October 03, 2016
Maori centres filling DHB gaps
A Ngai Tahu heath advocate has challenged district health boards in Te Waipounamu to work more closely with Maori health providers so they can close the health gap between Maori and non Maori.
Donna Matahaere-Atariki, who chairs the Otakau Runanga, told last week’s Southern District Health Board meeting the board continues to roll out one size fits all strategies that fail to reach Maori.
She says the board needs to find out whey Maori aren’t accessing its services in the same numbers as other groups.
Her runanga had set up a health and well being hub in south Dunedin, and there is also a Maori-run a low-cost GP practice in Invercargill.
DHB interim chief executive Chris Fleming says the organisation’s, new Maori health plan includes strategies to build up the Maori workforce and develop culturally appropriate services.
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