Pasifika, Māori men over 35 encouraged to take FREE heart health check at Horowhenua Pasifika Parade, Levin

17/02/2011 | FREE heart health check

In response to the burden of heart disease, and to show support of the various Pasifika cultures of Horowhenua whilst recognising Iwi / Māori as manawhenua, Pasifika and Māori men aged over 35 are encouraged to take advantage of the FREE heart health check in Levins Village Green, this Saturday (19 February) between 11am and 3pm.

The initiative is being lead by a collective of health organisations made up of Iwi / Māori Providers, Pasifika representation, Heart Foundation,  Central PHO, Public Health Service  and Mid Central DHB who have combined their resources to offer the free heart health checks, and other health-related activities, specifically focussed to Pasifika and Māori men over 35.

In Aotearoa, New Zealand, 16 people die every day from heart disease to which Māori have the highest death rate followed by Pacific Island peoples. The death rate from heart disease is more than twice as high for men than women, with Pasifika and Māori dying a lot younger than their European counterparts.

Following the One Heart Many Lives  national campaign being lead by PHARMAC, the localised Heart Health Checks at the Pasifika Parade seeks to encourage Pacific Island and Māori men 35 years and over to:

• ‘Get their heart checked FREE of charge’
• Seek help and medical management (if needed)
• Improve awareness of heart disease and the likely outcomes if it is diagnosed and treated;
• Improve lifestyle habits as part of self management; and
• Take long term cholesterol lowering medication (and other heart medications) to help decrease the risk.

An invitation is being extended to local fanau Pasifika, local whānau, hapū iwi, within the Mid Central District to bring their dads uncles, grand dads to receive a free heart health check at the Horowhenua Pasifika Parade at the Village Green in Levin, where there will also be prizes and giveaways up for grabs.

Contact: Communications Unit (06) 350-8945