Pacific Peoples Health Issue 5

FLO: PASIFIKA FOR LIFE - OPENING THE CONVERSATION

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ISSUE 5 SUMMER 2015

INSIDE ISSUE 5

www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

Read us Free Online

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MALAMA AND HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS’ MISSION AGAINST MOTOR NEURON DISEASE NEW BOOK DR JOE WILLIAMS ON HIS p4 GROUNDBREAKING TREATMENT OF ECZEMA COCONUT OIL Is it good for you? p24

HEALTHY BABIES HEALTHY FUTURES p12

STAY SUN SMART THIS SUMMER p22

HEALTHY HOME SOLUTIONS for families in real need p14

Pacific Peoples Health 1

CONTENTS

PACIFIC PEOPLES ISSUE 5 HEALTH

COVER: MALAMA & FAMILY - COPING WITH MOTOR NEURON DISEASE

PUBLISHERS Anne & Innes Logan Oceania Media Limited www.oceaniamedia.co.nz info@pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

ABOUT PACIFIC PEOPLES HEALTH

6 11

WHAT’S INSIDE 02 Editorial 03 Geneva Healthcare’s 06

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11 12 16 20 22 23

compassionate carer Elizabeth Taumoepeau Number one family healthcare with OneCare Village Collective helps teen mums thrive Healthy babies - healthy future Suicide prevention awareness for hairdressers Pacific and Maori bear burden of No 1 killer in NZ Dark skin is no excuse for complacency in sun Nicki Mackinnon looks at the salt quandary

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PACIFIC PEOPLES HEALTH is a free publication targeting Pacific people in New Zealand.

Educating and informing Pacific health service users, it is New Zealand’s only magazine style publication dedicated solely to Pacific peoples health.

PACIFIC PEOPLES HEALTH ONLINE Free download on the Web www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz www.SPASIFIKmag.com Facebook www.facebook.com/pacificpeopleshealth E-Newsletter Subscribe via website or email info@pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

DISTRIBUTION Distributed by Oceania Media with an Auckland regional focus.

• Primary Health Care venues • Other medical venues such as diagnostic laboratories and dental surgeries • MOH Needs Assessment Centres • Community venues such as Citizens Advice Bureau and Libraries • Schools / selected education providers • Others upon request and subject to suitability and availability • PACIFIC PEOPLES HEALTH is also included as an addition to SPASIFIK magazine and included in its usual distribution by Gordon & Gotch, and to over 2,000 subscribers including schools, libraries and tertiary institutions Distribution Enquires email - anne@oceaniamedia.co.nz WHAT IS A QR CODE AND HOW DO I USE IT? To use QR codes you need a smartphone eand a QR code reader/ scanner application feature. Newer smartphones models often have an app pre-installed on them. If you have an older device, visit your phone’s app store and download a QR code reader/scanner app.

FREE options available.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION & DISCLAIMER

16 www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

This publication is intended to provide general information to the public and is not intended to address specific circumstances of any particular individual or entity. All reasonable measures have been taken to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information available in this publication. This publication should not be construed as legal or professional advice and readers should take specific advice from qualified professional people before undertaking any action following information received from this publication.

Pacific Peoples Health 1

Editorial

Faith against Fate W

hen I interviewed the family and friends of prominent Niuean community leader Malama Makatogia Nilau, who has been cruelly struck down by motor neuron disease, what struck me was how some family and community members reacted.

‘What did she do?’

‘She must have done something to get that way.’

I shouldn’t have been surprised. My own mother, who spent the first 27 years of her life in Samoa before moving to New Zealand in the mid-1950s, and who I love dearly, still echoes those same sentiments when she hears of a friend or family member that falls ill. At the NZ Population Health Congress in Auckland last October, renowned Pacific health specialist Dr Colin Tukuitonga presented a paper Improving Population Health in Aotearoa/New Zealand – a Pacific Perspective.

In it he cited several reports of not only ‘persistent inequalities’ in health in NZ but ‘unfavourable trends in the wider socioeconomic determinants of health’. Dr Tukuitonga added that in general ‘Pacific models of health adopt holistic socioecological perspectives where individual health and wellbeing is closely aligned to their family and community wellbeing and the environment in which they live’.

He adds that ‘most older Pacific peoples’ views of health are also heavily influenced by Judeo-Christian values and doctrine, which partly explain the fatalism which is often found in some Pacific communities.’

Fatalism means we subject all events and actions to fate and that we have no way to influence the future.

When we launched Pacific Peoples Health a year ago, it was to focus on illnesses that are largely preventable through a healthier lifestyle which includes diet, exercise, sleep and more.

It’s probably why, when I received an email from Sharon Farao, Clinical Lead Speech Therapist - Home Health Care from Counties Manukau District Health Board, about whether we’d be interested in Malama’s story – I felt compelled to do it.

Despite logic showing the randomness of events in our lives, it’s human of us to wonder ‘why?’

Here was a smart, successful, vibrant, community-driven woman who, in 2013, was diagnosed with MND years after she had struggled with her balance, to hold things, to walk and to talk.

Yet despite being told she had only a couple of years to live, Malama and her family and friends are doing everything they can to keep her healthy and with them for as long as possible.

In mid-January, British actor Eddie Redmayne won Best Actor at the Golden Globes for his performance as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.

Hawking is by far the most recognised person on the planet to have MND. He was diagnosed with the disease in 1963 at age 21. Yet he is regarded as having one of the world’s greatest minds, having gone on to create significant scientific works. He continues to do so more than half a century after his diagnoses.

I don’t know whether Malama Makatogia Nilau believes in fate.

It would have been highly inappropriate to ask her so. But I can confidently assume that she has a greater belief in her faith. A faith that keeps the fight to be amongst her loved ones alive.

Malama Makatogia Nilau (centre) with (l-r) daughter Sisi, husband Tau and friend Taha Fasi

Innes Logan

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COMPASSIONATE CARER

Geneva Healthcare employee profile Elizabeth Taumoepeau Imagining they are members of her own family, Elizabeth Taumoepeau pours her heart and soul into her role as a Support Worker at Geneva Healthcare.

Caring for people of all ages with varying needs, Elizabeth treats each client as an individual, with the same care and respect she has for her own family.

E

lizabeth’s compassion oozes from her strong, healthy frame that’s now in its 60s. Her caring personality enables her to provide homecare and friendly company to clients in Auckland.

Since joining in 2010, Elizabeth has been a Support Worker at Geneva Healthcare where she strives to enhance people’s quality of life and their wellbeing.

Elizabeth cares for two to four clients per day, providing personal care, preparing meals, escorting people to appointments and shopping. She also provides palliative and overnight care, depending on client needs.

“I mainly care for elderly clients but I work with people of all ages – some may have a disability or are recovering from an accident and are on ACC,” Elizabeth explains.

Elizabeth says she gets quite attached to her clients, particularly those without family members around them.

“A lot of my clients do not have relatives close or at all, which is sad to see,” she says.

“An older lady I care for says she wishes I was her daughter because all of her own children are overseas.”

There are other difficult times in Elizabeth’s job, such as watching an elderly patient pass away. She says it feels like losing a friend.

“But I love doing this job,” she insists.

Geneva Support Worker Elizabeth Taumoepeau

profession. Elizabeth migrated to New Zealand in 1969 and worked as a kitchenhand at Mercy Hospital before becoming a nurse-aid for four years at St Joseph’s Home, Herne Bay during the 1970s.

“It’s no use if you do this job without love and patience – you need to be able to communicate, through kindness and understanding.”

“I look after these people like they’re my own family, with the love that I would give to them. It’s no use if you do this job without love and patience – you need to be able to communicate, through kindness and understanding.”

She held other roles when she married and had children, but has always returned to support and homecare work.

Caring comes naturally to the wife and mother, who says growing up in the Tongan village of Kolofo’ou, she always wanted to be a nurse, but never got to study the

Working for the internationally-renowned specialist healthcare services and staffing company Geneva Healthcare is a privilege and honour, Elizabeth says.

www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

“They are well established, with excellent management who are good to work for. Geneva really look after you, provide ongoing training and recognise your work.

I started working for Geneva in July 2010, and just two months afterwards, I won the Employee of the Month award.”

As long as she is fit and able, Elizabeth will keep doing support and homecare work, serving her community with compassion.

“I put myself in the shoes of these clients and think about how I would want to be treated – with privacy, and tender loving care,” she says.

“My strong faith drives me to do the best job possible at all times – even if my managers cannot see what I do every day, someone else is watching - He knows,” she grins, with a twinkle in her eye.

0508 HOMECARE 0508 466 322 www.genevahealth.com Pacific Peoples Health 3

Book

ECZEMA

The Neglected Disease of Children A new book on the plight of eczema by Pacific health pioneer Dr Joe Williams has the potential to make an impact internationally, as he has already proven with a treatment package that has attracted people from across the globe to his clinic in the Auckland suburb of Mt Wellington.

INNES LOGAN reports

P

acific health pioneer Dr Joe Williams may have turned 80 in October last year, but there’s little sign of the proud Cook Islander slowing down. While the vast majority of his generation have settled into retirement, he has just written his first book Eczema - The Neglected Disease of Children.

It follows more than half a century of working in the field, which Dr Williams admits began by his motivation to find an effective treatment for his own eczema condition, as featured in Pacific Peoples Health Autumn Issue 2.

Dr Williams states eczema is a global disease which affects one in five of the world’s children and one in 10 adults and is a growing public health problem. It results in physical, emotional and sociopsychological problems that affect not only the patient, but the whole family. But he says a paediatrician colleague told him that it is one of the most poorly understood and mismanaged conditions in infants and children in both primary and secondary care.

The success has been remarkable, with more than 40,000 patients attending from all over New Zealand, with more than half of them (25,000) arriving since 2010 from all parts of the globe.

Infant seborrhoeic eczema. Treated in hospital for 3 weeks without relief. Eczema clear 90% after 7 days of clinic therapy

Patient returned 14 days later her eczema had cleared by 95%.

After three months it had completely cleared

WHY? Because, Dr Williams states, “Eczema is not life-threatening. No one dies from it. Eczema is a silent disease. It does not attract attention in the media and politicians in the same way as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity do. It does not even register on the National Health morbidity and mortality statistics”.

(25,000) arriving since 2010 from all parts of the globe.

Such a response is one of the reasons Dr Williams was keen to publish a book and to promote it online, enabling access to more people around the world.

In 1999, three years after he and his wife Jill brought a health centre on the busy Mt Wellington Highway in Auckland, now called Mt Wellington Integrated Family Health Centre, they began providing a treatment package for the management of eczema.

In his concluding chapter, Dr Williams writes, ‘Every working day, as I sit in the consulting room caring for infants, children, adolescents and adults who suffer from eczema, I am always conscious of the millions of eczema sufferers who have no access to effective eczema treatment”.

The success has been remarkable, with more than 40,000 patients attending from all over New Zealand, with more than half of them

Until now.

4 Pacific Peoples Health

www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

- Dr Joe

Dr Williams’ interest in eczema began when he developed eczema in his second year at Medical School in New Zealand.

There was little relief from treatment prescribed by a dermatologist and other doctors. His pain was shared by many.

In 1963 he helped devise a treatment from a combined cream that relieved the itch and rash of a five-year-old child in Napier, where he was based. The cream would be the basis of an eczema care therapy treatment process which has transformed the lives of sufferers across the world.

The revolutionary new book on the plight of eczema looks into the history and the different types of eczema. It sheds light on the root causes, symptoms and signs of eczema before going into the treatment of eczema and Dr Joe’s eczema care therapy.

Dr Joe shares his life time of work, eczema care treatment results, patient stories and before and after pictures.

The book is not just intended for health professionals, it is also for eczema suffers, their parents and caregivers who deal with the disease on a daily basis

“When I see the results of our therapy days, weeks and months later, when their eczema has been cleared by over 90% or 95%, I become even more aware of the plight of these people.”

THE NEGLEC DISEASE OF CHILDREN CARE THERAPY FOR THE ECZEMA SYNDROME Dr Joseph Williams MB, ChB, MPH, QSO, QSM

DISEASE OF CHILDREN

“When you see the change in their lives and the smiles on their faces, that’s reward I get in treating all these people.”

ECZE MTEDA

ECZEMA - THE NEGLECTED

Cook Islander Dr Joseph Williams has dedicated over 50 years of his career researching and effectively treating Eczema.

In his new book Eczema: The Neglected Disease of Children, he provides an in-depth look at the curse of eczema first described 25 centuries ago in Ancient Greece, the extensive worldwide research into eczema which has produced little by way of cure and his eczema care therapy - which has been providing relief for tens of thousands of eczema sufferers since the turn of the century.

DR JOE WILLIAMS

DR JOE SHARES HIS LEGACY

17/12/2014 12:06:53 p.m.

Dr Joe Cover.indd 1

The testimonies speak for themselves:

“His skin is clear, no more itching and scratching, no more blood on the sheets each morning and he sleeps soundly all night. Now, I wake up in the night because he’s too quiet.”

- Eczema patient’s grandmother

“Do you remember me? I’m the girl from California. Thank you so much for changing my life.”

- Eczema sufferer now cured years later

BUY DR JOE’S BOOK NOW ONLINE Eczema: The Neglected Disease of Children

By Dr Joseph Williams – MB, ChB, MPH, QSO, QSM Oceania Media Publishers Available for purchase from Feb 2015 www.drjoebooks.com (live Feb 2015)

- Dr Joe

www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

Pacific Peoples Health 5

Number ONECARE for all W

hen we are sick, most of our healing is done at home, with family helping us where they can. At times this cannot be enough and professional intervention is required.

With this in mind, Dr Doug Baird and Kim Wright (Managing Director), in partnership with Pacific Homecare, have established OneCare Family Medical Centre in Papatoetoe. The family-based environment aims at providing quality and affordable primary health care for all, but with a strong focus on serving the Pacific community.

On reception at OneCare is practice manager Sierra Partsch, who welcomes visitors with a warm Pacific greeting. Sierra says Pacific people are great at taking care of each other – but often forget to take care of themselves.

“That’s where we come in handy. Our focus is to encourage our people to start taking steps towards becoming not only a healthier individual, but a healthier community.”

Dr Baird joins OneCare as resident GP on the back of a long career, based in Auckland, Northland and Waikato.

He has previously worked with Kim, who has held roles with ProCare Health PHO as Clinical Programme Manager and Pacific Health Manager. She has also worked on projects to improve health outcomes for Pacific in New Zealand and for the World Health Organisation in other Pacific nations.

During the pair’s time involved in healthcare, they have seen increasing need for more healthcare resources to be invested in the rapidly expanding Pacific community – and in particular towards the growing elderly population.

“The biggest thing for me was to create and provide services to our communities that are more responsive and that meet their needs,” Dr Baird says.

OneCare will have three to five nurses per GP (most practises have 0.8 of a nurse per GP).

Practice nurse Liana Williams heads the team, with many years’

(L-R) Chief Executive of Pacific Homecare Hamish Crooks with the OneCare team of Sierra Partsch, Kim Wright and Dr Doug Baird

experience in primary health.

“We’ll eventually recruit nurses who are experts in such specialist fields as geriatrics, diabetes, heart disease, orthopaedics and paediatrics” Dr Baird adds.

“They will work with patients who are stable and well-managed whereas the GPs will deal with new patients, and those patients not responding to treatment – each staff member will be doing what they are most skilled at doing.”

Money is a huge inhibitor to healthcare within low socio-economic areas dotted throughout South Auckland, so OneCare is keeping the cost of treatment down for its patients, while also providing a timely, efficient service.

OneCare is utilising its relationship with Pacific Homecare (PHC), located upstairs from the medical centre on Great South Road, by recruiting PHC staff (called navigators) when patients require a translator, or someone to help navigate their way through the health care system or to providers of other services.

The medical centre strives to ensure a continuum of care, where patients are being cared for at home as well as when they visit the GP.

Nurse Liana Williams

6 Pacific Peoples Health

OneCare is a service for the community, which will provide an ‘A-plus’ level of care at a price people can afford, while achieving positive outcomes.

OneCare Family Medical Centre - in conjunction with Pacific Homecare Provide low cost access to care • No charge for under 18 yrs • No charge for ACC cases High quality and diverse services that meet your needs • Immunisations for children, epidemics and travel • Injury and illnesses • Minor surgery • Screening for heart disease, diabetes, cervical and prostate cancer Friendly, experienced and respectful staff providing • Short waiting times, appointments or walk ins • Translation and cultural support • Navigators to support and link you to other services

Visit us at the Ground Floor, 230 Great South Road, Hunters Corner, Papatoetoe We are open Mon-Fri: 8.30-6.30pm | Sat: 10am-3pm Phone 09 550 2146 www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

Leading the Way A

s a new nursing graduate, Ana Tom never dreamed that she’d be a clinical leader at Plunket.

“It was to become a Plunket nurse. Becoming a clinical leader wasn’t something I saw myself taking on,” Ana recalls.

In 2014 the 49-year-old, of Cook Island Rarotongan and Aitutaki descent, celebrated her 10th year as a Plunket clinical leader. Today she manages a team of 11 clinical staff, working with families in Otara, providing children aged five and under with free ‘Well Child’ health checks.

“Louise said I showed leadership in the team, I was a deep thinker and was able to reflect on things well,” Ana says.

“And, being Pacific, I would bring another cultural perspective within the team. I like people ... the rest of the management skills I’ve learned along the way.”

She says that Plunket upholds the nursing ethic, which is important to her.

“We’re a professional organisation and our first responsibility is to the public.”

When Ana finished her Nursing Degree, her friend Metua DanielsAtutolu, a Registered nurse doing her Plunket nurse training at the time, suggested she join the Plunket team. It proved to be good advice. Being a Plunket nurse fitted well around her family commitments. It also meant she needed to go back to studying:

Ana manages a team of 11 clinical staff, nine Plunket nurses and two healthworkers, and she’s proud of the work her team does.

“To become a Plunket nurse, you have to first complete the Well Child Speciality Nursing Post-Graduate Certificate, so I had to do more training.”

“I’m really pleased to see 95% of eight-month-old Pacific babies were immunised in 2014. That’s higher than the national average.”

The work wasn’t easy, but it was rewarding: “Initially, time management was a big challenge for me,” she says.

“As a Plunket nurse there are lots of different tasks – from booking home visits with parents, following up with clients and making sure they and their children have access to necessary health services.

You want to leave knowing you’ve done everything you can for the familiy.”

“In Counties Manukau, we have a huge enrollment rate of Pacific families, the uptake of Well Child is great,” she says.

Ana says she’s looking forward to connecting Pacific families to more of the community services Plunket provides.

“In our experience, Pacific communities value our nurses, but there’s so much more we offer, like playgroups, car seat services and volunteering opportunities,” she says.

Visit Plunket at the Pasifika and Polyfest festivals in March this year to find out more, or visit www.plunket.org.nz

This often means connecting parents with other services.

“It can be as simple as letting a mum know that she can get 20 hours of free childcare – if you’re a mum with a newborn and a toddler, that can be a lifesaver.”

Her leadership qualities were spotted early in her time at Plunket, but she was initially reluctant when a colleague Louise Troy suggested she apply for a role as clinical leader: Ana Tom, Plunket Clinical Leader

www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

Pacific Peoples Health 7

Determination against a Deadly Disease

Malama Makatogia Nilau (centre) with (l-r) daughter Sisi, grandson Ezekiel Ng Shiu, husband Tau and sister Beverly Manetoa

In March 2013, 53-year-old Malama Makatogia Nilau, a pioneering Pacific broadcaster and prominent leader in the Niue and South Auckland Pacific community, was told she had three years to live. Malama was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND), a disorder that destroys cells which control essential muscle activity such as walking, breathing, swallowing and speaking. She is now confined to a wheelchair and unable to communicate with the eloquence on which she built her career.

When INNES LOGAN visited her and her family at their Papatoetoe home in South Auckland, however, he discovered the drive Malama was renowned for remains, fuelled by her determination to defy

T

o the uninitiated, as I was when I entered the Nilau home, the groans and murmurs from Malama Makatogia Nilau are those of a person frustrated at her inability to communicate as she did so well throughout her life.

But it soon becomes apparent this woman is not taking this cruel affliction without a fight. Yes, there is frustration. But there is also laughter and a remarkable ability from her strong group of family and friends to genuinely communicate.

There to greet me is husband Tau, daughter Sisi and Taha Fasi, a close friend and company co-director with Malama who helped set up a number of Pacific Early Childhood Centres, community organisations and training of small business 8 Pacific Peoples Health

owners. Tau and Malama are both from Mutalau, the northernmost village in Niue.

He left for New Zealand at age 17 when Malama was 14. Four years later in 1978, Malama left for NZ too. They married the following year and remain together 35 years later with three children.

Tau describes his wife as a leader in every sense.

“Like me, she was very active and sportsminded. She played for her Mutalau village teams in netball in the winter, athletics in the summer and always excelled in sports that are popular in Niue like kilikiki,” he recalls.

“Malama wanted to be part of the Commonwealth Games when they were in Auckland (1990). At the Games opening

ceremony she led the Hillary College Niue cultural group with Lagi Manetoa, her brother-in-law who taught at the school.

Whether it was Niuean or Pacific-focused, she wanted to be involved.”

Reliving the past brings a sense of pride to Tau, which soon turns to sorrow and frustration.

“The delay in trying to find out what was wrong for her was unbearable. We’d been researching when we knew something was wrong, but it was almost two years before we knew for sure. If we’d known sooner, we could have pursued some options.

“We live in the 21st century, but we’re told MND has no obvious causes or cure. This is extremely hard to swallow.”

Tau hasn’t given up. Far from it. www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

“There is conflict between traditional eastern medicines compared to western.

Western doctors say stem cell treatment is a waste of money. Maybe they think we can’t afford it, but surely that’s for us to decide.

What else can I do?” he pleads as tears well in his eyes.

“I’m the main carer for my wife. Her safety and wellbeing are paramount to me. I want to be with her because I don’t know how much time together will be given to us.”

Whatever time they have together, Tau is determined to make the most of it.

“As you go on, you want fewer possessions and fewer friendships, but those that remain are more precious.

“It allows me to see the simplicities in life, expect the unexpected, let go of the uncontrollable and prioritise what is truly important.”

Daughter Sisi agrees. While Malama was well-known for her community work, Sisi says she was also devoted to her family.

“What’s most important for us is keeping Mum around. She’s fighting all the way, too.”

Sisi says the key to being able to understand her mother is by speaking Niuean.

“Mum seems to be able to sound the Niuean syllables clearer than in English.

When English is required we have a language chart which we point to. The Tobii Eye Tracker which she was provided allows her eyes to show what she wants to communicate. This also allows Mum to write her poems and short stories she likes to share with family and friends.”

Another positive Sisi sees is that by switching to predominantly fresh, organic and healthy food, which includes fresh fish and coconuts from family in Niue, both her mother and the family have benefitted.

“Mum still likes her island food, but we eat a lot less processed food than we used to,” says Sisi.

“Her skin is a lot better, she’s at a healthy weight even though she can’t move and Mum didn’t get the flu this winter, which she often did before.”

Despite Malama’s condition, Sisi knows who the boss of the household is.

“Mum is still Mum. Her mind is as sharp as ever and you can’t pull the wool over her eyes.”

Taha Fasi agrees.

He has worked with Malama since 1996 as co-directors delivering contracts to license six Niuean preschools and

the Jehovah Witness church) held its 10th anniversary celebrations in November with the launch of a book Uluvehi Pupuo Tapuina, instigated by Malama, with her cousin Alex-Fa’avae. Malama still serves as a Trust mentor and advisor.

“She has been a role model for Pacific people and is especially one now,” says Taha, who takes Malama on outings at least twice a week.

“She’s committed, passionate and a handson worker over a range of things, using her background as a radio announcer to MC so many Pacific events, including the Niue village at Auckland’s Pasifika Festival where she was the assistant coordinator at the Niue village.

Which makes Taha all the more incensed with how some people perceive her in public.

“Her brainpower is as sharp as it ever was, far greater than those who mock and tease her. That makes it all the more frustrating that the body can’t do what the mind wants it to.”

Taha Fasi

other Pacific pre-schools, providing them with governance and management training, and delivering business training for small business owners contracted by Waitakere Enterprise and Enterprising Manukau.

She instigated the forming of Mutulau Ululauta Matahefonua Trust (MUMT) as a charitable trust in 2004 as a community group. MUMT, a non-denominational community group (Malama belongs to

He’s also frustrated at the attitude of the western medicine profession towards eastern and more traditional treatments which were in existence long beforehand.

On October 2, 2014, Taha Fasi presented a paper to students at the NZ Chiropractic College. It contained the words directly from Malama.

“She not only told me what to write, but the correct grammar to use,” Taha recalls.

“That’s the expertise of a professional radio programme producer and broadcaster.”

Malama’s story - her words 2011

of massaging and acupuncture sessions.

I began to feel lethargic, easily tired, had a sharp chest pain that I thought was a heart attack. Parts of my body were swollen. I sought help from doctors to investigate why I was unwell.

Hands and nerve specialists could not find anything. Referred for an MRI scan by the nerve specialist. Encountered difficulty moving my left leg. Poor co-ordination in both legs.

2012

In September I fell over while watering my garden.

In June, a bacteria infection was found in my stomach. My thumb and pointing finger were twitching continuously. Two weeks with flu-like conditions. Took lots of medication and thought my fingers would return to normal. They did not. Went to lots www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

2013 On January 4, I finally had the MRI head scan. In February I began attending chiropractic sessions twice a week. Dr Jens Duehr was very kind. But he suspected

MND and encouraged me to chase up the hospital for the MRI scan results. I was feeling very anxious.

On March 27, I had an appointment with the neurologist, who had received the results. He indicated it was bad news and asked for my family to attend. I replied ‘I am family and tell me’. He told me it was almost certain that I had MND and that I has three years to live. I replied, ‘Are you God to tell me that?’ Results in July confirmed my condition.

I’m to be monitored with sessions every four months.

Pacific Peoples Health 9

2014 In our family’s fight to find a solution, we make inquiries and seek help from a hospital in China for stem cell research. But we’re advised that travelling in pressurised air in an aircraft is totally unsuitable for those with MND. Our search for answers continues.

Thoughts and Experiences • My family and friends were as shocked as I was. I’m so grateful for my family’s support. It has been tough for them • My inner mind and soul are strong. I do not refer to MND as a disease – it’s a challenge and I am not sick • I feel anxious and worried as I cannot do anything. I maintain my strength to keep on and keep up

What is Motor Neurone Disease?

Motor neurone disease (MND) is the name given to a group of diseases in which the nerve cells – neurones – controlling the muscles that enable us to move, breathe and swallow undergo degeneration and die. With no nerves to activate them, muscles gradually weaken and waste away, causing increasing loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing. The patterns of weakness vary from person to person.

Symptoms Early symptoms are mild and may include stumbling due to weakness of the leg muscles, difficulty holding objects, slurring of speech or swallowing due to weakness of the tongue and throat muscles. Emotional responses may be more easily triggered.

Pain Pain and discomfort are not caused directly

by MND as the neurons carrying sensory messages to the brain are unaffected.

While most people experience little or no pain at any stage of the illness, others can experience discomfort such as muscle cramps (especially the legs), pain and stiffness in joints and pain in the muscles of the neck, shoulder, hips and knees.

Other symptoms include muscle cramps and spasms, stiff joints, incontinence, bowel problems, saliva and mucus, coughing and feeling of choking, breathing and cognitive changes

10 Pacific Peoples Health

• I do not shut myself away from life … I want to be treated as a normal person. My mind is stronger than ever, but my body muscles are frustratingly dragging behind me • My brainpower and cognitive capacity is perfect; in fact I’m brainier now than before 2013!

• Receiving physical, social, emotional and psychological care based on my needs is paramount • Due to inevitable changes to my vocal chords, I may sound angry, but I don’t have any other way of voicing my needs • I keep my energy levels up with organic and fresh soft food and drinks.

Fluids are entered to my stomach through tubes

• I get itchy as I feel the neurons itching against my skin. I’m checked on regularly as I’m flat on my back in bed and can’t turn sideways. Apart from bedtime, I’m always seated • I dislike the smell of burnt, cooked food and strong perfume odour.

• I pray, go on outings, read, watch TV, listen to songs (especially Niue ones), visit friends and family and set my mind at strong mode • I am blessed and energised by Psalm 91 Verse 2 ‘I will say to Jehovah: you are my refuge and my stronghold, My God, in whom I will trust’.

MND in NZ • The number of people living with MND in NZ is approximately 300 • Most people diagnosed with MND are over 40, the highest incidence occurs between 50-70 • More men than women are diagnosed • MND is not transmissible from person to person • In 90-95% of cases there is no known family history • In 5-10% of cases the disease is known to be inherited For more info about Motor Neurone Disease go to www.mnda.org.nz the Motor Neurone Disease Association NZ

A Mind that Matters Stephen Hawking is a scientific genius and regarded as the most famous person to be afflicted with MND. Born in England in 1942, he was first diagnosed in the early 1960s as he was about to marry Jane Wilde.

Despite the progressive deterioration of his condition, he has survived more than half a century. A theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director Research at the Centre of Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge, Hawking was the first to present a cosmology explained by the union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics.

Author of the international best-selling book A Brief History of Time, Hawking is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a lifetime member of the Pontifical

Stephen Hawking

Academy of Sciences and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian order in the United States.

Hawking is almost entirely paralysed and communicates through a speechgenerating device. He married twice and has three children. His first wife Jane wrote a book about the challenges of their marriage, which ended in 1990. They both remarried and Jane wrote about how they stay in touch with get-togethers.

“It’s been like old times, with plenty of banter and wit circulating round the dinner table while we wait for Stephen to have the last word.”

The Theory of Everything, a movie based on Stephen Hawking’s life, was released in the United Kingdom in November. www.hawking.org.uk www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

Helping teen mums thrive Empowered and determined. This is what stands out most to Village Collective Operations Leader RUTH UO about the amazing teenage mothers who have taken part in Health promoter Riki Nofo’akifolau’s Teen Parenting workshops at Eden Campus – Auckland Girls’ Grammar Teen Parenting Unit (TPU).

D

and the fact these girls can take their child to school takes the pressure off their families.”

espite facing the huge task of raising a child while still so young themselves, as well as continuing their education and often being judged by society, these young women are supporting each other to thrive.

To concude the workshops, Riki asked the teen mums to write a poem to their babies, explaining what love meant to them – based on their past and present experiences.

When Riki first suggested running workshops in various TPUs – usually set up at high schools to enable teen mums to continue studying - we could see merit in it, and thought Riki, of Tongan descent, would be a great leader.

“It resulted in some touching moments.

Kalala Otufangavalu wrote a poem which had everyone in tears.”

A single parent at 21, she raised her boy with the invaluable support of her family.

Riki, who fell pregnant half way through her performing arts degree, says she would not have returned to study if her mother had not encouraged her to do so and offered to look after her son. After researching the issues surrounding teen pregnancy, Riki planned the workshops and pitched them to TPUs. “What I discovered from the research was that teen mums are less likely to continue their education once they have their baby – which I could relate to – and also the stigma attached to teen pregnancy,” Riki explains.

“Many Pacific cultures have their own values about teen parenting, being a single parent – young women are made to feel ashamed for being pregnant or having their child out of wedlock or without a partner.”

Eden Campus welcomed Riki into the TPU, and her workshops have proved popular

Kalala’s poem: Riki Nofo’akifolau

- she has run two series to date there with her colleague and Health Promoter Loma Teisi. There are four workshops in a series on Relationships, Decision-Making around Alcohol, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Contraception, and Self-Acceptance.

“I was so amazed at not only how welcoming these young mums of all ethnicities were, but also how mature they all were, and the way they took in the information – especially considering how young they are,” Riki says.

The sessions were well-received, with the young mums absorbing the information helping them to be more aware about their choices in life, and to build and maintain good relationships – not only with their romantic partners but also family members.

“It also showed them the difference between being in a positive relationship to being in a destructive one,” Riki adds.

Between eight to ten students attended the workshops and Riki describes the young mums as “one big family”, who supported each other at school and outside of it as well.

“That sense of family at Eden Campus really stuck with me … the teachers also had a good rapport with their students, and treated them more like a family member,” she says.

Ruth Uo www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

“Having that support gives the girls confidence to do a good job at parenting,

Dear Simione, Love feels like pain from an aching body to squeezing a caring hand.

Love sounds like a scream of sorrow to pushing an angel to life. Prayers.

Love smells like a new life of powder, the Holy water I use when we go to church every Sunday.

Love looks like me holding you for the first time.

Love, Mum (Kalala)

By Kalala ‘Otufangavalu

Village Collective believe the information that Riki and Loma are sharing with these young women is beneficial as well as empowering.It also reinforces that TPUs have an important place to play in our communities, supporting teen mothers in their bid to get an education which is key to long term success.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE CONTACT US Village Collective is a charitable trust that aims to support Pasefika communities with sexual and reproductive health needs through health promotion.

Web www.villagecollective.org.nz Phone: +64 9 263 4784 Email info@villagecollective.org.nz Facebook www.facebook.com/ VillageCollective Physical address 1/30 Hobill Ave, Wiri, Auckland

Pacific Peoples Health 11

H E A LT H & S O C I A L S E RVI C E S

Healthy babies for a healthy future

The Fono healthcare workers see the heavy burden non-communicable diseases within the Pacific community have placed on services. We know more needs to be done to counteract non-infectious diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity before people reach adulthood. So The Fono has launched a new Pacific Maternal and Infant Nutrition service led and co-ordinated by Aivi Puloka.

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ivi is working alongside stakeholder organisations to promote the health and wellbeing of Pacific pregnant women, women with children under four and their whanau/families and communities through improved nutrition, including breastfeeding, and promoting more physical activity.

“The Fono already has Family Support, Family Start and Well Child services, so we needed to start at the beginning with pregnancy, an antenatal service and supporting young Pacific parents,” says Aivi, a qualified doctor of obstetrics and gynaecology.

Research shows if we encourage pregnant mothers to eat healthy, it improves outcomes for their babies,” she adds.

“We can expect to see a healthier baby without the risk of hypertension, diabetes and obesity to the mother.”

Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development has conducted the research behind this programme while Taha – Well Pacific Mother and Infant Service has developed the Tapuaki Pregnancy Training module.

Trainers use the Tapuaki module to meet mothers and families, stressing the importance and benefits of breastfeeding once baby is born, running education workshops and cooking demonstrations to convey healthy nutrition messages.

Several of The Fono healthcare workers, along with staff from other Pacific health providers, have been trained to educate young mothers and their supporters along with community champions.

These champions, from existing community groups such as Enua Ola and Healthy Village Action Zones, also promote the message “Healthy Babies Healthy Futures”.

The programme is available to anyone in Auckland and participants can be referred onto The Fono’s other services – such as Family Start or Well Child.

12 Pacific Peoples Health

The Fono’s Pacific Maternal and Infant Nutrition Coordinator Aivi Puloka

This ensures families are getting the holistic health care and social assistance they require. Aivi was motivated to take on the role because of her strong interest in maternal care and the health of young children, she says.

Tongan born and raised, Aivi studied medicine in Papua New Guinea, and undertook post graduate studies in England.

She has practiced around the Pacific including Niue, Tonga and Vanuatu before coming to New Zealand with her husband, also a doctor, and their three daughters. Aivi decided to put her knowledge and skills to good use, promoting the programme for The Fono across the Auckland and Waitemata District Health Boards.

Chief Executive Officer of The Fono, Tevita Funaki, is delighted to have someone of Aivi’s calibre co-ordinating this new programme, which complements The Fono’s existing services.

“This programme is specifically designed to improve Pacific health literacy and education around pregnancy,” he says.

“We’ll be able to give new mothers guidance and also educate the wider family and support network about what their role is during this time.”

Find out more about the Pacific Maternal and Nutrition programme.

Aivi Puloka Phone: +64 9 837 1780 or Mobile: +64 0 21 381 562 Email: Aivi.Puloka@thefono.org

The Fono provides affordable healthcare services including primary health, dental, education, health and community support services across four Auckland locations.

THE FONO WEST Health Medical Centre & Head Office 411 Great North Road, Henderson Ph: 09 837 1780

THE FONO CENTRAL Medical and Dental Centre Lvl 2/33 Wyndham Street, Auckland City Ph: 09 302 2496

THE FONO WEST CENTRAL Healthcare Medical Centre 297 Blockhouse Bay Rd, Avondale Ph: 09 828 8421

THE FONO SOUTH Medical and Dental Centre 7 Halver Road, Manurewa Ph: 09 267 6331

www.thefono.org www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

Media Kit

FOOD FOCUS for Massey University’s health students I

t’s a shocking statistic. Pasifika people are among the most obese in the world.

According to the World Health Organisation, 64% of adults in the Cook Islands are obese, with Tonga and Samoa close behind on 60% and 56% respectively.

Why do you think it’s important?

Two Pasifika students are set to combat these trends, poised to complete their nutrition studies at Massey University’s Albany campus. While the health of their loved ones is a motivator for both, their ambitions and interests will take them in very different directions. Wherever they travel in their new careers, the Pasifika community will be the winners.

For example, I created a diet plan recently for my cousin Kaipo – he thinks carbohydrates are bad and is skeptical about having more in his diet, even though he’s been feeling tired all the time lately and really needs them. It’s quite hard to change beliefs like Kaipo’s. I’m coming in with an education and scientifically supported views, but those views aren’t marketed well.

Nathan Armstrong moved to New Zealand from his native Cook Islands after finishing secondary school in 2008. The 23-year-old is excited about launching a career focused on promoting healthy eating to improve people’s health.

What are your ambitions for the future?

Why did you choose nutrition?

It was partly for myself to get healthier, and partly because I’d seen the prevalence of weight-related problems at home. I want my family to stick around for a while, so I thought, why not try and better that situation?

Pacific Islanders are one of the most obese populations in the world. If I could help to change that statistic, that would be pretty good. I went from 110 to 95 kilos in my first year of study, just from realising what you can do to make a change.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there - all these fad diets you see on TV or on Facebook, they start to take over from factual nutrition information and that can be harmful.

I’m interested in community health, and eventually I’d like to get into policy work.

I reckon if you could make good food cheaper and unhealthy food more expensive, then people would be more likely to buy healthier foods. Research is starting to support that claim, too.

That’s when politics gets involved and that’s when policies become the best way to make a change.

Fijian-born Nikita Deo, 24, is finishing a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. She’s heading into clinical practice, focusing on the effect of nutrition on different medical conditions.

Why did you choose nutrition and dietetics?

Nutrition combines my interests in food and health. I’ve grown up hearing this saying “You are what you eat.” It really is true, and that directed me into nutrition.

When I was deciding on a study path, the awareness of how food plays a role in health didn’t extend out to a lot of people I knew.

In my community especially, food was seen as pleasure. In reality, it can also be therapeutic.

Why do you think it’s important?

Nathan Armstrong www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

Food plays a role in a lot of health conditions – not just in weight loss and diabetes, but also in many other areas.

Nutrition therapy is continuously evolving

Nikita Deo

and I find it intriguing keeping up with new findings from research studies in the area of nutrition and health.

What are your ambitions for the future?

I’d like to work in diabetes, cardiovascular disease and nutrition therapy.

My grandparents all have diabetes, and the core management of diabetes is through your diet. Grandad went through a lot – he passed away ten years ago due to complications he developed as a result of diabetes. It’s a motivator for me to do something for my family and community that’s going to help them manage this condition in a more sustainable way.

NUTRITION AND DIETETIC CENTRE A new centre on Massey’s Albany campus will provide dietetic and nutrition services to the community, while allowing students to gain practical experience.

Specialist areas include: • Weight management • Nutrition in pregnancy and early childhood • Nutrition for academic and sporting performance in children and adolescents • Nutrition for sport and exercise To find out more see: massey.ac.nz/nutritiondieteticcentre

Pacific Peoples Health 13

Connecting families to healthy home solutions The Auckland Wide Healthy Homes Initiative (AWHI) is helping Pacific families into warmer, less crowded homes reducing the risk of their children contracting rheumatic fever

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four-week old child becomes sick, is suddenly hospitalised for two months and Mum has had to stay by his side the whole time. On top of his fulltime job, Dad has to take on the responsibility of caring for their four young children.

Due to the extra stress on the family, he arrives late to work a few too many times. Unexpectedly, he finds himself out of a job. To make matters worse, he is involved in a random altercation, is up before the courts and given a three-year jail sentence.

Mum is now alone with no family support in a big city. Just to get by, the family sell their possessions, yet it’s not enough. A few months earlier life was perfect. Dad was employed full time; Mum was completing her first year of a degree and the kids were well and happy. Now they’re homeless and struggling to get by.

It becomes so bad the family end up sleeping at the beach with the kids in the car. They’ve asked for help, but find themselves on a three-year waiting list with Housing New Zealand. The situation seems hopeless.

This is an example of where AWHI can intervene.

This is a true story of a family who had everything going for them.

But because of unforeseen circumstances, life kept spiraling downwards until it eventually spun out of control.

Sadly, this story is not an isolated one. AWHI case workers come across these types of experiences daily. Fortunately, through the support of an AWHI case worker, this family was placed into a suitable home within weeks. The family is now settled, and in a home that’s warm, dry and safe.

AWHI Acting Manager Vaisi Feau says the AWHI hub is a critical link between families, systems and bureaucracy.

14 Pacific Peoples Health

“We have had families living in their car on the beach, and were told that they’re on a waiting list of 3000 families, as there are no available homes in Auckland,” Vaisi recalls. “Once we were able to assist with their application, they were fast-tracked into a new home.”

AWHI is a joint venture between Alliance Health Plus and the National Hauora Coalition. It was established in late 2013 with the key focus of reducing crowding in homes with children at high risk of contracting rheumatic fever. At the heart of the approach is the recognition that supporting families also means ensuring they have the skills to make better choices in the future.

The role of AWHI is to be the connector of services and solutions and to begin to build a platform for collaboration and collective impact. AWHI offers a co-ordinated hub with a range of alliances that attend not only to practical clinical and housing needs, but also other social issues experienced by priority groups (Maori and Pacific).

AWHI case workers interact closely with families and suppliers (such as EECA – NZ’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) to develop housing plans that focus on providing practical solutions to keep homes warm, safe and dry in addition to reducing the risk of crowding.

After a year of establishing the service, alliances have been built with key agencies, including the Ministry of Social Development for Social Housing, Work and Income and Housing NZ. AWHI aims to strengthen existing, and develop new relationships to ensure a broad range of housing interventions to meet the needs of the most vulnerable children and their families.

www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

of their children to rheumatic fever A four-week old child becomes sick, is suddenly hospitalised for two months and Mum has had to stay by his side the whole time. On top of his fulltime job, Dad has to take on the responsibility of caring for their four young children. Due to the extra stress on the family, he arrives late to work a few too many times. Unexpectedly, he finds himself out of a job. To make matters worse, he is involved in a random altercation, is up before the courts and given a three-year jail sentence.

There is a with strong linksupport between housing conditions - particularly Mum is alone no family in a big city.

Just to get by, the family sell their possessions, yet crowding it’s not enough.- Aand few months earlier life was perfect.

Dadin was employed household rheumatic fever.

Living crowded full time; Mum was completing her first year of a degree and the kids were well and happy. housing conditions increases the transmission rates of a range of Now they’re homeless and struggling to get by. It becomes so bad the family end up infections, including Streptococcal (GAS) throat infections sleeping at the beach with the Group kids in theA car.

They’ve asked for help, but find themselves on a three-year waitingcan list with Housing NZ. The situation seems hopeless. the bug that cause rheumatic fever (RhF).

FREE IN-HOME OR COMMUNITY EDUCATION SESSIONS ABOUT RHEUMATIC FEVER You’ve probably heard of rheumatic fever and would like to know more about how you can protect your family and friends.

-

This is an example of where AWHIin comes in.

Rheumatic fever cases Auckland

represent half of the total number of cases across NZ and almost all the patients are Pacific This is a true story of a family which had everything going for them. But because of unforeseen keptimpact spiraling downwards until it eventually spun out or Maori.circumstances, Reducinglife the of household crowding forofeligible control. Sadly, this story is not an isolated one. AWHI case workers come across these types families will contribute to reducing the number of rheumatic fever of experiences daily. Fortunately, through the support of an AWHI case worker, this family cases in into Auckland. was placed a suitable home within weeks. The family is now settled, and in a home that’s warm, dry and safe will ensure the kids are living well together.

Reducing the incidence of Rheumatic Fever is one of the 10 Better AWHI Acting Manager,(BPS) Vaisi Feau, says the AWHI hub is a critical linkhas between families, Public Services results this Government committed to for systems and bureaucracy. improving the lives of NZers. It is also one of three results identified as contributing to supporting vulnerable children. The national Rheumatic Fever established ©Alliance Health Plus 2014 Prevention Programme (RFPP) wasBy Gayle Lafaiali’i by the Ministry of Health to prevent and treat GAS, which can lead to rheumatic fever in high risk individuals and communities. As part of the BPS focus, the Government has a target to reduce the incidence of rheumatic fever by two-thirds by June 2017.

ELIGIBLE FAMILIES ARE REFERRED TO AWHI FROM THE FOLLOWING THREE SERVICES: 1. School based swabbing programmes 2. Hospitals; and 3. Prophylactic bicillin services (children/youth who are already receiving monthly injections because of RhF).

FAMILIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR AWHI SERVICES IF THEY MEET THE CRITERIA BELOW: • The family lives in metro Auckland • Must have NZ citizenship or permanent residency status • The family has low income, as defined by the financial limits of the Community Services Card • There is evidence of structural or functional household crowding • The family must have two or more children aged 0 – 14 yrs (inclusive) living in the household.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL HOUSEHOLD CROWDING? Structural crowding is when there are more than two persons per bedroom e.g. 9 people living in a 3 bedroom house.

Functional crowding is when there are enough bedrooms, but everyone sleeps together, eg in the lounge (because it’s too expensive to heat the whole house or because one of the rooms is damp and cold).

The following Pacific health providers offer FREE in-home or community group visits across Auckland with information and education about how families can avoid contracting Strep A (the infection that can cause rheumatic fever).

Pacific and Maori children and young people (aged 4-19 years old) are most at risk of getting rheumatic fever. The risk increases if they are also living in crowded situations such as sharing bedrooms with others, and in houses with poor insulation (e.g. cold and damp).

Arrange an education session and learn more about living well together.

FREE SORE THROAT SWABBING AND TREATMENT Group A Streptococcal (GAS) commonly referred to as a “strep throat” can lead to rheumatic fever. It’s important to get every sore throat checked to help protect our children and ensure that they receive the correct treatment to prevent rheumatic fever.

The list below shows where you can get FREE sore throat swabbing and treatment for at risk children and young people aged 4–19 years. FREE treatment is also available for family members up to the age of 35 years living with children diagnosed with Strep A (GAS).

FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact any of the Pacific health providers below to talk to somebody about rheumatic fever. Staff are fluent in Pacific languages.

FREE FREE in-home or swabbing & community treatment education sessions

Location

Telephone

Bader Drive Healthcare





93 Bader Drive Mangere Town Centre

275 8598

Bader Drive Healthcare





Shop 4/6, 7 Hill Road, Manurewa

266 8598

Health Star Pacific





132 West Tamaki Road Eastbay

527 2300 or 528 9800

Mt Wellington Integrated Family Health Centre





1/627 Mt Wellington Highway

276 8640

Penina Health Trust



186 Russell Road, Manurewa

269 7989

Langimalie Integrated Family Health Centre





29 Hill Street Onehunga

636 3629

Langimalie Health Centre





161 Queens Road Panmure

570 9827

South Seas Healthcare





Shop 11 Otara Town Centre

273 9017

The Fono





411 Great North Rd Henderson

837 1780

TOA Pacific



214 Great South Rd Otahuhu

276 4596

There are many sore throat clinics (including pharmacies) that offer FREE swabbing and treatment across metro Auckland.

For a full list, go to: www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/ diseases-and-illnesses/sore-throat/sore-throat-clinics#auckland For more information on rheumatic fever, call Healthline on 0800 611 116.

www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

Pacific Peoples Health 15

Empowering hairdressers in suicide prevention

Che Kerr at the Waka Hourua conference

Hairdressers and barbers are often listening to intimate and traumatic stories from clients who wouldn’t dare share them with their own family and friends.

Some of these stories involve suicide, or depression, which often causes angst among those in the profession in how to deal with it. Hairdresser Che Kerr had her own battle with suicide. That experience inspired her to run suicide prevention awareness workshops for hairdressers and barbers, enabling those in the profession to share their unique experiences as a way to recognise then address potential tragedies and learning to cope and take care of themselves.

MICHELLE CURRAN reports Che Kerr believes hairdressers are not only employed to cut hair, but to talk all day. Seeing her bubbly and radiant persona, it’s hard to believe she once tried to take her own life. Those dark days were when she wouldn’t, or felt she couldn’t, talk.

Deciding to eventually share her innermost thoughts, however, saved her life. The 32-year-old is here today, living life to the full with her husband Matt, and their two boys.

“I have a real joy of life now – that was something I couldn’t see before,” Che says.

Of Tongan (Nuku’alofa) and Maori (Ngapuhi) descent, Che grew up in Rotorua and was still at school when she first encountered suicide.

“A really good friend of mine took their own life at high school. We were 16 years old – an age when you think people shouldn’t have a care in the world,” she says.

Three years later she moved to work on Auckland’s Hibiscus Coast.

One day, a client came in, sat in the chair and told Che that her son had taken his own life. Che burst into tears.

“I just wasn’t prepared for that conversation,” she recalls.

“As a hairdresser, nothing can prepare you for that type of conversation and there was no training or guidelines available back then for what to say or how to talk about it with a client.”

Soon after, Che’s cousin took his life, leaving behind a partner and two kids.

Needing a fresh break, Che moved to Sydney to work. She hit the party scene hard. A year later she returned to the Hibiscus Coast, depressed and deep in debt.

“I didn’t talk about it. All my friends were away at the time and I felt really alone,” she recalls.

“That really stuck with me and I found it hard to get past.”

“And I felt shame for being depressed.”

At age 16, Che left school and took up hairdressing.

The combination of depression, debt, unemployment and enduring

16 Pacific Peoples Health

www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

a relationship break-up over a period of months proved too much for Che. “I had bottled everything up. I thought what I was going through was too big to share,” she says.

“That’s when I made the decision to take my own life.”

Eventually, she emerged out of the darkness. Once she began talking about how she felt, the healing process began.

“When I finally did share, I learned problems are never as big as they seem compared to when they’re stuck inside your head,” she says.

“Talking is so important. In different cultures and in some families, people find it hard to talk about suicide. But people need to talk about their feelings and issues. Not talking nearly took my life. As a survivor, I know talking is healing.”

if their clients appear to be at-risk.

“During the half-hour, I educate people about what signs to pick up on and provide a list of resources,” she says.

“It’s important to remember that I’m not trying to raise a whole lot of psychiatrists … just raise awareness of how people can help others.”

Che delivered the pilot programme in late 2014 to salons and gained positive feedback. She is working on a strategy to roll it out further. Le Va fund Che’s workshops through Waka Hourua. Le Va’s clinical lead Denise Kingi-’Ulu’ave also accompanies Che to workshops providing support and guidance.

Last year, Che gave up hairdressing to be a stay at home mum.

When she learned of the alarmingly high suicide figures among Maori and Pacific people, however, Che knew she had to do something.

“Hairdressers have access to many people and they have a unique relationship with many of their clients,” she says.

Che believes there is something about being touched on the head, a tapu area in Maori and many Pacific cultures. She says it relaxes people, causing them to often share their thoughts and feelings with their hairdresser. Che developed the concept of running free 30-minute workshops for hairdressers and barbers, to raise awareness about suicide, and provide information about what to do

The Le Va team members (l-r) Gerhard Sundborn (Research Lead), Monique Faleafa (Chief Executive), Denise Kingi-‘Ulu’ave (Clinical Lead) and Jay Williams (FLO Co-ordinator)

FLO: Pasifika for life Many of us have experienced the shock and sadness of losing someone who has taken their own life. New Zealand has staggering rates of suicide and attempted suicide – and the death and attempt rates are alarmingly higher among Pacific and Maori people. In 2014 Maori and Pacific communities joined forces in the form of Waka Hourua, the first-ever suicide prevention programme of its kind. The Pacific programme, FLO: Pasifika for Life, is for the first time opening up the conversation on a national level for Pasifika communities to develop their own solutions.

Every year, around 500 people take their own lives, while many more attempt it. For one suicide death, at least 6 others are severely impacted by grief and have an increased risk for suicide between 2 and 10 times higher than the general population.

Suicide in NZ is an ethnically disproportionate issue. One in five people who die by suicide are Māori, and Pacific people attempt suicide three times more often than the general population.

Le Va Chief Executive Dr Monique Faleafa says Pacific communities are seeking solutions to suicide with a sense of urgency. “In general, Kiwis are not inclined to talk about suicide or how we are feeling, and that impacts on our ability to reach out for help. For Pacific communities, this silence can sometimes be compounded if we perceive suicide as a tapu issue from cultural and spiritual perspectives.”

The non-government organisation Le Va, which focuses on holistic wellbeing for Pasifika, is leading FLO - NZ’s first ever national Pacific suicide prevention programme. Waka Hourua, brings together Le www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

Va and Te Rau Matatini, with a shared vision and common cause of reducing suicides among their people.

Speaking at the first Waka Hourua national hui-fono in November, clinical psychologist Dr Faleafa emphasised that they will be doing things differently for Pasifika suicide prevention. FLO aims to connect communities, families and organisations so that multiple groups are contributing to building resilient and flourishing Pasifika families at multiple levels across New Zealand in a coordinated way.”

Launched in March this year, FLO is empowering communities to deliver their own solutions, funding 17 different Pasifika groups to address suicide from within their own communities, and funding quality research to build knowledge on ‘“what works’” for Pasifika.

“In order to come up with effective solutions, we need to understand suicide, and in order to understand suicide and suicide prevention, we need to first talk about it.”

Dr Faleafa is adamant it’s a myth that ‘talking about suicide increases the risk’, and in fact, talking about it increases help-seeking Pacific Peoples Health 17

behaviour. Le Va works alongside creative artists, churches, media and clergy, and has ambassadors in various Pacific communities, to ensure messages are conveyed in an appropriate way.

“There are appropriate and safe ways of talking about suicide and suicide prevention. We have consulted our Pacific communities throughout the country, through 15 fono and over 400 attendees and our results show that the readiness to talk is there, and with the right resources, appropriate education, and taking collective responsibility, we can all play a role to bring change.”

Le Va promotes these top 5 tactics as protective factors for and enhancing resiliency for Pasifika people. Le Va is developing resources and education tool kits for Pasifika communities.

TOP 5 TACTICS 1. Good communication

4. Strengthen family Communication is the heartbeat to nurturing healthy family relationships.

Find ways to have open, meaningful, supportive, nonjudgmental conversations within your family. This will provide a safe space for children to reveal what stresses and pressures they have - such as peer pressure or bullying.

Research shows the first three years of a child’s development are critical to his or her wellbeing.

What will truly help children thrive?

Along with food, warmth, shelter and clothing: feeling safe and secure; love and hugs; praise; smiles; positive encouragement; Research shows the first three years of a child’s feeling heard; time and attention; learning new things. development is critical to his or her wellbeing.

Effective parenting programmes can be life changing for all What will truly help children thrive? involved.

Recognise, allow and accept experiences from all the Along with food, warmth, shelter and clothing: feeling safe and secure; love hugs; praise; smiles; positive encouragement; generations inand your family. feeling heard; time & attention; learning new things.

MYTH - Talking about suicide increases the risk It’s ok to talk. If we do it the right way, it can actually reduce risk.

Talk means less stigma. It encourages us to seek help.

1. TALK

2. Strong cultural identity

5. Connect with others

Use your culture don’t lose your culture.

Pulling together will Connect with your make us stronger. emotions through

For young Pacific people in NZ, the stronger our cultural identity, the stronger our mental wellbeing.

What is culture?

It includes our own internal library of diverse experiences and stories.

Our own library, and that of our family. We must embrace and strengthen our cultural identity in order to strengthen wellbeing and have a happy life.

3. Find hope and courage through spirituality Spirituality is a personal journey of transformation, hope and courage.

Church elders and spiritual leaders are well placed to play an important role in preventing Pacific suicide. They can provide support, information and create new initiatives within the church.

18 Pacific Peoples Health

2. CULTURE

Be social.

MUSIC, It takes a village to raise a child.

ART, Healthy relationships are vital for and those with diverseof purpose. wellbeing and sense RelationshipsEXPERIENCES help us during tough times.

Connect withIt’syour emotions Pay okay to ask it forforward – share a smile, a hug, hang out professional help!those through MUSIC, ART, and Just do it if you need to. with diverse EXPERIENCES Pay it forward – share a smile, a Meaningful hug, hang out. contributions Find a purpose through the contributions you can make and seek opportunities for growth – personally, professionally, a sense of and socially. purpose

growth

GET HELP

Find a purpose through the contributions you can make an opportunities for growth – personally, professionally, and

If you or someone else is feeling lost, lonely, whakapouri or just wanting to talk, there are lots of people who can help:

Le Va www.leva.co.nz

Lifeline Aotearoa 0800 543 354 Youthline – 0800 376 633 Suicide Prevention Helpline 0508 TAUTOKO www.wakahourua.co.nz www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

Words Matter for Pasifika people with disabilities Imagine a world where Pacific people with disabilities have access to all the services they need. A world without language or cultural barriers. Le Va is working on developing such a world, right here in New Zealand.

In NZ 24% of Kiwis have a disability, and for Pacific people its 26% (age adjusted rates). Yet Pacific people seem to have low rates of access to the services they need.

The team at Le Va implement Faiva Ora – the NZ Pasifika disability support services action plan – on behalf of the Ministry of Health, which is currently focused on increasing these access rates, and once they do access, ensuring a quality service for them and their family.

The Le Va team has many initiatives on the go to achieve these aims, including cultural competency training, and says that decreasing negative stigma can enhance access rates.

Project lead Ben Tameifuna reports: “Decreasing negative stigma and fostering positive attitudes towards Pasifika people with disabilities can help remove barriers to Pasifika people accessing the disability support services they need”.

Le Va provides information in Pacific languages to enhance health literacy surrounding the issues of disabilities, and has noticed that words often used to describe disabilities in Pacific languages can themselves fuel negative stigma. Le Va chief executive Dr Monique

Words matter

Faleafa says, “the words we use can open doors to understanding, respect, dignity and support for people to lead the lives they want.

Words can also create barriers, stigma or stereotypes that are demeaning and rob people of their individuality”.

Ben is working alongside churches and clergy to help decrease stigma for Pasifika people with disabilities.

“As leaders of our communities, church ministers can play an important role in ensuring that church is a supportive environment for people with disabilities. It’s important for church ministers to have an awareness of the issues surrounding disabilities, understand accessibility needs and communicate in a way that ensures everyone can understand,” he says.

–

Imagine a world where Pacific people with disabilities have access to all the services they need. A world without language or cultural barriers. Le Va is working on developing such a world, right here in New Zealand.

The words we use can open doors to understanding, respect, dignity and support for people to lead the lives they want.

Words can also create barriers, stigma or stereotypes that are demeaning and rob people of their individuality.

Le Va has produced resources in Samoan and Tongan that promote positive words or phrases to use to describe disabilities or people with a disability. The resources also include negative words or phrases which should not be used. Download them from the Le Va website www.leva.co.nz/library/leva/words-matter-disability SAMOAN

TONGAN

Visit www.leva.co.nz for your guide to disability support services – available in English, Samoan, Cook Islands and Tongan languages. www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

Pacific Peoples Health 19

Health

Heart survey reveals treatment disparities Cardiovascular, or heart disease, is the No 1 killer in New Zealand. Pacific and Maori people bear a disproportionate burden of the disease. Dr Corina Grey undertook research which reveals they’re not receiving the same level of treatment as nonPacific or non-Maori. Of Samoan descent, she’s now keen to find out why

A

public health doctor, Dr Corina Grey has been based at the University of Auckland’s School of Population Health, researching for the past two and a half years, and is working towards her PhD on acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

ACS describes a spectrum of potentially life-threatening cardiovascular conditions, including unstable angina and myocardial infarction (heart attacks).

Dr Grey, who has previously worked at Auckland Regional Public Health, Middlemore and Starship Hospital, is interested in comparing the incidence, mortality and treatment of ACS by ethnicity and/or socio-economic status.

“Because my mum is Samoan (from Alafua), I have a particular interest in seeing how Pacific patients with ACS in New Zealand compare with other patients,” Dr Grey explains.

In spite of these higher health needs, Pacific and Maori patients are less likely to be on long-term drug therapy after an ACS.

These findings are the start of a wider study for Dr Grey, who will pursue further understanding as to why these factors exist.

“If you’ve had a heart attack, you should be on a statin - secondary prevention to stop another one from happening, to reduce cholesterol levels and the risk of death – plus other medication such as aspirin and blood pressure medicines,” Dr Grey says.

“We don’t know why Pacific and Maori fare poorly next to other ethnicities when it comes to ACS,” she says.

Dr Grey found only five in 10 Pacific and Maori patients, compared to seven in 10 non-Maori and non-Pacific patients, are receiving statins up to three years after an ACS hospitalisation.

After adjusting for factors such as age, gender, diagnosis and cardiovascular history, Pacific are 18%, and Maori 12% less likely to be using statins after an ACS. Pacific and Maori also have an increased risk of death in the short (28-day) and long (one year) term following ACS hospitalisation.

Using data collated from the Ministry of Health, Dr Grey has compared the comorbidity (additional disorders or diseases co-occurring with ACS) profiles, management and outcomes of Pacific, Maori and other patients with ACS. She presented her findings in November at the Health Research Council of NZ hosted International Pacific Health Conference 2014.

KEY FINDINGS Dr Grey determined that each year there are between 14,000 and 15,000 ACS hospitalisations in NZ. Approximately 4% are among Pacific people and 11% Maori.

On average Pacific and Maori patients are seven years younger than patients from other ethnic groups. Pacific patients are more likely to be diagnosed as having a heart attack rather than unstable angina.

Pacific and Maori patients also tend to have a greater number and more severe comorbid conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic lung disease, diabetes with end-organ damage and renal failure.

20 Pacific Peoples Health

“It could be that they’re not being prescribed the correct medication. Or they’re being prescribed but are not picking them up due to cost; or they don’t understand they need to take the medication long term; or they have other priorities. We need to find out.”

Dr Grey advises if you or someone you know has had ACS, it’s important to establish a good relationship with a GP. “Then take any medication that is prescribed and understand why you are taking it – and make sure your family and whanau know why and when you need to take your medication.”

FACTORS LINKED TO ACS • Smoking • Lack of exercise and being overweight • High fat diet

WHAT IS A HEART ATTACK?

• High cholesterol

A heart attack occurs when blood stops flowing properly to a part of the heart and the heart muscle is injured because it is not receiving enough oxygen.

• High blood pressure

Usually one of the coronary arteries that supplies blood to the heart develops a blockage due to a build-up of white blood cells, cholesterol and fat

WHAT IS UNSTABLE ANGINA? Unstable angina is a condition marked by crushing pain in your chest caused by inadequate blood supply to your heart, leaving your heart deprived of oxygen. It happens suddenly and becomes worse over time, possibly leading to a heart attack which should be taken seriously

• Diabetes • A family history of heart disease or a stroke

PREVENTING ACS • Encourage a more active lifestyle • Quit smoking • Maintain a lower fat diet • Lower cholesterol • Lower blood pressure • Treat and manage diseases such as diabetes • If you are at risk, get regular check-ups For more information on heart health visit www.heartfoundation.co.nz www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

Person-centredness is a way of life

S

pectrum Care supports people with disabilities to live great lives. We do this by focusing on the people we support as individuals and adapting our practices to provide person-centred, Outcomes-focused lives of choice – lives like any other.

Nearly 20 per cent of our workforce identifies as being from the Pacific Islands, and a similar percentage of the people we support are of a Pacific Island heritage.

That makes us the largest intellectual disability support provider to New Zealand’s Pacific community, which we serve through the Spectrum Care Pacific Cultural Group.

Our Pacific Cultural Group’s philosophy is: “Focusing on the person and their families to create appropriate cultural linkages that allow the person’s needs to be addressed holistically”

respite care for adults in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, and respite care for children in Auckland.

We offer specialised Home Support, Behaviour Support and Aspirations services for people in the greater Auckland region, along with a School Holiday Programme of activities for children.

We’ve also recently launched a Choice in Community Living programme, supporting people with disabilities into their lives of choice in the community.

To find out more about Spectrum Care, visit www.spectrumcare.org.nz

The four key aims of the Cultural Group are: 1. To support Pacific Island people in a culturally appropriate manner 2. To increase our ability to develop culturally appropriate supports 3. To develop networks with external Pacific Island organisations, with whom we can form mutual support arrangements 4. To provide a social context for Pacific Island staff, people we support and their families Our services include 24-hour support for people living in residential homes throughout the Auckland and Waikato regions,

Providing general practice and a range of specialist services

Special skin clinic for children with eczema Member of the largest Pacific Whanau Ora collective in NZ Wraparound support for families across health, social services, housing, employment and education Cook Island ethnic specific model of primary care Led by Dr Joseph Williams, who has more than 50 years’ health services experience

SERVICES • • • • • • •

GP care A&E Child care + immunisation Chronic care management including diabetes checks Women’s health - cervical + breast screening Men’s health + PSA screen Minor surgery + circumcision + liquid nitrogen

• • • • • • • •

Immigration medical Smoking cessation Whanau Ora Rheumatic fever rapid response Obesity management CVD risk assessment Dental clinic Physiotherapy

• • • • • • • •

Pharmacy Midwife Clinic Hand Physiotherapy Clinic Orthopaedic ACC Specialist Clinic Diabetes Nurse Specialist Clinic Work/ Insurance Medical Mental Health Clinic Acupuncture

Location

Opening hours

1/6274 Mt Wellington Highway, Mt Wellington Pacific Peoples Health Phone: (09) 276 8640

www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz Monday - Friday: 8:30am - 6:00pm Saturday: 9:00am - 1:30pm I Sunday: Closed

Health

Staying Sun Smart Having darker skin than the majority of New Zealanders doesn’t mean Pacific people can afford to be complacent about the risks of getting burnt this summer. MICHELLE CURRAN reports

W

PHOTO: MOLECHECK

e have been hearing sun smart messages for decades now, yet each year, around 70,000 new melanoma and non-melanoma cancer cases still affect NZers.

Compared to other countries, NZ’s rate of skin cancer is very high – our outdoor lifestyle and high UVR levels are chief contributors to our high skin cancer rates.

Three main types of skin cancers affect us - basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma - and these usually appear on areas of skin that have been over-exposed to the sun.

Many Pacific people think they are immune to getting skin cancer due to having darker skin. This is a myth.

check their palms and soles of their feet for any skin abnormalities as these areas are as white as Caucasian skin, Dr Langford says.

someone at your local practice should do the procedure. This way you can avoid long waiting lists at hospitals, Dr Langford says.

Principal and founder of Molecheck Dr David Langford says it is essential for Pacific people and others with darker skin to take heed of sun smart messages as much as those with fair skin.

“When people are visiting their GP, they should get them to check these areas.”

Preventing sun damage is the most effective thing you can do in the fight against skin cancer, so remember to Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap.

New Zealand’s only doctor on the Board of the International Dermoscopy Society says that while Pacific and dark skinned people are less likely to get melanoma in particular, if they do, they are far more likely to die.

“It often affects older people (over 50) on exposed parts of their face – their ears and lips – particularly their lower lip. It is often fatal,” Dr Langford says.

Squamous cell carcinoma is a concern for older dark-skinned people, a condition “extremely related to sun damage”.

Dr Langford says the medical world has no idea why.

The doctors at Molecheck are instructed to do a biopsy on lip eruptions if the patient has had them for more than three weeks.

“Whether it’s a lack of knowledge about skin cancer, genetic or late referral to skin cancer specialists, we can’t say why. It’s just an observed fact.”

“People need to forget about any ideas that darker skin is not affected by skin cancer – it can affect Pacific people as much as Caucasians.

It is important for dark-skinned people to

“If anyone notices an abnormal mole or freckle, lump, discolouration of skin on their bodies, or on someone in their family, they should get it checked by their GP immediately.”

Dr Langford sees few Pacific patients at Molecheck clinics. He believes this could be because Pacific people do not experience as many problems with skin cancer, and/or the cost of going to a private clinic.

Dr David Langford 22 Pacific Peoples Health

Most GPs are thorough when it comes to checking for skin cancers and will remove moles or nodules if they need removing.

But if your GP does not remove or do a biopsy on a mole or nodule you feel uneasy about, you can insist your doctor or

Skin Cancer: What to look for •

• •

• • •

An existing mole that changes colour (it may be black, dark blue or even red and white) The colour pigment may be uneven The edges of the mole/freckle may be irregular and have a spreading edge The surface of the mole/freckle may be flaky/crusted and raised Sudden growth of an existing or new mole/freckle Inflammation and or itchiness surrounding an existing or new mole/freckle

Prevent Skin Cancer: Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap • • • •

Slip on a shirt or into the shade Slop on plenty of broad-spectrum Sunscreen of at least SPF30+ Slap on a wide-brimmed hat (that covers your ears) Wrap on a pair of wrap-around sunglasses

For more information about Molecheck go to: www.molecheck.co.nz

www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

The Salt Standpoint Throughout history, humans have loved salt. It enhances foods, makes our taste buds dance, and brings life to tasteless food. Should we feel guilty for adding salt to our meals or embrace balance through perspective? Columnist NICKI MACKINNON weighs up this quandary concerning the once most treasured of commodities known to man

T

asty but vilified, salt, which most of us have in our pantries, was once worth as much as gold.

The word salary is derived from the Latin word salarium (salt money). In Roman times, workers were normally paid with salt and on the occasions that money was used, it was known as salt money.

Is salt safe? Natural salt with nothing added is made up of around 84% sodium chloride. The remainder is an abundance of important trace minerals.

Processed salt (table salt) contains 97.5% sodium chloride. The rest is man-made chemicals, such as moisture absorbents, flow agents and iodine.

Potassium is important for regulating high blood pressure. A lot of symptoms associated with high sodium are also symptoms of low potassium.

Fruit and vegetables are the most potassium rich foods - especially greens and vegetable juices - and broths are a quick potassium fix.

On its own sodium is a reactive substance that will undergo spontaneous combustion when mixed with water.

When you eat salt, the body will separate sodium from the chloride so it can be utilised.

Sodium is an important electrolyte, it regulates fluids and conducts nerve impulses, as well as carrying nutrients to the cells, supporting adrenal health.

A key point with salt intake is the importance of sodium being in balance with potassium.

Other primates such as gorillas chew rotting wood to meet their sodium needs.

This ratio is vital to prevent health conditions associated with high sodium intake.

It’s documented our Paleolithic ancestors consumed about 11,000mg of potassium a day and around 700mg of sodium on a natural diet. On average, we consume 2,500mg of potassium with 3,500mg of sodium.

With all the cheap, fast, processed food and our increasingly stressful environment, it’s a challenge to balance our bodies and meet our nutrition needs.

While it’s been said before, I will emphasise again - eat your greens (with a pinch of salt).

SALT AS A SOURCE OF SODIUM

Too much sodium can cause an increase in blood pressure – this could easily occur when we consume processed foods, typically those bursting with salt.

Processed foods are notoriously low in potassium and high in sodium. Eating these foods is a sure way to disrupt the balance.

Overall, there are many factors that contribute to high blood pressure.

In traditional Pacific diets, salt was not added but seawater was used and seafood was eaten to meet daily sodium needs.

There is 575mg sodium per quarter teaspoon of sea salt. It is estimated we need a minimum of 500mg of sodium a day to sustain life. It is recommended, although debated, that healthy adults should consume about 1500mg a day.

Adding a little natural salt to a wholefood diet is an easy way to get your daily dose without overdoing it with processed foods.

Note: Some health conditions require a low potassium diet; please talk to your doctor if concerned.

SALT SUMMARY: •

Swap processed salt to natural sea salt or other unprocessed salts. New Zealand sea salt is very reasonably priced at wholefood shops

•

Add iodine rich foods (seafood, seaweed and dairy products) to your diet if you are concerned about switching to a non-iodised salt

•

Make sure you have a good potassium/sodium ratio

•

Add a small amount of salt to a wholefood diet, avoid processed foods and include lots of potassium rich vegetables in your diet

NICKI MACKINNON (DipNat, DipHerbMed, BHSc(CompMed)) is a Naturopath, Medical Herbalist and a passionate real food promoter. With an interest in traditional medical systems, she strives to keep up to date with the latest research. She advocates for natural health care being available and accessible to everyone and places emphasis on a high raw diet. She has a particular focus area in Pacific and Maori health issues, especially diabetes. Nicki is available for one-on-one consultation via Eastwest Organics Natural Health Clinic. She also runs workshops and retreats and has her own brand of Native bushproducts.

Contact: nickimackinnon@gmail.com - Web: www.eastwestorganics.co.nz/therapist/nicki-mackinnon www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

Pacific Peoples Health 23

Coconuts The Good Oil?

In the January/February 2012 Issue 48 of SPASIFIK, editor INNES LOGAN wrote a feature about the revival of the coconut, now being embraced as one of the world’s most healthy and functional foods. But concerns at the growing popularity of coconut oil for cooking resulted in the Heart Foundation releasing a paper Coconut Oil and the Heart by Dr Laurence Eyres in October Reading Dr Laurence Eyres’ academic paper confirmed what I didn’t want to believe – even if my heart was telling me otherwise. My 2012 article was inspired by a speech by Teresia Teaiwa, Lecturer in Pacific Studies at Wellington’s University of Victoria.

It was how after World War II the American soybean industry demonised coconut oil, saying it was unhealthy due to the fact it was a saturated fat alongside butter and cheese. Like Teresia, I was offended that the coconut, with its many uses that had sustained people of the Pacific for thousands of years prior to European arrival, was targeted in such a way by American big business.

So I started buying fresh coconuts, drinking the nutritious and increasingly popular water, eating the flesh and searching for recipes which involved coconut oil. Over the next few months I began to put on weight. I wasn’t concerned at first, until I had my heart checked at an NZ Post Active Event SPASIFIK was supporting.

ENJOY POSITIVE lifestyle changes with PACIFIC HEARTBEAT

The volunteer nurse suggested I be taken to the nearest medical centre.

My doctor had always said my health “was very good for my age” during my annual medical check-up. I was still exercising regularly and thought I was eating healthy. So to be told otherwise left me stunned. I began to wonder what had changed … and then it hit me on the head … the coconut.

I stopped … and within months my blood pressure lowered to safer ‘pre coconut’ levels.

“Traditionally, coconut oil hasn’t been recommended because it is extremely high in saturated fat. This advice remains, despite the large number of marketing claims to the contrary.”

Coconut oil has gained popularity in recent years, with claims of it being a ‘superfood’. But in summarising the existing literature on coconut oil and its impact on heart health, Dr Eyres found nothing which disputes the fact that coconut oil raises cholesterol.

He concludes the claims for coconut oil’s healthiness simply don’t stack up.

“Traditionally, coconut oil hasn’t been recommended because it is extremely high in saturated fat. This advice remains, despite the large number of marketing claims to the contrary.”

He says switching to coconut oil is likely to lead to less favourable lipid profiles and potential increased risk of coronary heart disease.

“Consumers who are using a lot of coconut oil due to the current fad would be well advised to either limit its use, or to blend in some unsaturated cold-pressed oil such as olive, avocado or canola oil,” says Dr Eyres.

Apply now!

You can join Pacific Heartbeat in the fight against heart disease by attending a nutrition or smoking cessation course.

Contact Pacific Heartbeat: P: (09) 571 4643 E: info@pacificheart.org.nz

24 Pacific Peoples Health

Heart Foundation Quarter Page.indd 1

W: heartfoundation.org.nz/pacificheartbeat F: facebook.com/pacificheartbeatnz

27/06/2014 11:23:24 a.m.

“Although it may be a better choice than butter, coconut oil cannot be recommended as a suitable alternative to non-hydrogenated vegetable oils.”

About Dr Laurence Eyres Dr Eyres is a consultant to the Food Industry and New Zealand’s leading specialist in oils and fats. He has more than four decades experience in the NZ Food Industry and has Post-doctoral degrees in Industrial Chemistry and a Masters in Business (MBA) www.pacificpeopleshealth.co.nz

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