September 29, 2013
Waiting lists rejigged for disease
The government is putting families at risk of rheumatic fever at the top of the queue for state housing.
Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says it’s a way to help the Government achieve its health goal of a two-thirds reduction in incidence rates of the disease by 2017.
He says New Zealand’s rate of acute rheumatic fever is 14 times the OECD average and is 20 to 50 times more likely for Maori and Pacific children.
The policy comes into effect in Auckland tomorrow, with about 100 families expected to be placed as soon as possible.
It will apply to other centres like Porirua next year.
On Friday Dr Smith helped the Katoa family of 11 move into a home that had been extended as part of Housing New Zealand’s 234&5 scheme to add extra rooms to existing houses.
11-year-old Tristan Katoa has rheumatic heart disease.
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