September 07, 2016
More support needed for Maori asthma
A leading expert in respiratory disease says the health system isn’t giving Maori the support they need to deal with high levels of respiratory disease.
It’s Breathe Better September, when the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation is urging people to become more aware of respirator health and how it can be improved.
The foundation’s Maori strategic advisor, Dr Tristram Ingham of Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Porou, says about 800,000 New Zealanders are living with asthma or other respiratory conditions, including 30 percent of Maori children.
He says the fact Maori have double the average hospitalisation rate shows they are not getting the right support when they need it.
"These are often long term conditions. The health system is really setup for acute conditions, a cold or a broken arm where you pop in you get your problem solved and that's it but with asthma and a number of other conditions it really needs a long term approach. Preventative strategies that are put in place over a long term, better relationships with health providers and someone who really understands the issues you have," he says.
Dr Ingham says there are few resources for Maori, so the foundation set medical students the challenge of coming up with tools or strategies that could help whanau manage asthma.
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