November 16, 2017
Wahine organise healthy checks for mob
The Waikato chapter of the Mongrel Mob is embracing a healthier approach to life with help from the Waikato District Health Board.
More than 200 whanau gathered in Hamilton on the weekend for a hearty hauora day of checks for conditions like high blood pressure, heart health, cancer and respiratory problems.
One of the organisers, Cherie Kurarangi, says there is little engagement between gang whanau and the health system, and the life expectancy of a gang member is just 45.
She’s full of praise for the DHB, which was prepared to do some radical thinking.
"You’re asking the DHB to provide 40 stakeholders for the event so our whanau can access free healthcare including cervical screening. You've got come women there who have never had a cervical screen. We had a mum there who never had a mammogram. Some of our sisters said 'Yeah nah sis, I did that in jail.' The problem is you haven't been in jail for about five years sister so obviously things are going good, let's get your health sorted too," Ms Kurarangi says.
The Waikato Mongrel Mob is taking a progressive approach to whanau development, including setting up its own school to pick up its children who fall out of mainstream schools.
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