Wellington convention focus on minority groups

9 May 2018

The NZNO Wellington Regional Convention is being held tomorrow, at 9.00am
10 May at West Plaza 110 Wakefield Street.

The first speaker is NZNO delegate and Te Poari representative Lizzy Kepa-Henry.
Ms Kepa-Henry is a Work and Income nurse and her presentation is primarily about the health disparities between her work and income clients and the wider, non-beneficiary public.

She says her work is often the only link some members of the community have with a health practitioner.

“The people I see just can’t get through easily to their local health centre for many reasons but if their Work and Income case manager sends them to me I can help and advise them on the spot at no cost to them. I have seen people in ill health and really needing the help of a nurse.”

“The interventions I provide without cost and extra stress to a client can be a life changer for someone who is simply unable to get the help they need as they may have debt at their local GP or just are too down trodden or ill to make this happen for themselves.

“We are seeing unwell beneficiaries that are not accessing basic needs health care and work and income nurses can definitely bridge that desperate gap,” Lizzy Kepa- Henry said.

Another speaker will talk about their experience as a trans person undergoing gender reassignment procedures.

NZNO president Grant Brookes and Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku are attending the convention.
The theme for the 2018 conventions is “Nurses a Voice to Lead – Health Is a Human Right”, in line with the International Council of Nurses’ theme for this year’s International Nurses’ Day, this coming Saturday 12 May.

Ends.

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