Men’s Health Initiative

 

Men’s Health Initiative - Whare Oranga at two Marae (Mangatangi and Ngā Hau E Wha, Procare Health, Huakina Development Trust)

Start date & duration:

During Men’s Health week for five days.

What is the programme trying to achieve:

Raising men’s awareness of the importance of heart health risks and prevention.  Also to link them to the Marae clinics and and if not enrolled with a Primary Health Organisation encourage them to get enrolled.  There was an opportunity to provide opportunistic advice on Health Promotion Education and smoking cessation.

Who are the target population for this programme or service:

Maori men 18yrs and over.  Although the initiative was for men the opportunity was also used to screen women as well in all the above areas.

What is the geographical coverage for this programme or service:

Ngā Hau E Wha – Franklin area and as far as Papakura. Mangatangi Marae – the firth of Thames to Te Kauwhata, Meremere, Tuakau and reaching into Franklin boundaries.

Who can access it:

See above.

How did the programme come about:

Focus on men’s health for the whānau. It was held during the Men’s Health promotion week.

What approach is used for the service delivery:

Health promotion/settings approach delivered in a Kaupapa Maori environment.

What are the successes to date with the delivery of the service:

It provided men with a chance to focus on their health and discuss important topics such as heart disease, hypertension and prostate cancer.  It also provided an opportunity for patients to be screened and assessed for risks and their ongoing health care.  It also provided an opportunity for young adult men to discuss the important health issues such as the use of drugs, alcohol, sex, depression, studying/career advice and smoking (these were very different to the issues of the older men).  Challenging topics such as non-compliance were often discussed in great detail using a patient-centered approach.

What are the measures of success for this programme:

The Men’s Health Week was well attended at both the Marae by the men and their whānau who supported their attendance.  The GP who delivered the service stated “a lot of attention, time and positive encouragement was given to these young men.  A much better rapport was often established in this setting than one would in a standard GP setting that is usually affected by time constraints. I found this to be a very rewarding experience. In summary, this initiative was a new experience for everyone involved. Such clinics are invaluable opportunities for rural preventative health care delivery in areas where they are most needed. I would like to extend my thanks to everyone involved”.

Has any evaluation of the service been undertaken?  If so, when and what was the outcome:

No.

Who are the funders of this programme:

ProCare Health and Huakina Development Trust.