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HINERANGI RHIND – WIRI INTERVIEW
Wahakura or woven sleeping pods have emerged as a star of efforts to reduce Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy.
It's a feature of a new programme from Hutt Valley-based Kokiri Marae Health and Social Services, Moe Ora mo nga pepi, which also includes support for smoking cessation.
Hinerangi Rhind-Wiri from public health promotion organisation Hapai Te Hauora says it's an equity issue, as Maori babies are nearly seven times more likely to die from SUDI than non-Maori.
She says wahakura allow weavers and community champions to play a part in ensuring babies can sleep safely.
"They're our kuia, they're our aunties, they're our uncles who are leading the way and we're centralising that matauranga with them so while they teach whanau to weave they are also sharing that safe sleep message, to place baby on its back, where possible to eliminate smoking, encourage breast feeding so we know all those key messages are being interwoven while actually weaving the wahakura with whanau as well," Ms Rhind-Wiri says.
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