From the Chair
Free programme aims
to help people manage
arthritis pain
The Activity with Arthritis
(AWA) programme is an
education and exercise
programme that aims to help
people with hip and knee
osteoarthritis (OA) manage
their symptoms of pain and
loss of function.
The programme is being trialled by
the Bay of Plenty District Health Board
and is run by Body In Motion Physio &
Rehab. AWA has been running since
March and preliminary feedback
from participants is positive, some
stating they no longer feel surgery is
the only option for managing their OA
symptoms.
“The programme reflects the
latest OA research and provides an
evidence-based approach that works
in the real world,” says BOPDHB
Executive Director Allied Health Sarah
Mitchell.
“Two education sessions teach
participants about OA, including the
degeneration process in the joint, how
the exercises improve joint stability,
medications, nutrition and self-
management techniques.”
A supervised group exercise
programme is undertaken twice a
week in pool-based and land-based
classes. This progresses to a long-
term self-management exercise
programme and a coffee group for
long-term support.
Nominations are now open for people to put
themselves forward for the 2019 District
Health Board Elections. After three terms
covering nine years of chairing the Board,
I’m retiring, but I thought I’d take this
opportunity to share with you a bit more
about the role of the Board, and hopefully
prompt some of you to consider standing.
You’ll find more details about the election process
and make- up of the board within these pages. The
Board exists to govern the organisation. The Board:
• s ets strategic direction and priorities
• s ets high-level policies and management per-
formance expectations
• o
versees the management of risk; and moni-
tors and evaluates organisational performance
• e
nsures the DHB complies with all legal, statu-
tory and constitutional requirements.
The Board members are not involved in day to day
management decisions.
So what’s expected of you, as a Board member?
Each Board member has a duty to ensure that the
District Health Board is properly governed. To meet
this obligation, it is expected the Board will:
The programme runs for two months
and there is a choice of either a
Tauranga group or Mount Maunganui
group. There is no cost to the client
following referral from a DHB specialist.
• a
ct in good faith
• a
ct with honesty and integrity
• e
xercise reasonable care, diligence and skill in
our duties at all times
• a
y aside all private and personal interests in
decision-making.
• n
ot disclose confidential information acquired
as a member.
The basic skills for a Board member include:
• g ood communi-
cations skill
• s trong reason-
ing skills and an
ability to actively
engage with
others in making
decisions
• h
ave knowl-
edge of a board
member’s
responsibilities,
including an abil-
ity to distinguish
Sally Webb, Chair Bay of
governance from
Plenty District Health Board
management.
Training is provided to ensure new members fully
understand their responsibilities.
Board members are expected to spend approxi-
mately 30 days a year on Board activity. Twice a
month there are board and committee meetings,
the dates are set in advance so you know what your
commitment is across the year and the expectation
is that members attend the majority of meetings.
Every year thousands of people use our health
system – whether it’s through seeing their GP, pick-
ing up prescription from pharmacies, being treated
in one of our two hospitals or receiving home sup-
port services.
Our health system is important for the people
of the Bay - you could be there at the Board table
making a difference for your community. Nomina-
tions close on August 16 - will your name be there?
He aha te mea nui o te ao?
He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!
What is the most important thing in the world?
It is people! It is people! It is people!
• i ntegrity and a strong sense of ethics
• fi nancial literacy and critical appraisal skills
Arohanui Sally Webb
Better support for māmā and pēpi in the Bay
A new specialised community
breastfeeding support service is
set to provide better support for
māmā (mother) and pēpi (baby) in
homes across the Bay of Plenty.
Te Puke based Ngā Kākano Foundation
in the Western Bay and a collective
of Iwi providers along with Plunket
in the Eastern Bay, are providing
the support service for new māmā.
Lactation Consultants and trained
kaiāwhina (support workers) will
be on hand providing support and
advice to māmā who are experiencing
difficulties establishing and maintaining
breastfeeding. Support will be provided
through home visits, classes and clinics
and advice by phone, text and facebook
messenger.
The BOPDHB funded initiative is part of
a series of ‘First 1000 days’ programmes
designed to improve the health of
children from conception through to
their second birthday. There is growing
evidence that focusing on these early
years provides the greatest opportunity
to prevent health problems in the child’s
later life. This service allows for an
easily accessible central point of access
relevant to the population (especially
Māori mothers and whānau).
The breastfeeding support service
started in the Eastern Bay this month
and is due to start in the Western Bay
next week.
Western Bay -Māmā Maia
A play on the name of the ABBA song
and hit musical Mama Mia, the new
service in the Western Bay will be known
as Māmā Maia.
Ngā Kākano Director Kirsty Maxwell-
Crawford says “Maia means strength
and confidence. This reflects the
purpose of the breastfeeding support
service. We want our māmā and whānau
to feel confident in breastfeeding their
pēpi.”
Kirsty is passionate about supporting
māmā and whānau early, to help make
the journey of breastfeeding achievable
and sustainable.
“I was a breastfeeding mum. I
remember, it was hard at first. I thought
it was supposed to hurt. It was not
until I met with a Lactation Consultant
that I learnt I was not latching my baby
properly. Having that support and advice
made it so much easier to feed my baby,
without the pain.”
Lactation Consultant Aani Sherwin
and five kaiāwhina will be providing
the breastfeeding support service
throughout Tauranga Moana and
Te Puke.
left to right: Kaiāwhina (support workers) Nicole Hapi, Te Uarangi Teepa, Nicola Reweti, Tamariki Ora Nurse
Kora Tiban, Kaiāwhina Kelly Roia-Stewart and Lactation Specialist Aani Sherwin
Ngā Kākano Foundation
Family Health Service
Need help with breastfeeding?
It shouldn’t be painful, we can help
Māmā Maia Free Breastfeeding Support
Provides one on one support from other mums (Kaiawhina) and
advice from a lactation specialist. Home visits and clinics are available
Enrolling is easy:
Text: 027 554 1120
Web-enrol: www.ngakakano.org.nz
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: fb.me/MamaMaiaNgaKakano
Facebook Message: m.me/MamaMaiaNgaKakano
or your midwife can refer you