Maori Providers Enthusiastic About Strategy
Maori Providers Enthusiastic About Maori Health Strategy
GROWING interest in the Government's draft Maori Health Strategy He Korowai Oranga has prompted further hui and meetings around the country.
In response to requests from Maori communities further hui will be held in Hamilton later this month and in Invercargill next month. Additional meetings with District Health Board management and District Health Board Maori members are scheduled for the next few weeks.
The Ministry of Health's Deputy Director-General of Maori Health, Ria Earp, said the call for more meetings was a reflection of Maori enthusiasm and interest for the Maori Health Strategy.
"More than 450 people have already attended the eight hui which have been conducted over the past month, and there has been particular interest in the issues relating to Maori workforce and Maori provider development.
"These additional meetings ensure Maori communities, iwi, providers and interested parties who may have missed our initial meetings have the opportunity to discuss and comment on the discussion document.
"The aim of He Korowai Oranga is whanau ora - supporting healthy Maori families. He Korowai Oranga builds on the framework established by the New Zealand Health Strategy and on the significant gains in Maori health made by both Maori and the Government.
An extra hui will be held in Hamilton on Friday June 29 and another is scheduled for Invercargill on Thursday 12 July. The original Invercargill hui was cancelled due to bad weather.
In response to the call for extra information, Ms Earp said the Maori Health team will hold three workshops, one with each of the District Health Board Maori managers, DHB Maori directors, and DHB general managers.
The Maori Health team have already started analysing written submissions on the discussion document. They will use the ideas and comments to write an action plan for implementing the strategy's directions. Written submissions will be accepted up until the end of June 2001.
The final draft of He Korowai Oranga, Maori Health Strategy is due for completion by December 2001.
ENDS