October 09, 2014
Victim blaming not healthy
A Maori public health specialist says the health system needs to be more responsive to Maori needs, rather than blaming the victim.
Dr Paparangi Reid was at this week's Population Health Conference in Auckland which brought together doctors, the Public Health Association and the Health Promotion Forum.
She says there are some improvements, but many of the problems come down to inequity rather than medical problems.
That's why government action is essential.
"We need less victim blame and more action on the social determinants of health that are now really important now that we have a new Government and I think it's important that ministers don't just start thinking it is about individual behaviour because it is far more complex than that. If it was easy we would have fixed that ages ago," he says.
Dr Reid says the conference was also concerned about climate change and the effect that will have in future on public health.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH DR PAPARANGI REID CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjI5MjU=
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