ARFNZ COVID-19 RESPONSE

Over the past three months, the Foundation has worked hard to support our respiratory community through these unprecedented times. Here is an overview of what we have been up to:

STAYING INFORMED

The Foundation began its COVID-19 coverage back in February; before New Zealand’s first confirmed case. This was followed with a dedicated COVID-19 webpage specifically addressing the concerns of those with respiratory illness;. The content on this page has been continually updated and verified by members of our Scientific Advisory Board as New Zealand moved through the different alert levels . This page has now had over 26,000 visits since inception, and is one of the leading New Zealand sources of COVID-19 information for those with respiratory disease.

ANSWERING COMMUNITY CONCERNS

As the number of COVID-19 cases increased in New Zealand, we were inundated with calls and emails from our respiratory community. Throughout this time, we answered over 1,000 enquiries from emails, phone calls, and social media; assisting those with chronic respiratory conditions on how to stay safe and reduce their risk of transmission.

BUILDING ONLINE COMMUNITIES

Despite closing our office throughout Level 3 and 4 lockdown, the Foundation continued to work from home, and transitioned to operating entirely remotely. Throughout this time, we saw a massive spike in digital engagement from our respiratory community; with a record number of people interacting with the Foundation through our online channels. This resulted in over 17,000 likes, comments and shares of our online content, and over 100,000 clicks on our posts. We also saw a large increase in traffic to our other channels, with over 175,000 visits to our website, 600 downloads of the My Asthma App, and 10,000 opens of our e-newsletters.

TAKING OUR CAMPAIGNS ONLINE

Traditionally, our World Asthma Day campaign is celebrated throughout primary schools across New Zealand, however, this year we needed to move this to be an online only event. With some quick thinking from the team, we launched World Asthma Day ‘Live from your living room,’ where we educated and entertained our respiratory community with a series of livestream video broadcasts on Facebook. Alongside this campaign, we also launched our first online raffle, where over 800 wonderful donors donated the cost of their coffee towards World Asthma Day.

SUPPLYING RESOURCES TO THOSE IN NEED

With many medical practices closed for face to face visits, accessing new spacers proved difficult for those who needed them. To meet this need, the Foundation provided free spacers through an easy online ordering system to anyone who required one over the lockdown period. Additionally we also used this time to translate the first of our Samoan language resources ‘Tausiaina o le ma’i sela o lau tama ‘ which is now available as a free downloadable PDF from our website.

SUPPORTING POLICY CHANGE

At the beginning of lockdown, the Foundation provided a submission towards the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill, which the Foundation’s CE presented in person via Zoom to the Health Select Committee. This has now reached its second reading in parliament, and we are pleased to see that some of our suggestions have been considered.

UPDATING BEST PRACTICE FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

With our updated Asthma guidelines, and the brand new COPD guidelines nearing publication, work is now underway to update the Foundation’s Asthma and COPD Fundamentals e-Learning series to reflect the updated guideline content. These guidelines will reform asthma and COPD best practice in New Zealand, with this year’s upcoming NZ Respiratory Conference also offering in depth presentations on how these can be applied in both primary and secondary care. To find out more about how to enrol in the Fundamentals course visit bit.ly/2mUlVgo.