Monday 2 March 2009

Let’s make Well Child Week Count says Southland DHB

To mark Well Child Week (Monday 2 March – 8 March), Southland District Health Board is calling for a focus on children’s health.

“It is important that all Southland’s children have the best possible health and a programme put in place recently to help us achieve this is the B4 School Check for four year olds, says SDHB B4 School Checks Co-ordinator Jocelyn Johnstone.

The B4 School check is a free health and development check which was rolled out nationwide in April to September last year.

The B4 School Check includes a check of the child’s development, vision and hearing, teeth and gums, and height and weight. It gives parents/caregivers an opportunity to discuss their child’s health and development and the family/whanau well being with a registered nurse.

“We hope parents will take advantage of the check, to ensure their child starts school healthy and ready to learn," said Ms Johnstone.

The assessment includes:

· child health questionnaire including oral health
· social/emotional/developmental screening
· hearing and vision screening
· health promotion and education
· where required, referrals to appropriate health, education or social services and follow up
· immunisation (if required) where possible

“We hope the community will make this Well Child Week count by getting behind important health initiatives such as this,” said Ms Johnstone.

If you have a child who has turned four after 1 June 2008 and you have not received an invitation for a B4 School Check, or would like more information, you can either text or call B4 School Checks Co-ordinator Jocelyn Johnstone on 027 422 3699 or call the free 24-hour health advice service Healthline (0800 611 116), which includes a Well Child line that provides parenting advice and health education information, or see the Ministry of Health website www.moh.govt.nz/b4schoolcheck.

ENDS