Diabetes Action Plan

The Ministry of Health is developing a new Diabetes Action Plan. They invite us to review a draft of the Plan, and to provide feedback. The Plan sets out the priority actions for improving diabetes care in Aotearoa New Zealand over the next five years. It addresses the need for early identification and better management of pre-diabetes, type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes and has a strong commitment to whānau wellbeing, equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi throughout.  

Draft Diabetes Action Plan V1.5.pdf

The Plan will be supported by a number of other key documents, including the development of the Population and Public Health Strategy from 1 July 2022, when the new Public Health Agency commences. It is envisaged that the Population and Public Health Strategy will strengthen action to prevent diabetes, through addressing key risk factors, including obesity. 

There are many allied health professions involved in the prevention and management of diabetes and many of you may be providing your own submissions. To strengthen those and continue the advocacy work of AHANZ, we would be interested to hear from you whether you would like to be involved in providing feedback as a collective. Kath Eastwood (CEO, Dietitians NZ and AHANZ co-chair) is leading this piece of work and so if you would like to be involved, please contact Kath at ceo@dietitians.org.nz.

COVID-19 webinar for primary care, 13 April

The following message comes from the Ministry of Health:

The Ministry of Health will be presenting an update on COVID-19 Care in the Community as part of a COVID-19 update for primary care next Wednesday (13 April) evening.
 
The update will also cover other topics including the wider Omicron response, latest vaccination advice (including concomitant delivery, off label vaccine use, and vaccination post disease), and therapeutics (including the use of Paxlovid).
 
Please feel free to let your members know about this update. We have attached a flyer you can circulate to your members.

COVID update webinar for primary care 20220413.pdf

Telehealth online learning modules

Collaborative Aotearoa are pleased to announce as part of the Health Care Home work programme, the release of the Telehealth Online Learning Modules. These are now available on the Ministry of Health Learn Online Platform: learnonline.health.nz/course/view.php?id=550.  
 
The objective of these modules is to provide easy access to all of the information and tools you need to prepare for, and conduct, effective, culturally competent, and patient-centred telehealth consultations. This is achieved through completing four modules:  

•  Introduction to Telehealth 
• Getting Ready for Telehealth  
• The Telehealth Consultation  
• Post Learning Reflection  

These four modules will take 2 hours in total to complete, and you will receive a certificate and 2 CPD points on completion (if applicable).  
 
Please feel free to share and promote these to your colleagues and to utilise them as part of a professional development and learning programme.  
 
If you have any questions regarding the modules and how to utilise them within your organisation, or for any more information on telehealth implementation and support, please contact admin@collab.org.nz and the team will support as required.  
 

National influenza campaign

The Ministry of Health have asked us all to support this year's influenza immunisation campaign. 

Everything you need to know about the rollout is detailed in the 2022 Flu Kit, available here, found at this page: Influenza Webinar and flu online | Immunisation Advisory Centre (immune.org.nz) 

Please note, the eligibility for funded flu vaccines has been extended to Māori and Pacific people aged between 55-64 years. This is in addition to the usual groups (people aged over 65 years, pregnant people, and for people (including children) at risk of severe outcomes because of underlying health conditions). 

You can get more information about the vaccine on the following webpages: 

• About the vaccine: Medsafe medsafe.govt.nz or seqirus.co.nz  
• Health professional information: influenza.org.nz 
• Healthline for advice on 0800 611 116 anytime healthline.govt.nz 
• Ministry of Health influenza page: health.govt.nz/flujab

Digital copies of flu promotional materials are on Dropbox: Influenza - Simplify your life (you are welcome to share this link).

Recording of AHANZ AGM, 23 March

For those of you who weren't able to attend, the AGM was recorded and can be watched at vimeo.com/691658223 The password is: AHANZMarch2022

AHANZ strategic plan meeting, 27 April

Thanks so much to those of you who were able to participate in the strategic plan conversation at our meeting on 23 March. You are all encouraged to share the draft plan with your Executives, and we would like to invite you to a further meeting with the Executive Committee on 27 April at 1.15-2.15pm, when you will have the opportunity to share any feedback you have received, as well as discussing the detail of the plan.

Draft AHANZ Strategic Plan 2022 24.pdf

I will circulate the Zoom details nearer the time.

Best wishes,

Nikky Winchester
Executive Director, AHANZ
executivedirector@alliedhealth.org.nz