I cannot recall a run up to Christmas involving so many exhausted people, across all sectors of our community. The scary thing is, I recall saying that at this time last year!
With a multitude of negative factors (most of which are beyond our control), putting stress on us all in different ways, it is hardly surprising that the pressure is palpable. The ongoing impact of COVID, resource constraints, cost of living increases, labour shortages, supply chain issues, and upheavals in many parts of the world are taking their toll.
From a Te Papa Hauora perspective, we can overlay all of this with the structural and functional changes occurring within each of our stakeholders, which inevitably creates new resource challenges, and in many cases, uncertainty.
Of course we should all be feeling like 2022 has been a long, hard, and demanding year. It has!
The pause for most of us over the festive season is a good time to reflect on our achievements, take some time out and catch our breath before positively heading into 2023.
I am very proud of what Te Papa Hauora has achieved in 2022 and look forward to what we have planned (and not planned) in the new year. A highlight has been supporting the establishment of the Research for Children Aotearoa collaborative. Enjoy our story below.
My thanks to all who have been part of those achievements, with special accolades to the Te Papa Hauora Advisory Council members, Pip and Cameron, who through dedicated service make it all happen.
A happy year end to you all.
Peter Townsend
Chair Te Papa Hauora Advisory Council
www.healthprecinct.org.nz
One of the achievements of 2022 was the establishment of the Research for Children Aotearoa collaboration to advance equitable, innovative, world-leading research for children.
One of the first projects involves Pacific Island researcher Dr Isaiah Immanuel who is shining a light on the inequities of care for Pasifika youth in managing their type 1 diabetes.
Improving type 1 diabetes control in Pasifika Children
Growing up in a village near the Fijian city of Lautoka, Dr Isaiah Immanuel witnessed first-hand the poorer outcomes for people living with chronic disease caused by delays in care and treatment.
Now, the medical graduate and father-of-five is shining a light on the inequities of care that Pasifika youth in Aotearoa New Zealand are struggling to overcome in the management of their type 1 diabetes.
Based at the University of Otago, Christchurch, he is conducting a one-year study, funded by the University of Otago's Health Sciences Divisional Research Committee via Research for Children Aotearoa, and Etu Pasifika, to discover why Pasifika youth with type 1 diabetes are experiencing problems maintaining good control of their disease. Read more about Dr Immanuel's research here
Meri Kirihimete me ngā mihi o te Tau Hou ki a koutou katoa /
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our whānau to yours.
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