August 15, 2022
Iwi partners boost Telehealth effectiveness
Three iwi and Māori health organisations have signed a joint venture with New Zealand Telehealth Services-Whakarongorau Aotearoa to extend a partnership formed during the Covid pandemic and vaccination campaign.
Working through dedicated service lines, over the past year kaimahi Māori from Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, and Te Arawa Lakes Trust have answered 46,000 contacts and made 274,000 outbound calls to tangata whaiora who had questions or vaccine hesitancy.
This resulted in vaccine bookings 53 percent of the time.
Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi chief executive Tia Ashby says her organisation’s decision to formalise the partnership came down to the success shown in this Māori for Māori approach, delivered with a health partner that is fully committed to addressing equity issues through the provision of equitable telehealth services.
So far the relationship between the organisations has generated 300 jobs, improved health outcomes for Māori and put more than $15 million into underserved regional economies.