Fanau Ola kae Fonua Ola A Pasifika Whanau Ora preventative approach to the respiratory health and holistic wellbeing of Pacific children within their families and communities

Sione Tu’itahiExecutive Director, Health Promotion Forum (HPF) Regional Vice President, International Union for Health Promotion & Education ( IUHPE)Asthma Foundation Conference, Wellington, NZSeptember 19-20, 2013

Significance of conference themeDiscuss effective

approaches for Pasifika children, fanau, family and communities

To include preventative and promotion approach

HPF leads health promotion in NZ

Builds sector & workforce capacity

Work at local, national, global levels

Peak organisation of over 100 members

Asthma and Pasifika Peoples Disproportionately affects

Maori and Pacific people, and lower socio-economic groups.

The prevalence of asthma in Pacific Island children is lower than for other ethnic groups. However, asthma is more prevalent among Pacific Island adults (20 percent) than other adults.

Maori and Pacific Island children with asthma tend to have more severe asthma.

In Auckland, here are about 40,000 Pacific people with asthma, half are children aged 0–14 years. (MoH, 2012)

Fanau Ola kae Fonua Ola Approach Dimensions and levels Fanau – siblings, extended

family Ola – holistic wellbeing Fanau Ola – Health Family Fonua – humans & rest of

ecology are one Fonua Ola – healthy

people & environment or community

Empowered fanau and communities taking control of their wellbeing and future

Challenges are noted but focus on strengths, potentials & aspirations

Global/ecological

National/collective

Local/mental

Family/ physical

Individual/ spiritual

Health Promotion prevents and promotes Empowers families &

communities Take control of their

wellbeing & address determinants of health

Masters of their own futures

Prevention, protection and promotion are socio-ecological & therefore more effective

Early intervention (fence on top of the cliff) saves money and life of individuals and communities

Inequities the most important & urgent challenge of the hour Not knowledge Not resources But the will to make the right

decision – e.g. healthy public policies

Status quo policies & strategies not effective enough

Ideologies and models of development such as neo-liberalism must be re-visited

Transformational strategies that can distribute power & resources more equitably are needed

Major paradigm shift (mind & heart shift) at local, national and global levels an effective way forward

Resources http://

www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/News-and-Publications/Statements/Best-health-outcomes-for-Pacific-Peoples.pdf

More on Fonua model http://

www.hauora.co.nz/resources/FonuaaPasifikmodel.pdf

HPF website http://www.hauora.co.nz/

Health Partners Consulting Group on behalf of the Ministry of Health and the metro-Auckland District Health Boards. It is available at: http://www.healthpartnersconsulting.com/ site/wp-