March 13, 2024
Māori needed for pandemic preparation
A Māori epidemiologist is trying to build up the Māori workforce preparing for the next pandemic.
Te Pora Thompson from Ngati Haua is director of Te Niwha, a research partnership between the University of Otago and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research.
She says the next pandemic is likely to come from some sort of avian flu, so Te Niwha is working on a project to build a portable in-field environmental DNA detection tool for bird flu and other viruses.
She says it’s crucial to involve Maori and Pasifika communities in such projects, even if there are currently gaps in skills and expertise.
“We have very few Maori clinicians. We have very few microbiologists, immunologists for example, so it’s crucial we get going, collaborate, work with very early and have a look at who are our people that we can support into roles such as this, what are the things we can do in communities and kura in communities, at the marae,” Dr Thompson says .
orking on the Covid response in Waikato within civil defence, the district health board and local government made her realise the importance of having Maori who could stand in the gaps and ensure Maori are accounted for at every level.
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