Sandringham community working together to save lives

A total of 50kg of body fat was lost by members of the Samoan community in Sandringham after taking part in a Self-Management Education (SME) programme in April 2012. Members of the Ekalesia Faapotopotga Kerisiano Samoa (EFKS) Church joined the SME programme in an effort to learn to better manage serious health conditions such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
Guided by an SME trained Course Leader, 31 people with chronic conditions committed themselves to the six week programme. 25 participants completed the full course, many of whom went on to form their own exercise group for the over 60s. A five month follow-up revealed some very positive results, including an overall drop in blood pressure and a minimum weight loss of two kilos per person. Ten participants have joined a weekly water walking programme, others now walk every day.
ProCare is New Zealand's largest PHO and cares for the health of over 95,000 Pacific people. ProCare along with Alliance Health Plus, have developed the SME programme specifically to help those with chronic illnesses better manage their own health. The ProCare's Pacific Community Health Coordinator Valita Partsch believes the SME programme is particularly successful at a community level because, "members often suffer similar illness, like in the Samoan community, where diabetes is common".
EFKS church minister Reverend Dr Featunai Ben Liuaana, also a Course Leader, says "the happiest and most energetic of my parishioners are those who attended the self-management course".
According to Partsch, the two main reasons why this particular SME worked so well is because the programme is run in Samoan language and it was guided by a respected member of the community. "People can share and learn together and in their own language, people are able to connect, contribute and ask questions," she says. "Participants' knowledge of their conditions and medications has improved and the fact that so many are choosing to continue their new, healthy lifestyles shows they have taken the programme's messages to heart." "Respect for the minister also helped. It meant everyone turned up on time for class."
Next time you visit your GP ask about starting up an SME course in your community.
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Additional Information:
Link to ProCare website: www.procare.co.nz
Link to AH+ website: www.alliancehealth.org.nz
HVAZ
Healthy Village Actions Zones (HVAZ) is an innovative framework for collaborative action by key stakeholders and Pacific communities, joining together to improve health outcomes for Pacific peoples. The HVAZ framework is informed by the best elements and learning's from previous community and church-based health initiatives, Pacific concepts of community well-being, and an understanding of the challenges and opportunities for Pacific peoples in the current environment characterised by District Health Boards, Primary Health Organisations and local governments taking greater responsibilities for the health and well-being of the populations they serve.
For further information contact: Faimafili Tupu, Healthy Village Action Zones Manager, 09 630 9943 ext 3798 FaimafiliT@adhb.govt.nz