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The chairman of the Maori Medical Practitioners Association agrees
that if rheumatic fever were not confined to Maori
and Pacific Islanders, more would be done to combat it.
A doctor's job is to treat ailments, and prescribe medicines.
This can be changed now, this year.
It doesn't need a ten-year plan, no.
If we start now, we can fix it now!
Dr Jansen is talking about the amount of Maori
being diagnosed with rheumatic fever.
This issue was raised by another medical practitioner.
Let's look at what Dr Jonathan Jarman said;
he feels that there was a lack of action
because it's a disease that affects mainly Pacific people
and Maori children. Do you agree with that?
Indeed, I agree. That is the truth.
Each year about 450 people are admitted to hospital
with rheumatic heart disease.
It is prevalent in Maori and Pacific Island communities,
who are 20% and 37% more likely to end up in hospital with acute cases.
Some compare Maori to those starving in third world countries.
This is an issue that needs to be addressed within the family,
but practitioners also need to take some accountability.
Doctors should be embarrassed! Practitioners should be embarrassed!
It is hoped that though embarrassment,
comes a positive outcome out of this problem.
Heta Gardiner, Te Karere.