”, says Letitia O’Dwyer, Chief Executive
of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ.
ENDS