Welcome to our new pānui

New beginnings - a word from GM, Peter Gush

The move to Phase 3 of Aotearoa's COVID-19 response symbolised a new beginning for us at Regional Public Health (RPH). So we're grabbing this opportunity to wrap up the last few months, outline what's next for RPH and to also say a massive 'ngā mihi kia koutou' to you - our community - for working alongside us in these unprecedented times. At the same time, we're launching our new Regional Public Health newsletter!

Our e-newsletter will have a strong focus on covering our priorities on equity, Māori and Pasifika health along with community health protection. We are eager to profile your community stories too - as we know there is so much wonderful work going on out there. If you have a story you'd like us to share - please get in contact with us. We aim to publish a new edition of our e-newsletter every two to three months. If this has been forwarded to you, you can subscribe here.

Since early 2020 our RPH team has been operating under an emergency pandemic response model - which has seen many of our staff step out of their usual roles to help with our COVID response. Our staff have worked as part of our incident control team or as contact tracers. On a positive note, our emergency response model has scaled back as our pandemic response moves into a standard operation which sees many of our staff return to their usual roles. It's pleasing to see that our health promotion team is re-connecting with our communities and our school based public health nurses are spending a lot more time on-site in their schools.

COVID-19 phase 3 - Regional Public Health's role

Under Phase 3 of the Omicron response, there are changes to the volume of cases Regional Public Health (RPH) actively manages.

• Cases are now primarily managed by the National Investigation and Tracing Centre (NITC)
• Very high-risk cases and exposure events are referred to RPH to follow-up. RPH will look to slow the spread of Omicron in our communities and ease the pressure on health systems through limiting the impact of outbreaks in high risk community settings
• We continue to support Māori and Pacific whānau in our communities as required
• RPH continues to refer cases to the DHB Care in Community teams to ensure manaaki support is provided to those who need it.

Health and Disability Review - changes to public health

With changes to Public Health under the Health and Disability review fast approaching, we know that there will be impacts for RPH. As further details emerge, we will share these updates and let you know how the changes may impact the services we provide.

At this stage we know that there are the following changes lined-up for us at Regional Public Health:

• The new system will have a stronger focus on public health, with a particular focus on social determinants of health, to improve the overall health and wellbeing of Aotearoa
• The Ministry of Health will host a new Public Health Agency which will be responsible for public health policy, strategy and intelligence
• The new national health agency, Health NZ will include a national public health service, bringing together Public Health Units across New Zealand under a national banner.

Smokefree law reform and our inspirational Hashtags!

Since Sunday 28 November 2021, it is illegal to smoke or vape in cars with anyone under the age of 18.

For a group of Wellington rangatahi, known as The Hashtags, advocating for their community to get this law changed has been a primary focus for a number of years. The group have been supported by RPH Health Promoters, Leah Clark and Sisi Tuala Le’afa, who mentor the group, which was formed in 2010.

Check out the amazing new video that tracks the history of The Hashtags and how they have advocated for their communities to influence changes to smokefree law.

Their commitment to the cause resulted in The Hashtags presenting to Select Committee at Parliament. Read more here.

Launch of smokefree action plan

In November, Associate Minister of Health, Dr Ayesha Verrall announced the Smokefree 2025 Action Plan - Auahi Kore Aotearoa Mahere Rautaki 2025. The plan outlines that by the end of next year, under 14-year-olds will not be able to legally purchase tobacco. The age will continue to rise each year so that younger generations will never have legal access to tobacco. Read more about the plan here.

Left: Founding members of The Hashtags in 2011, at the start of their Smokefree cars campaign.

Right: Our current Hashtags crew, along with mentor, Sisi Tuala Le’afa (seated second from right)

maximum benefit for teeth) and avoid drinking any sugary drinks. Tap water is still the best drink for thirst. If parents or caregivers are concerned about their children’s teeth, they can contact their child’s dental provider or Bee Healthy Regional Dental Service (Wellington region’s child oral health service) on 0800 talk teeth (0800 825 583).

Bee Healthy apply fluoride varnish at least once a year to most children’s teeth. If considered necessary, the Bee Healthy service can supplement this on a case-by-case basis. 

'Tips to Keep Smiling' resources are available on the Bee Healthy - Regional Dental Service website.

Background information on community water fluoridation

Community water fluoridation is a very effective public health measure to reduce tooth decay. This is further supported by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention which lauded community water fluoridation as one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. Fluoridating water delivers health equity outcomes for all regardless of age, ethnicity, education or employment status. This cost effective public health measure helps to ensure that no community has to carry an excessive burden of being impacted by poor oral health. We support Wellington Water to repair the fluoridation facilities, so that fluoridated drinking water can once again be safely provided to our communities. 

The rising stars of rugby league and health promotion

A health promotion initiative that utilises rugby league as a vehicle to promote positive health action to whānau, has achieved remarkable success. The community collaboration is a pilot initiative which has seen the Nga Hau E Wha O Wainuiomata Under 14 Kotiro rugby league team develop as both promising rugby league players and health promoters.

In what could be perceived as cutting-edge health promotion or simply committing to doing the hard mahi – the results are compelling and speak for themselves. “At the heart of what we do is coach and mentor a girls rugby league team and support that on-field training with wellbeing and personal development training, but the health impacts extend beyond that,” said team mentor and Regional Public Health (RPH) promoter Sisi Tuala-Le’afa.

The initiative is a collaboration between Nga Hau E Wha O Wainuiomata, Kokiri Seaview, Wainuiomata Marae and RPH. Through this mahi, barriers to youth participating in sport have been minimised and kotiro have been mentored in health and wellbeing topics, as part of their wider team bonding and culture building sessions. Important public health impact is achieved by whānau seeing their own tamariki shine as role-models of positive health in action, and they in-turn have some exposure to wellbeing messaging through their tamariki.

“It is hoped that by having a young, vibrant health promoter advocating for positive health, in their own whānau, then more members of the family, whether it be their father, brother, sister, aunts and uncles – are supported and encouraged, to make decisions that lead to a long and healthy life,” said coach of the team, and DHB board member Ken Laban.

Regional Public Health (RPH) supported by providing uniforms, boots and training gear which has helped all rangatahi to participate to the fullest, without added stress to their whānau. From there, relationships and bonds were developed through off-field training, which included tikanga and kawa sessions alongside haka and whakawhanaungatanga sessions. An impetus was placed on team members taking pride in who they are and where they come from.

To continue to read the full article - check out our website.

Omicron update

We've been working alongside our Hutt Valley, Capital & Coast and Wairarapa DHB colleagues to create two new platforms for our communities to stay up-to-date with COVID information for the greater Wellington region.

Protect Greater Wellington Facebook page

Protect Greater Wellington Website

These two new platforms contain all the information you need to know for our region - including:

• situation updates
• preparing and staying safe
• getting vaccinated
• testing and tracing
• isolation and care
• disability information
• Information on common questions we get at RPH. 

Boosters - if you are 18 years and over and you had your second vaccination at least three months ago (93 days), book your booster online at Book My Vaccine.

Remember - to check in on your neighbours, friends and family to see if they’re doing okay. The smallest things can make the most difference, even something as small as a phone call.

Testing: You only need to have a test if you have symptoms or live with someone who has COVID-19. 

• Rapid antigen tests (RAT) are a helpful tool in slowing the spread of COVID-19, however, they have limitations. They are most effective at identifying people who are most infectious, which is why they’re best used by people who have symptoms or been exposed to the virus
• If you have already had COVID-19 but you get new symptoms, take a RAT. If you test positive again you will need to isolate for 7 full days. Do not get a PCR test
• Register your RAT result at mycovidrecord.nz or by calling 0800 222 478. It’s really important and will help make sure you get linked with the health and manaaki support you need. You can also now record a RAT result on behalf of someone else aged 5 and over.

Isolating:

• If you have had COVID-19 and someone else in your household tests positive within three months of your recovery, you do not need to isolate again. Anyone else in your household who has not had COVID-19 will need to isolate again for the full 7 days
• Anyone who tests positive needs to be symptom-free at day 7 to be able to leave isolation. They do not need to return a negative test
• If you still have symptoms at day 7, keep isolating until 24 hours after your symptoms have gone.

If you are interested in joining us at RPH - apply today! Similarly, if you know someone who would be perfect for either of these roles, please share amongst your networks.  

2021 Highlights

To provide some insight to our activity in 2021 - a busy year for us - we've collated some video highlights which include our staff members Dr Annette Nesdale and Lee Thoms appearing on TVNZ.

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