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PACIFIC
HEALTH SYMPOSIUM - COUNTIES MANUKAU DHB |
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By Malia Tua’i Manuleleua |
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“Lotu-moui,” a two day
Pacific Health Symposium held in Auckland recently brought together
close to a hundred Pacific church ministers and their spouses to
discuss the role of the church in promoting healthy lifestyles for
Pacific people.
“Lotu-moui means mind, body and soul and in this context relates to a
holistic and all inclusive approach to health, which does not separate
the emotional, physical, mental or spiritual aspects of wellness.”
Margie Fepulea'i, General Manager-Pacific Health, Counties Manukau
District Health Board said that, “the two day conference was a “call
for action” for all Pacific leaders and communities to- together and in
partnership-inform, educate, service, activate and support our
communities to take on those changes that will improve our collective
health…our communities health will not be improved if Pacific people
and their families and communities are not able to make important
changes in our lifestyles, cultural practices and rituals within our
families.”
Keynote speaker, Dr Ana Maui Taufe”ulungaki from the University of the
South Pacific said that “there was a need for Pacific people to
re-examine what we mean by culture. Many Pacific churches are embedded
in Victorian values. We need to reclaim our sense of community and the
power to have the freedom to choose... We need, therefore to re-examine
what the role of culture is ... unless we are very clear what our
values are and how they can shape and direct our thinking and
behaviours, our efforts towards improving the wellbeing and health of
our Pacific communities and peoples will remain largely ineffective…”
”Whose values, beliefs and worldviews then are our children socialized
in? What identities have they assumed? Whose culture is now their
inheritance? What this symposium is attempting to do is reclaim a
Pacific cultural approach to health care issues which recognizes the
holistic worldviews of Pacific peoples. It is a perspective that
acknowledges the inter-dependence between the spiritual, mental and
physical beings of individuals and communities.“
Participants in the women's workshop unanimously agreed that there was
need for change and that the pulpit should not only be used to preach
the word but to also |
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General Manager for Pacific Health at Counties Manukau District
Health Board, Margie Fepuleai, and host of the two day Pacific
Health Symposium with Simativa Perese. |
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Tamariki Pierre (consultant), Dr Ana Maui Taufe’ulungaki
(University of the the South Pacific), Bernadette Pereira
(Manukau city council) attending the Pacific Health Symposium. |
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Fuifui Lupe ‘o Lea’-Ae-Tohi group performing at the ‘Lotu-moui’
Pacific Health Symposium organised by Pacific Health at Counties
Manukau District Health Board. |
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preach messages of looking
after the well being of families, ensuring that children have shoes on
their feet, have balanced meals, and that families are skilled in the
basics of daily living, budgeting etc.
Women believed that there was also a need to educate our Pacific
people. Some churches encouraged light finger food compared to the
usual high fat food at church events. Parishioners were asked to reduce
the quantity and improve the quality of food. They were also confident
that the church could also help to lessen the financial load of their
parishioners in terms of cultural obligations.
EFKS Ministers wife and popular radio host Eti McCarthy said that “it
was also important that the church encouraged discussion of sexuality
issues as this was an integral part of ones growth, development and
spirituality. We have to be good role models for our youth as they are
our most valuable treasures.” God wants us to look after ourselves.
Prayer goes a long way but prayer without action will not go very far.”
“As we all know, Pacific people are at the top of most negative
statistics relating to health and secondly that the church plays a very
important role in the life of Pacific communities. Therefore, if we are
to move forward the church needs to take up the challenge and be the
catalyst for positive change. Some churches have already begun that
journey towards encouraging healthy lifestyles. We as a community need
to support these initiatives and ensure that their future development
and sustainability is maintained,” said Bernadette Pereira from the
Manukau City Council.
The two day CMDHB symposium followed the one day annual Community
Partnership – Health Fair hosted by Health Star Pacific which was
attended by Pacific church and community leaders.
Applications for grants of up to $5,000 are being provided by Counties
Manukau District Health Board to assist churches and community groups
towards promoting healthy lifestyles for Pacific families. For further
information and details you can contact Counties Manukau District
Health Board on Ph: 262 9500.
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Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd.
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