Pānui

Hauora a Toi BOP District NBSP numbers as of 28 February 2023

National NBSP numbers as of 28 February 2023

National Bowel Screening going well for people!

“For me, the FIT test (bowel screening test) was like having the ambulance at the top of the cliff, rather than the bottom.”

72-year-old Te Puke local Donna Little received her FIT test from the National Bowel Screening Programme in the mail in late January 2023. She didn’t hesitate in doing the test.

“It was so easy to do,” she explains. “I read the instructions twice, got things ready, and it didn’t take long at all.”

She posted the test back and very shortly afterwards received a phone call from her GP advising her that her test had come back positive.

“He said there was no need to read too much into it, but that I needed to have a colonoscopy.”

Soon after Donna received a call from the Te Whatu

Ora Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty Bowel Screening team who explained the next steps to her and advised her she would be having a colonoscopy on February 9. Lots of polyps were removed during the colonoscopy and shortly after, Donna received the good news that there were no cancerous cells.

“I cannot speak highly enough of the staff from the Bowel Screening Programme and at Tauranga Hospital. They were excellent. I felt informed the entire time and they were simply wonderful.”

The mother of two urges everyone who receives the test to do it.

“It is so easy, it wasn’t invasive, and now it is one less thing I have to worry about.”

Te Matatini – Eden Park Auckland 22–26 February 2023

Auckland NBSP sent out the karanga for assistance to promote bowel screening at Te Matatini 2023, the four day national Māori cultural event.

It was attended by thousands of Māori whānau, who flocked in support of their favourite kapa haka rōpū and enjoyed access to almost 150 stalls promoting and selling products of interest to Māori.

Each wave of people who visited the promotions (between performances) provided excellent opportunities to kōrero with whānau to ensure people had the information and confidence required to complete a bowel screening test kit, now or when they reached the eligible age. We had the colossal colon and many resources and give aways from the Northern NBSP team, to help educate.

It was good to spend time with colleagues in different regions sharing ideas and experiences, as well as our techniques of engaging and enjoying our mahi working with whānau.

All participating rohe in the kapa haka were winners. But the top team was Te Whānau Apanui from the East Coast of our region Bay of Plenty.

Left - Chrissy Paul; Tuhoe, Ngati Awa, Te Arawa, Rongowhakata; Kaihautū, Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty