Food Allergy Awareness Week Media Release

Food Allergy Awareness Week Media Release

Allergy New Zealand is campaigning this year to raise awareness for kiwi families living with food allergies.

Food allergy is a common condition in childhood and affects up to one in ten children under the age of 5 years in New Zealand. It is a complex and stressful condition to manage and yet not much is known about its cause.

Allergy New Zealand CEO, Mark Dixon, says the reasons for the increase in food allergies are not known but the impact is mainly on children and their families.

“Food allergies can affect these families in many different ways aside from medically. Many caregivers report having to delay returning to work because of the extra time needed to shop for and prepare safe food, as well as treat eczema which many food allergic children have. They often feel embarrassed at the need to negotiate with others over any situation where food is involved, and many report frustration in dealing with schools and early childhood services.”

In addition, there is a lack of specialist services in New Zealand particularly outside of Auckland, with carers reporting long waiting times in a number of areas before they can get an accurate diagnosis and clinical advice on the management of their child’s condition.

Therefore the main focus for this year’s Food Allergy Awareness Week (11-17th May 2015) is to raise awareness about all the issues surrounding food allergies and anaphylaxis (a life threatening reaction) and calling for the government to take action.

Allergy New Zealand is writing to the Minister of Health, asking for an urgent review of the infant feeding guidelines after a new study offered proof that early introduction of peanuts may protect against the development of peanut allergies later in life.

It is also writing to the Miniter of Education to ask for clearer guidelines, training and support provided to New Zealand schools to protect and ensure the safety of allergy kids in their inclusive school environments. This is in response to a reduction in public health nurse support for many schools, particularly in the Auckland region.

Lastly they are again writing to PHARMAC, who have advised that although a submission for the funding of auto-injectors has been accepted, they have put the subsidisation assessment process on hold because of adverse market conditions. This advice was given despite their awareness that anaphylaxis incidence and risk continues to climb exponentially in New Zealand and elsewhere.

“We are waiting to hear back from the Ministers and Pharmac and will share their responses to the issues that we continue to raise. Our principal concern that is while the clinical markers for these conditions are at epidemic levels, the people empowered to mitigate these issues and ensure our children’s safety and wellbeing, seem content to wait for a political reason to act. Their continued in-action in the face of such compelling evidence can only raise questions challenging their integrity. ” says Mark.

Allergy New Zealand will look forward to sharing these responses in the week commencing Monday 11th May 2015.

ENDS

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