Action plan to improve Pacific health and wellbeing

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.

© Scoop Media