The first of three webinars discussing the Covid-19 strategies and responses within the Pacific community across the country will take place on Friday 6th November 2020.
The event will be facilitated by Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) president Dr. Kiki Maoate, ONZM, FRACS and PMA senior member Dr. Colin Tukuitonga, DSM, MPH, FAFPHM, FRNZCGP. Guest speakers will include Professor Michael Baker of the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine and Otago University, Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone of the Ministry of Health, Meg Poutasi of the Auckland District Health Board and Debbie Sorensen, CEO of PMA and Pasifika Futures.
“The webinar is getting people together from the health sector and the community to discuss our learnings and share with each other how we have responded to Covid-19 and how we might be better prepared in the future,” says Sorensen.
“When we moved to Alert Level 4, we learned very quickly that the Pacific community wasn’t prepared, and we didn’t know how to respond immediately. Of course, we know much more now and we’ve learned some valuable lessons.”
During the first national lockdown in March, Pasifika Futures acted immediately and provided more than 17,000 support packages to vulnerable Pacific families across the country with the support of their 42 partners and medical centres across New Zealand.
“What was clear in the response is that a one size fits all model doesn’t work for Pacific communities and we needed to design our own approach.
During the webinar, we’re not necessarily talking about the wearing of masks or the importance of being in lock down.
The real learning of the webinar will be how Covid-19 affects the Pacific community and how do we engage with them. The webinar is relevant because it will guide us on how we react in the future and make sure that every time we have a resurgence that we are refining our response.”
She says this is an opportunity for the community to hear about the hard work that is involved in supporting their families during Covid-19.
“As a group of health professionals, we are not separate from our community, so there is a lot of trust and confidence in us.
Our Pacific community have an opportunity to hear from us and to ask us questions that might be helpful for them in the future.”
The New Zealand Pacific Covid-19 Webinar Series is hosted by the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine, PMA and the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences – University of Auckland.
The first Webinar in the series is on Friday 6 November 2020 from 1pm – 3pm.
To join this event please see details outlined including registration on the flyer below.
Follow the Facebook event here: https://fb.me/e/f2iJQGJl5
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Date: Saturday 17 October 2020