A passion for better Maori health

A group of like-minded and passionate Maori health professionals met in the Kaitaia Hospital whare last week to establish a Maori clinical expert advisory group for Northland.

Spokesman and member Dr Lance O'Sullivan said Te Taumata Oranga o Te Tai Tokerau was made up of Maori health professionals who shared the common goal of seeing improved health outcomes for Maori in the Northland region. Membership comprised doctors, podiatrists, midwives, a dentist, a pharmacist, a health promoter and a physiotherapist, all keen to contribute their skills, expertise and "vast" networks.

"The aim of this inaugural meeting was to determine what was needed to maximise health outcomes for Maori in Northland," Dr O'Sullivan said.

"The obvious benefit, recognised very early, was the potential to serve as a support group for each other and other Maori health workers in the region. The frustration and difficulty is not working with the people, but rather within a system that seems incapable of meeting the needs of these people on terms that work for them.

"These workers perform their roles tirelessly, often without support, and can find the challenges of working in the system overwhelming."

One of the priorities would be to offer collegial and moral support for members, and the many other committed Maori health workers. A second initiative would be to develop a strong focus on inspiring and supporting young Maori to pursue careers in the health field. The group had already committed to connecting with schools and staging two health career expos, members undertaking to utilise their networks within their respective universities and schools of medicine, midwifery, podiatry, physiotherapy, dentistry and health promotion.

"This group is a ready-made collection of Maori professionals who live and work in the same communities as Maori youth and can help set out a pathway to a career in health," Dr O'Sullivan added.

The third focus would be advocacy and offering expert advice and strategic input to the Northland District Health Board, primary health care organisations, health and social providers, and, importantly, to iwi. All those groups had a need of concise, expert guidance to address Maori health disparities, and Te Taumata Oranga o Te Tai Tokerau believed it was qualified to provide that, given its members' experience 'on the ground' in Northland.

The consensus was that the way things were currently being done wasn't working (reflected in the poor health statistics of Maori living in the region), and that the support of those groups would be needed if that was to change. It was also planned to link with other Maori health professionals elsewhere in Northland to provide region-wide support.

"It was commented that those who attended this meeting did not reflect the potential members of a group like this, and one of the goals for the next meeting will be to encourage more of our colleagues to attend," he added.

"Overall the feeling was one of excitement about what could be achieved to ensure that Northland is a great and prosperous region in which to live and work for everyone."