A cash injection to held raise awareness of rheumatic fever among Maori communities in Rotorua and Taupo is being welcomed by Lakes District Health Board.
But the organisation says while extra funding to raise awareness is good, the illness won't go away until the underlying issues such as housing standards and poverty are resolved.
Lakes District Health Board is set to get a share of a $1 million fund aimed at increasing awareness and reducing rheumatic fever in high-risk Maori communities. The one-of fund was announced by Health Minister Jonathan Coleman today.
He said rheumatic fever was a serious but preventable disease.
A health board spokeswoman said the board had not yet met with the Ministry so didn't know enough about the funding to comment specifically but said any additional funding for the area was "very welcome".