Te Waka Hauora leaves happy mouths, happy bodies

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Te Waka Hauora mobile surgical unit has been back in the district treating 16 children with dental issues requiring a general anaesthetic.

Te Waka Hauora — a big, blue articulated truck — is a modern, fully equipped operating theatre designed and built to be used for a wide range of day surgeries.

“Sixteen children from the top of the East Cape to Gisborne were booked in and 16 children attended,” Health New Zealand Tairāwhiti oral health service manager Bonita Mackey said.

Ms Bonita credited the local oral health team for paving the way for whānau to trust and engage with the service.

“Our team, including the service manager, dentist, and dental assistant, carried out the earlier pre-admission consultations with whānau and their tamariki up at Te Puia Springs Hospital.

“It gave whānau an opportunity to raise any concerns, ask questions, understand what the day of surgery was going to look like,and get to know those who will be supporting them on the day.”

The team worked alongside Ngati Porou Oranga kaiawhina.

“Whānau voice informed our reason for doing it this way,” Ms Bonita said. “Keeping whānau well-informed and providing wraparound support leading up to the day removes any barriers and anxiety on the day.”

Ms Bonita said the 100 percent attendance rate was warmly appreciated by the visiting surgical team.

It is the first time the mobile surgical unit team had been to Te Puia for eight years.

The visit happened just a few days before this year’s World Oral Health Day, which offered education around good oral hygiene with the theme . . . “a happy mouth is a happy body”.