Photo sourced from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples
More than 75 people who have tested positive are linked to the recent community cluster in Auckland. The majority are Pacific individuals and The Fono, a Pasifika Futures partner, has had 222 referrals for Pacific families who have tested positive for Covid and their close contacts.
The Fono CEO Mr Tevita Funaki says his staff are in daily contact with those who have tested positive and they need reassurance and comfort during this tough time.
“The families are nervous. There is a level of anxiety there. They need to know that this is not their fault. They should be applauded for getting tested and protecting our community. We are here to make sure the families are okay and that their economic and personal needs are catered for during this time,” he says.
When the news broke of the recent cluster, the Whānau Ora provider was prepared and resourced to act immediately because they knew the devastating impact it could have on the community. The Fono assisted with contact tracing and mobile testing, visiting homes and testing individuals who had been in close contact with those who tested positive.
For the 222 families forced into self-isolation and quarantine, The Fono is offering support tailored to their specific needs, by accessing each family and providing the various resources they require.
“Because these families have to stay home, they can’t go out and do shopping. So part of the immediate assessment is the basic needs, like food. So, we provide them with food packages to get them by. The next concern is not being able to work and the worry about paying bills. We can provide some immediate financial support until we can connect them to services that can help them in the long term.”
The Fono is also able to assist families with children by providing nappies, sanitizing products and resources to help with their remote learning.
Mr Funaki stresses that this period is crucial for the Pacific community and listening to the advice and looking out for each other is the only way to survive the pandemic.
“We need to reassure our community that we’ve got this. This virus doesn’t discriminate against who you are and where you are from. Stick to your bubble, practice social distancing, wash your hands, wear a mask when you go outside. We need to reinforce these key messages to our people and we can’t be complacent.”
To access a Whānau Ora Family Support Package please click on the following link to connect directly with one of our partners – http://pacifichealth.org.nz/covid-19-support/
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Date: Friday 21 August 2020