Sore throats matter
“With winter approaching, the incidence
of coughs, colds and strep throat infections
rise. Strep throat can easily be identified by a
simple throat swab available through the school
programmes, family general practice and many
pharmacies across the Bay of Plenty. Correctly
treating a strep sore throat with ten days of
antibiotics stops the risk of Acute Rheumatic
Fever,” says Rheumatic Fever Clinical Leader
Sandra Innes-Smith.
Throat swabbing services are available at
many schools and pharmacies across the Bay
of Plenty.
For more information contact:
RF Clinical Lead Sandra Innes-Smith on 027
663 1649 or [email protected].
nz; or RF Co-ordinator Leanne Ruck on 07 579
8456 or [email protected]
Or read the full list online at www.bopdhb.
govt.nz/health-advice/a-z-of-health-advice/
rheumatic-fever/
BOP tops quit smoking rate in NZ
BOPDHB Rheumatic Fever Liaison Nurse Leanne Ruck shows how a buzzy bee
with an ice pack attached is used as a distraction to dull the pain at Mere’s 4
weekly injections.
A project is underway
designed to improve the way
treatment is provided for
people with Rheumatic Fever. could be wrong with me and put her
foot down one day with the doctor.”
The Bay of Plenty region has high
rates of Rheumatic Fever. Research
shows it’s a disease that almost
exclusively affects Māori and Pacific
peoples. Currently more than 80
people require monthly Penicillin
injections to reduce the risk of strep
infections doing further damage to
their hearts. That risk is magnified if
the injections aren’t done on time. Mere says the long-lasting effects
of RF were not widely known and she
wants people to be more aware of
how a sore throat can lead to long-
term damage to the heart.
The project due to be completed
next month, has been seeking
feedback from patients, whānau as
well as clinicians on the reasons why
people don’t get their injections on
time and what can be done to change
that.
Sore throats damage hearts
Every month Mere Pomana (22) has
a prophylactic injection of Benzathine
Penicillin to safeguard her from Group
A Streptococcus (GAS) bacteria doing
further damage to her heart.
At the age of 12, Mere was
diagnosed with Rheumatic Fever
(RF). She spent three months in
Whakatāne Hospital and a further
stay in Starship hospital for heart
valve surgery.
It’s this experience that drives her
to spread the message about RF and
getting those sore throats checked.
“I had been a sickly child and was
constantly at the doctors with sore
throats. My mum researched what
That’s when her life changed, she
was diagnosed with RF and so too
was her much older cousin.
“I have been given four weekly
injections for ten years and will
have to continue until I am 30 or 40
years old.” In addition, when she
goes to the dentist she has to take
antibiotics, and works hard to remain
healthy and bacteria free.
The Rheumatic Fever prevention
team at BOPDHB is currently
looking at ways of improving the way
treatment is provided, to increase
the number of patients getting their
injections on time.
Mere believes it is important for
people diagnosed with RF to learn
as much about the disease as they
can. Learn how to keep themselves
well, prepare healthy food and find an
exercise they like and can manage.
She says often when people are
diagnosed with RF they keep it to
themselves. There is a sense of
shame within themselves and the
wider family and that leads to them
delaying treatment, which runs the
risk of further heart damage.
Mere, who is training to be a social
worker, has given several talks to
students at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
about getting sore throats checked
and the life-long repercussions of RF.
The Bay of Plenty’s free Stop Smoking
Support service, Hāpainga remains top
of the country for its successful quit
smoking rate.
New Zealand has 16 Stop Smoking Support
services. As part of the Government’s goal of
Smokefree Aotearoa 2025, each service is required
to record the
number of clients
who are deemed to
have successfully
quit smoking
meaning they are
‘smokefree’ four
weeks after their
set quit date.
Join the trend – quit smoking for
World Smokefree Day
It’s World Smokefree Day next Thursday. To
celebrate, Hāpainga, the Bay of Plenty’s free stop
smoking support service is providing those who
sign up to quit in May and June the chance to win a
$250 voucher.
“World Smokefree
Day on May 31
is the perfect
time to choose
the smokefree
lifestyle. We know
it’s not easy to stop
smoking, but with
the right support
it can be done,”
says Hāpainga
Stop Smoking
Practitioner, Stevie-
Lee Hiroki.
Hāpainga Team
Leader Lizzie
Spence says “Our
smoking cessation
practitioners use a
carbon monoxide
New Zealand is
Stevie-Lee Hiroki, Lizzie Spence, Monique Rio and
detector, a bit like a
moving closer to
Walter Harawira from Hāpainga.
breathalyser at four
Smokefree Aotearoa
weeks. Low to nil levels of carbon monoxide shows 2025. The most recent tobacco-use figures show
the person is smokefree.”
84% of New Zealanders do not smoke, which is 4%
more than in 2008. And fewer young people are
Latest Ministry of Health results shows Bay of
starting to smoke with 96% of 15 to 17 year olds
Plenty is the top performer across the country with
staying smokefree, which is a marked increase from
a 75% successful quit smoking rate at 4 weeks.
84% a decade ago.
Lizzie Spence says the service has been in the top
Hāpainga staff will be outside in the Esplanade
spot for the last nine months.
Mall in Wha katāne and the Papamoa Plaza ready
She says it is great news for the team of five
to sign up those who are ready to quit on World
practitioners who support people to quit smoking
Smokefree Day, 31 May.
across the Western and Eastern Bay of Plenty.
Throughout the year, Hāpainga provides $50
Lizzie says, “The small team really focuses on
vouchers for all clients who successfully quit
treating each client as an individual. Quitting
smoking. Women who successfully quit smoking
smoking is a real journey. Our team might meet
during pregnancy to six weeks after their baby
with a client several times before they set a quit
is born also have the opportunity to receive a
date. Building a rapport and trust with them is
$250 voucher through the Hāpainga Hapū Māmā
quite crucial to the successful outcome.”
incentive programme.