MDHB News

Maori Health

Why is Maori Health one of MidCentral DHB’s Health Priority Areas?

Maori have significantly poorer health status than the rest of New Zealanders. Maori life expectancy, though improving, stills lags behind the life expectancy of non-Maori. Within the MidCentral DHB (MDHB) district, Maori were over represented in the top four causes of death by between 40% and 100%.

More information about MDHB's planning around Maori health is available through the Maori Health Workforce Strategy (PDF. 692.KB) and Oranga Pumau Maori Health Strategy (PDF. 913.0KB).

Weaving using NZ flax.

In MDHB Maori have a higher rate of hospitalisation for:

Ischaemic heart disease
Asthma
Respiratory infections
Emphysema
Stroke
Skin infections

Also, heart disease, in particular is increasing even for younger Maori adults and Maori have a higher proportion of disabilities among certain age groups.
Smoking and being overweight or obese is more common among Maori and these factors increase the risk of serious illness like heart disease and diabetes. Socio-economic disadvantage is also a known risk factor for many health conditions and a high proportion of Maori live in disadvantaged areas in the MDHB.

More information about strategies to improve Maori Health

The Maori Health Workforce Strategy

This Strategy is a framework to bring focus and momentum to the development of the Maori health workforce in MDHB over the next six years.

The Strategy is also designed to align with national and regional Maori health workforce initiatives.

The Strategy’s action plan “The First Part of the Journey” contains five goal areas and initiatives which attempt to meet current Maori health workforce aspirations while also laying the foundation for longer term development for the Maori health workforce in the sector.

The Strategy encourages and values ownership by iwi/Maori and mainstream stakeholders of Maori health workforce development while recognising MDHB role as facilitator and enabler of the Maori health workforce.

Ultimately the Strategy aims to ensure that the capacity and capability of the current and future Maori health workforce is able to respond to the Maori health needs in MDHB and therefore improve Maori health outcomes.

MidCentral DHB’s strategies to improve Maori Health:

Increase investment in Maori Health promotion
Provide supplementary resources for the screening of Maori at high risk of developing diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease
Increase the capability and capacity of the Maori health and disability workforce
Increase investment in services for Maori, by Maori

Investment

Funds being targeted to the health priority areas include initiatives aimed specifically at improving Maori Health. In addition, approximately $500,000 per annum will be invested in increasing the Maori workforce capacity and capability in the short to medium term.

Maori are a target population group for health improvements

MDHB’s priority health service plans (cancer, diabetes, respiratory, cardiovascular and oral health) all identified Maori as a target population group.

Over the past two years significant investment has been made in establishing community-based services, such as chronic care teams, nurse-led diabetes clinics, increased oral health services in areas of need, green prescription services, locally based retinal screening and footcare programmes, and palliative care teams.

During 2007/08 MDHB will support the ongoing development of these services and will monitor their effectiveness in improving the health outcomes for Maori. It will also support an increase in health promotion initiatives in partnership with Iwi/Maori.

Investment in “By Maori, For Maori” Services

MDHB established a target of spending 15% of discretionary funding (priority disease state funding) on Maori Health services. This equates to around $1.9m This will be achieved during 2007/08, with significant investment in workforce development.

Oranga Pumau Maori Health Strategy

Oranga Pumau sets a direction that will support and inform the way services will be orientated toward Maori health improvement in the District. It aligns with key district strategies like the Primary Health Care strategy and uses as its base the national strategy, He Korowai Oranga.

Oranga Pumau identifies a vision and four of strategic directions:

Strategy One: Enhanced iwi and Maori community capacity to contribute to whanau ora
Strategy Two: A collaborative skilled Maori health workforce
Strategy Three: Commitment to the health of MidCentral’s community
Strategy Four: Focusing on the whanau.