The team working to prevention sore throats hurting hearts.
Pictured Back row from left:Sandra Innes-Smith, Dr John
Malcolm, Brian Pointon, Russell Ingram-Seal, Miria Hauwei,
Kahurangi Wineti. Front row from left: Kate Dooley, Awatea
Pickard, Paea Tai, and Professor Diana Lennon.
Rheumatic Fever: A Public Health Success
By EBPHA Rheumatic Fever Clinical Lead,
Sandra Innes-Smith.
Leading researcher on Rheumatic Fever (RF),
Professor Diana Lennon joined Bay of Plenty
RF prevention experts in Ōpōtiki this month for
a seminar focused on enhancing and future-
proofing the prevention strategies in place.
The seminar was also a chance to farewell
BOPDHB Senior Planning and Funding
Portfolio Manager Brian Pointon who has been
integral to regional progress.
It has been nearly a decade since the Rheumatic Fever
Prevention School Based Throat Swabbing Programme began in
26 schools across the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
The programme identifies ‘strep’ infection that can cause RF,
which can lead to permanent heart damage. In many parts of the
Eastern Bay RF occurs in 1 in 140 students between ages 5 – 15.
Professor Lennon is a key researcher and advocate for RF
prevention and management. This year her South Auckland
based research provided evidence of the effectiveness of school
programmes to prevent Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF). Her
research was published in the Paediatric Infectious Disease
Journal. Parts of the Bay of Plenty which have had school based
Hauora led programmes, have also had success, reducing RF
by half.
At the seminar, Toi Te Ora presented regional data demonstrating
achievements in halting the overall rise of ARF across the Bay.
Data on Whakatāne and other areas of concern where cases
of RF continue to increase was also presented. Te Puna Ora
o Mataatua Nurse Practitioner Pare O’Brien also presented
on the significant number of strep infections in the Whakatāne
community.
Te Pou Oranga O Whakatōhea Community Health Worker Nita
Walker spoke of the various rheumatic fever prevention roles
she has had in the past 10 years. Through this mahi she said
she had found her passion advocating for and building health
literacy for herself, her whānau, hapu and iwi. She demonstrated
empowerment at every layer of her community through this process.
Professor Lennon commented that this was an outstanding model
of health that could be shared across the nation and the Pacific.
Retiring BOPDHB Senior F unding and Planning Portfolio Manager
Brian Pointon; who was instrumental in developing the RF
prevention programme in the Bay in 2008, described the on-going
work as a success story for Public Health. He acknowledged
that it was through strong relationships and a willingness to work
together that supported the community empowerment. Brian
commented that this was an ongoing challenge and focus.
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