September 03, 2021
Ambulance at the bottom of the road in Ngapuhi vax push
Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi today launched its mobile outreach service, a partnership with St John’s Ambulance to check on the welfare of people in remote areas and get them vaccinated against Covid-19.
Chief executive Te Ropu Poa says it’s a response to feedback the health service gets from whānau calling its healthline.
"Our elderly or most vulnerable do not feel safe leaving their whare during the lockdown. There are other reported challenges associated with disabilities and transport, because we don't have public transport for them to get to their vaccination appointments. Given low vaccination rates for Māori, we see this as engaging and just checking on people in their bubbles," she says.
The outreach team includes both an ambulance and a four wheel drive to reach homes which the ambulance can’t get to.
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