Less barriers to healthcare can lead to life-changing results
A little manaakitanga – kindness – goes a long way when it comes to encouraging wāhine Māori to take steps towards better health outcomes.
For the Mana Wāhine clinics run by Te Piki Oranga, this kindness comes in the form of free transport, an alternative home visit, or the kind of kōrero about a procedure that you won’t get in a routine 15-minute GP appointment. And with the support of Sealord in a unique Te Tauihu partnership, the manaakitanga can flow a little more freely.
As the leading provider of kaupapa Māori health and wellbeing services in Te Tauihu (top of the South Island), Te Piki Oranga reduces inequitable health outcomes by providing high-quality and accessible services that are consistent with the concepts of whānau ora and tino rangatiratanga (self-reliance and independence).
The Mana Wāhine clinics are one of many innovative approaches Te Piki Oranga takes, that place whānau at the centre of care. Lorraine Staunton, Kaiwhakahaere Ratonga, Service Delivery and Operations Manager, is looking forward to seeing the seeds sown during the clinics start to bear fruit in the months that follow.
“One of the main reasons we need Mana Wāhine is to improve cervical screening rates and reduce inequities for wāhine in our rohe. Some women are 15 years overdue for their screening through no fault of their own – sometimes it just takes a little manaakitanga to help overcome barriers to healthcare.
“We will offer transport, a ‘no obligations’ conversation with a nurse or we will take our mobile screening service to a woman at home where she feels less worried or scared about the procedure,” Lorraine says.
With more than 350 wāhine Māori in Te Tauihu due or overdue for cervical screening at the time of the first clinic in September, Te Piki Oranga made a critical difference by supporting 40 wāhine to be screened on the day or booked for another time. At the second clinic in December, 40 women were screened and four booked for screening at another time.
“Mana Wāhine goes deeper than screening however, and our time with wāhine is valuable so we also take the opportunity to check for other unmet health needs.”
The December clinic proved an invaluable conversation starter about health and wellbeing. Wāhine, and in some cases their tamariki, were referred to services including: breast and bowel cancer screening, Stop Smoking Services, counselling, immunisation, Well Child Tamariki Ora nursing, social workers, midwifery services and more.
“The benefits from a holistic, one-stop approach like this can continue for months after a clinic – and that’s what we aim for in healthcare,” Lorraine says.
Te Piki Oranga has been able to cover travel costs for whānau with funding support from Sealord – a partnership that fits with the seafood company’s ethos of putting people first, says Sealord CEO Doug Paulin.
“Sealord is half-owned by Māori and 15 per cent of our employees are Māori,” Doug says. “It’s important to us to support our people’s whānau and their communities, and this is making a real difference.”
The three-year agreement improves access to healthcare for whānau and also means that Te Piki Oranga kaimahi do not have to take as much time away from their main mahi to drive whānau to important appointments.
Lorraine says that Sealord’s support is helping to bridge a critical gap.
“Achieving better equity in healthcare starts with reducing barriers where we can – even more vital during a cost-of-living crisis where some whānau are prioritising paying the grocery bill over their own healthcare needs.
“When you need to attend a dialysis appointment three times a week, and rely on taxi transport to get there, this can be hugely stressful.
“With Sealord’s support we are able to strengthen and empower whānau for better health outcomes,” she says.
Lorraine says the collaboration between Te Tauihu health and social services made the kaupapa a success. Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu contributed iwi liaison support, and kai for the Christmas kai hampers. Nelson Bays Primary Health Organisation’s Director of Nursing Bobby Hutton supported the cervical smear team. Te Whatu Ora Public Health contributed with health promotion activities and National Cervical Screening Team support. And Countdown Stoke gifted a $100 grocery voucher for a prize draw.
Sealord CEO Doug Paulin and Te Piki Oranga Tumuaki (General Manager) Anne Hobby
Photos from the December Mana Wāhine clinic
Clockwise from the top left photo:
Kaimahi Amber Ford and Miraka Norgate
Kaimahi ready to greet wāhine to the clinic
Kaimahi with Kirihimete whānau packs to welcome wāhine to the clinic
Wāhine were offered vouchers for a coffee break during the clinic from Baba Yaga’s coffee cart.
