May 20, 2019
Budget cash for rheumatic fever push
Budget cash for rheumatic fever push
Māori and Pacific communities will get support to develop their own community-led initiatives in the fight against rheumatic fever.
Associate Health Minister Jenny Salesa says there is $12 million set aside in the Wellbeing Budget to support innovative programmes that will reduce the incidence of rheumatic fever among both Māori and Pacific people and support better management of the illness.
The initiative is focused on the Auckland region because two-thirds of rheumatic fever cases occur there, mainly in South Auckland.
Pacific people make up 57 per cent of rheumatic fever cases and Māori make up 37 per cent.
Ms Salesa says targeted and tailored initiatives are more effective for improving Māori and Pacific health outcomes.
Possible initiatives could include more free school-based health clinics in disadvantaged communities, which have proven effective in reducing cases of the disease.
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