“When I started to talk about how terrible things are, I became overwhelmed”

As we complete 12 weeks of Alert Level restrictions, Pasifika Futures (PFL) - the Whānau Ora commissioning agency for Pacific families and their national network of partners have supported families across New Zealand with over 48,240 support packages.

The complexities of home isolation continue to raise concerns for Pacific communities and GPs as the potential for primary care services being overwhelmed is a possibility with Covid-19 cases continue to rise on a daily basis.

With many high school students returning to school for a short period before their exams there will be heightened stress and anxiety among students, parents and teachers across the country. Pasifika Futures’ (PFL) Ngalu Fānifo mental health segment on 531 P.I. explored this as well as a talanoa round depression.

Pasifika Futures’ (PFL) Ngalu Fānifo mental health segment on 531 P.I. with Dr Siale Foliaki, recently focused on compliance and the approach to conversations around the Covid-19 vaccine.

Being vaccinated is the best protection for Pacific communities in tackling the Covid-19 virus, says Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) Dentist and Etu Pasifika Board Member, Dr Tule Misa.

A current home isolation pilot initiative for those directly affected by the Delta outbreak is a model that will not work for most Pacific Island households, says Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) and Pasifika Futures (PFL) CEO, Debbie Sorensen.

The news of a positive Covid-19 case reaching the shores of Tonga last week, following the arrival of a chartered flight from Christchurch, has resulted in a surge of vaccination numbers for the Christchurch community. Despite new cases of Covid-19 in the community, Christchurch remains at Alert Level 2.

Tokelauans across New Zealand are taking a moment to pause and celebrate Tokelau Language Week, despite on-going disruptions from the current Covid-19 outbreak.

In line with the national drive to get as many people vaccinated before Christmas, the Niue community are running their second mass vaccination event in Auckland, following their first event last month which saw nearly 1,000 people get vaccinated.

In a recent talanoa panel for 531 P.I’s Pacific Mornings show CEO of Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) and Pasifika Futures (PFL), Debbie Sorensen, and PMA member, Dr Collin Tukuitonga, shared their thoughts around the state of the current national Covid-19 strategy and how this will impact our Pacific community now and in the future.

Being deeply rooted in your culture and being proud to be from the Pacific is how Niue youth and Pasifika Medical Association Communications Advisor, Hele Ikimotu, describes success.