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Fanau Ola kae Fonua Ola A Pasifika Whanau Ora preventative approach to the respiratory health and holistic wellbeing of Pacific children within their families and communities. Sione Tu’itahi Executive Director, Health Promotion Forum (HPF)
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Fanau Ola kaeFonua OlaA PasifikaWhanauOra preventative approach to the respiratory health and holistic wellbeing of Pacific children within their families and communities Sione Tu’itahi Executive Director, Health Promotion Forum (HPF) Regional Vice President, International Union for Health Promotion & Education ( IUHPE) Asthma Foundation Conference, Wellington, NZ September 19-20, 2013
Significance of conference theme • Discuss effective approaches for Pasifika children, fanau, family and communities • To include preventative and promotion approach • HPF leads health promotion in NZ • Builds sector & workforce capacity • Work at local, national, global levels • Peak organisation of over 100 members
Asthma and Pasifika Peoples • Disproportionately affects Maori and Pacific people, and lower socio-economic groups. • The prevalence of asthma in Pacific Island children is lower than for other ethnic groups. However, asthma is more prevalent among Pacific Island adults (20 percent) than other adults. • Maori and Pacific Island children with asthma tend to have more severe asthma. • In Auckland, here are about 40,000 Pacific people with asthma, half are children aged 0–14 years. (MoH, 2012)
Fanau Ola kaeFonua Ola Approach Dimensions and levels • Fanau – siblings, extended family • Ola – holistic wellbeing • Fanau Ola – Health Family • Fonua – humans & rest of ecology are one • FonuaOla – healthy people & environment or community • Empowered fanau and communities taking control of their wellbeing and future • Challenges are noted but focus on strengths, potentials & aspirations
Health Promotion prevents and promotes • Empowers families & communities • Take control of their wellbeing & address determinants of health • Masters of their own futures • Prevention, protection and promotion are socio-ecological & therefore more effective • Early intervention (fence on top of the cliff) saves money and life of individuals and communities
Inequities the most important & urgent challenge of the hour • Not knowledge • Not resources • But the will to make the right decision – e.g. healthy public policies • Status quo policies & strategies not effective enough • Ideologies and models of development such as neo-liberalism must be re-visited • Transformational strategies that can distribute power & resources more equitably are needed • Major paradigm shift (mind & heart shift) at local, national and global levels an effective way forward
Resources • http://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/News-and-Publications/Statements/Best-health-outcomes-for-Pacific-Peoples.pdf • More on Fonua model • http://www.hauora.co.nz/resources/FonuaaPasifikmodel.pdf • HPF website • http://www.hauora.co.nz/ • Health Partners Consulting Group on behalf of the Ministry of Health and the metro-Auckland District Health Boards. It is available at: http://www.healthpartnersconsulting.com/ site/wp-