Victoria Harris: Raising Awarenss of Arthritis In South Auckland

There are over 140 different types of arthritis which affects over 522,000 people in New Zealand. Arthritis is the greatest single cause of disability in New Zealand and it significantly affects Maori in South Auckland.

Arthritis New Zealand, with the assistance of Counties Manukau District Health Board have employed a Maori Educator for Arthritis. Victoria Harris will be focusing on raising awareness about gout in the local community as it is the 3rd most common medical condition amongst Maaori alongside heart disease ranking first and diabetes second.

Recent studies in South Auckland suggest that gout is prevalent amongst Maori; in the past six months 66% of patients in a hospital-related clinic have lost time from work because of gout.

Victoria has been working closely with Dr Peter Gow (Rheumatology Consultant), Caran Barrett Boyes (Community coordinator) and Hazra Sahid (Nurse Specialist, Rheumatology) at Middlemore to establish relationships with Maori and other PHO Providers in order to “work with Maori for Maori” on improving overall wellbeing and health development. This means that Maori will be teaching and educating their own people toward improved health and wellbeing.

Research in the Rheumatology Department by Karen Lindsay earlier in the year suggested that gout is becoming normalized amongst Maori and is not talked about as something treatable, but rather there is a tolerance of pain and disability, and low expectations of treatment.

Victoria’s work will be concentrated on raising awareness and education through free seminars (to begin early next year) at various Marae and one-on-one free clinics which will be held in conjunction with Richard Cooper (Diabetes Self Management Educator and Counties Manukau District Health Board).

“Our strategies are establishing relationships with various Marae and other health-care providers and presenting to them the effects of gout amongst Maori and teaching Maori to self manage through early detection, treatment and awareness, “says Victoria

Overall Victoria’s goal is to change the thinking amongst Maori through education and awareness.

She says “the objective of my role is to improve the health and well-being of Maori affected by arthritis, in particular gout. The benefits to service users will be increased knowledge, understanding and self-management of their condition and how better to work with their health care providers.”

For more information please visit http://www.arthritis.org.nz/ or call Victoria Harris on 09 263 4727

Caption: Richard Cooper and Victoria Harris



Courtesy of Counties Manukau DHB and Jenni Lyuk.

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