One Place, One Time, Building Mokopuna Wellness

Media Release

14 November 2007

One Place, One Time, Building Mokopuna Wellness

The health of kohanga reo children and their whanau will be better maintained following an unprecedented collaboration between three of the district’s health organizations at Whai Oranga a Mokopuna next week.

Tairawhiti District Health, Plunket, and Turanga Health all offer services to help keep young children well but very rarely are they all available in one place at one time.

So Turanga Health, with impetus from kohanga reo representatives, took matters into their own hands and organized Whai Oranga a Mokopuna – Building Mokopuna Wellness as a “sort of one stop mokopuna health shop for parents and caregivers.”

Turanga Health Personal Health Manager Albie Stewart explains. “The feedback we had from kohanga reo was that while they were pleased to receive visits and intervention from us all, it was becoming disruptive to their calendar and curriculum delivery, and wouldn’t it be easier if they could see all the health organizations on the same day.”

Albie said it has taken two months to organize, but this Thursday four kohanga reo will descend on Maori Battalion Marae for Whai Oranga a Mokopuna. On Friday 16 November another five kohanga reo will take part in the event at Takipu Marae in Te Karaka.

During Whai Oranga A Mokopuna families who have given their consent will be able to have children immunized. Depending on the child’s age, others will be able to receive the hearing, vision, and dental health checks freely available to all New Zealand children.

“This is an opportunity for families to catch up with any free services and checks they may have missed. The interaction with the families also helps each of our organizations disseminate our messages. Where appropriate some health staff will be able to create opportunities to visit other family members.”

Mr Stewart acknowledges some of the positive challenges in creating this first Whai Oranga a Mokopuna event and hopes to hold similar events each quarter next year.

Ends

Thursday 15 November, 9am to 2pm
Maori Battalion Marae, Manutuke
Friday 16 November, 9am to 2pm
Takipu Marae, Te Karaka

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