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Waipareira head John Tamihere says Māori have to get over their tendency to wait until they’re really sick before they go to a doctor.
The west Auckland health and social service trust has set up a COVID-19 testing station at Whānau House in Henderson.
Mr Tamihere says it’s the best use at this time of the eight registered practice nurses on the trust’s public health team, and it will counter what he fears is a skew in the testing that shows Māori currently account for only 4 per cent of coronavirus cases.
"Our people are taught to only go to doctors clinics and seek help when they are very ill. You don't do this with COVID. COVID starts to show its symptoms within five and a half days of contraction, and as soon as you start to have a sore throat, a bit of a fever, a bit of shortness of breath. Don't wait, get down here for a test, and then we can start to wrap-around support and services," he says.
The Waipareira drive in COVID-19 testing station is open Monday to Friday 8 am-5 pm at Whānau House in Henderson.
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