Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
Pacific healthcare providers around the motu are ramping up to support the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora drive to immunise and keep our Pacific communities well during winter.
The Nelson Tasman Pasifika Community Trust recently held an event to vaccinate Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)—keeping communities safe both here and overseas.
From June through November this year, the National Public Health Service of Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is offering RSE workers a free MMR vaccination to protect their local communities as well as loved ones back home should there be an outbreak of measles.
The Nelson Tasman Pasifika Community Trust welcomed the chance to hold the event to vaccinate local workers, with Chrissy Takai, community nurse for the Trust, taking a lead role.
“It’s so important for our RSE workers to be looked after,” says Chrissy. “They contribute so much to our community as a whole, and we need to look out for them and keep them safe—as well as their home countries.”
“Five different orchards brought their workers along to the event,” adds Chrissy. “The atmosphere was incredible. When you get a lot of Pacific people together it’s quite naturally loud!
“There was music playing, people eating together, and some good talanoa (discussions) going on between people who hadn’t caught up in a while.”
The Director of Pacific Public Health, Api Poutasi, says this initiative is a good example of public health working with Pacific Health, local providers, Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and employers to help protect a population vulnerable to measles.
“It takes a village to make an initiative like this successful,” says Api. “And we’re grateful for organisations like Nelson Tasman Pasifika Community Trust who are supporting it.”
This year, more than 19,000 RSE workers will enter New Zealand to help out in the horticulture and viticulture sectors with planting, maintenance, harvesting or packing work. These workers come from countries including Pacific nations Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
About the Nelson Tasman Pasifika Community Trust
The Nelson Tasman Pasifika Community Trust is a Pacific healthcare provider that brings together health, education, community and social services, providing support to help the Nelson Tasman Pasifika community to achieve their dreams and aspirations.
About measles
Measles is a serious and highly contagious disease. If you are not vaccinated and come into contact with someone who has it, you are very likely to catch it and pass it on to others. Measles can cause a rash, flu-like symptoms, or more serious problems like brain swelling, chest infections, or death.
