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Download AudioA south Auckland health service provider says the COVID-19 testing and vaccination programme is uncovering huge unmet health and social needs in south Auckland.
George Ngatai says while people come to Māori providers like Manurewa and Papakura marae and his Whānau Ora Community Clinic in Manukau to get vaccinated, they can also access food support, social workers and other services.
He says Māori providers need extra resourcing so that can continue.
“Whilst we are dealing with Covid today, tomorrow’s challenges from a clinical point of view are going to be a lot more challenging because a lot of people aren’t actually getting their basic health needs sorted because of Covid and because of the lockdowns and because they can’t access their doctors and nurses,” Mr Ngatai says.
Māori providers need the flexibility to meet those challenges.
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