April 21, 2016
Whanau ora key to health strategy
The chair of Te Pou Matakana, the North Island whanau ora commissioning agency, says many of the aims of the government's updated health strategy could be met through working more closely with whanau ora providers.
The strategy puts the emphasis on more services in the community and a stronger push on prevention, early intervention, and new, innovative ways of reaching our most vulnerable, as well as increased use of data to drive decisions.
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait says Maori have always said family should be included in delivery of health services, and that's finally been embraced by the ministry.
She says it's good the Health Ministry seems to have finally admitted that they need to look at more than the individual, but the challenge now it to shift resources to where they will be most effective.
"With our provider partners, the families themselves develop a plan for their future. If families develop their own plans, health plans, even financial and literacy plans, with some support of course, they are far more inclined to stick with it because they have had some input into developing it," Mrs Raukawa Tait says.
She says the Whanau Tahi software developed by Waipareira and used by Te Pou Matakana can provide the kind of integrated data the health ministry is looking for.
FULL INTERVIEW: MEREPEKA RAUKAWA TAIT
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