Whanau Ora is a programme that helps Maori people enjoy a healthier life and reduces their risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other illness.
Participation in the year-long programme is free to eligible patients, and funding is also available to help the patient pay for gym, swimming pool or Weight Watchers fees.
To be eligible for the Whanau Ora programme a patient must have at least three of the following cardiovascular risks:
- Body Mass Index (BMI) > 30
- Blood pressure: systolic > 150; or diastolic > 90
- Abnormal lipid screen: total cholesterol > 3.5mmol/L; LDL > 2.0mmol/L
- Smoking status: 20 year smoking history; or current smoker; or quit less than five years ago.
- Diabetes risk: HbA1c (glycosylated haemoglobin level) > 8.1
- Cardiovascular risk profile > 20%
Supported by evidence that patients with support do better than those who go it alone, patients are asked to nominate at least two whanau, or friends, willing to provide encouragement and motivation as they make important lifestyle changes.
Rotorua Area Primary Health Services (RAPHS) Whanau Ora Co-ordinator Mary is a registered nurse and a highly skilled, enthusiastic, and experienced adviser who works with patients and their whanau to set and commit to achieving realistic three-month health milestones. If patients fail to meet the milestone, they are given the opportunity to meet the next one, or exit the programme.
Results are collated at the end of the year’s programme and the GP team resumes care, with the Whanau Ora nurse following up with quarterly phone calls for a further year. A GP or patient may request re-entry to the programme after six months.
Just two years after Whanau Ora was established in 2006, the programme is now helping between 120 and 150 people a year to live healthier lives. Most eligible patients are currently enrolled with Care Plus.
For more information contact Whanau Ora Co-ordinator Mary.
RAPHS implements this programme on behalf of Health Rotorua with Services to Improve Access (SIA) funding. This type of funding is made available to reduce inequalities among populations that are known to have the worst health status: Maori, Pacific people and those living in NZDep index 9-10 decile areas. The funding is for new services or improved access.