Over the past week, the Nelson community has seen a rapid increase of Covid positive cases, with many families needing to go into isolation and requiring additional welfare support.

Earlier this week in response to a request from the Niue government, the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) deployed their Medical Assistance Team (PACMAT) to support Niue’s national Covid-19 response.

Pasifika Futures’ Ngalu Fānifo segment on 531 PI had it’s first segment of 2022 last week, with the talanoa focusing on the Tonga crisis and how families can approach their growing stress and anxiety levels.

Board Director of the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) Group and Auckland pediatrician, Dr Teuila Percival (QSO, FRACP), strongly encourages Pacific families whose children are eligible - between 5 to 11 years old - to get vaccinated as Covid-19 could pose huge risks to a child’s health.

Acting High Commissioner Peter Lund and Captain Geoff Bright presented a donation of TOP$10,000 from the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) in Aotearoa New Zealand to Lord Viliami Tangi o Vaonukonuka, the Association’s patron. The funds were delivered to Tonga by the HMNZS Aotearoa via the ship’s Chief Medical Officer.

The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) has been swift in their response once news of the volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga was received, with preparation of a deployment team of medical professionals and specialists ready to support if requested by the Kingdom of Tonga.

With the decision from the NZ government to move the whole country into red status due to the community spread of the Omicron variant, health professionals strongly encourage the Pacific community to get fully vaccinated or if they are – seek to get their booster shot if they are eligible to do so.

The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) is prepared to mobilize the necessary support for Tonga, following the devastating impacts of a volcanic eruption and tsunami on the small but proud island nation.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Pediatrician, Dr David Tan, shared in a recent Ngalu Fānifo mental health segment on 531 PI’s Pacific Days show, that it is important for parents to have healthy conversations about the vaccine with their children.

The New Year’s Honours list for 2022 saw a number of Pacific leaders recognised for their contribution to the Pacific and wider NZ community. Leading the list for Pacific recipients was Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) member Faumuina Professor Fa’afetai Sopoaga (CNZM), who was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for her services to Pacific health and tertiary education.

In a recent Pasifika Futures’ (PFL) Ngalu Fānifo segment on 531 P.I. the talanoa centered around a sensitive topic that is applicable for many Pacific families - childhood trauma and ways we can approach the conversation with our children.

With Christmas upon us, Dr David Tan offered some advice and encouragement to Pacific families in a recent Ngalu Fānifo mental health segment on the Pacific Days Show on 531 PI.