Conference spotlight on child poverty

Child poverty features at the first of a three day conference starting today in Napier says local paediatrician Dr Philip Moore. Photo / Paul Taylor

Child poverty is the focus of a three-day paediatric conference in Napier opening today.

Three speakers will address the issue at the Paediatric Society of New Zealand Annual scientific meeting, conference co-organiser Philip Moore says.

"Child Poverty is a huge issue for New Zealand to face up to," he said.

The "interesting perspective" speakers feature at a Cure Kids-sponsored symposium.

"Professor Innes Asher is going to present a big challenge to us all, about the reality we are facing."

The second speaker, Hawke's Bay-based Children's Commissioner Dr Russell Wills, will outline the advice an expert advisory group gave to government.

India-based Dr David Osrin will give a Third-World perspective on child poverty.

The conference medical theme is Gastroenterology.

The community theme is Paediatrics Where it Makes the Most Difference and includes poverty, health inequalities, lessons from other countries, solutions for common problems and the primary/secondary healthcare interface.

Dr Moore said the Paediatric Society had become a powerful lobby group since expanding its membership to all health professionals that worked with children.

"When we had this meeting in Napier in 2000, we only had about 10 people present who weren't doctors. Now over half of attendees are nurses and allied health workers. That is a unique point of difference for this sort of society."

There were 240 registered for the conference being held in the Napier War Memorial conference centre, with 170 attending all three days for more than 70 presentations, including five keynote speakers from overseas.

Dr Moore said he was particularly keen to hear Dr Osram's presentations, looking at solutions through simple solutions such as improved nutrition and improved healthcare access "without spending huge sums of money".

"I am looking forward to three days of stimulating work and then we can all go back to our different work places energised with new ideas."

The conference venue was originally the Hawke's Bay Opera House, which is closed for a seismic upgrade.