National’s Health spokesperson is predicting a spike in Māori health needs post-Covid.
Shane Reti has moved for two to five in the National line-up under new leader Christopher Luxon, but retains the shadow health portfolio along with Māori Crown relations and Pacific peoples.
He says the Covid response means less attention has been paid to areas where there is a disproportionate impact on Māori, including cancers and cardio vascular illness.
“I also want to focus on what may well be the missed generation, the Covid children who because coronavirus has taken out so much of the oxygen out of the air, their preventive health needs have been forgotten,” Dr Reti says.
Missing this year’s round of HPV vaccinations of year 13 students could cause a spike in cervical cancer in years to come.
