The Health of the Primary Health Sector

Primary health care

From the Ministry of Health's primary health care website, primary health care means 'health and preventative services, including health education, counseling, disease prevention and screening'. Primary health care is coordinated by 81 PHOs across the country - to raise the level of health and well-being of all New Zealanders.

Can this ideal - that we should all have the same access to health care services and encouragement to lead healthier lifestyles - survive the latest political moves to reduce administrative costs at the PHO and DHB level? Or will some of us (rural people and ethnic minorities) be left out in the cold again?

John Hicks' recent article in the Southland Times on the demise of Southland's PHOs and its effect on rural people is worth a read. You can even comment on his article directly on the Southland Times website - just click on the comment link. Will a big, broad Southland (or Otago?) PHO be sensitive to the fact that towns like Otautau need help in retaining good doctors and nurses? If change is in the air, then have your say on how you would like to see primary health care administered in our local community.

Wish Bear

The St Andrews Scout Group have made a Wish Bear to raise funds for Tessa Cowie, the 2-year old Otautau girl battling leukemia. Wishes are $2 each and can be given now at the Salvation Army store on Main Street. Let's be as generous with our wishes as we can to help her and her family make it through this difficult time.

Kia kaha, Tessa.

Call for Photos

October has already been jam-packed with events for our community. If you have photos about an event you attended, e.g. the duathlon and others, send them to me to be included in a future post.

Still looking for more writers for this blog. Do you have an inner blogger, aching to get out?? Contact me.

New Displays at the Museum

Those tireless folks at the Otautau Museum have put up two new displays for the community.

The first is a Student Artwork display from the talented young people at Otautau School. The students had visited the Southland Museum in the recent past and were asked to set their imaginations to paper. The result is a very colourful display of paintings, sketches and photographs as in this Fiordland Crested Penguin by Jake DeClifford, age 12.

And their second display features images of the transport firms who helped make the district a success. Local Transport: from horses gigs to big rigs features images of local trucking firms, garages and a glimpse into the fact that driving was not just for men. Pictured is Laing's Bakery delivery wagon. Many think we could use a bakery in this town again!

Both displays are on until 31 Dec 2009. The museum is open Wed and Sun, 2pm-4pm, and by request.

You can always keep up with the museum by going to their blog and their website.

Last Day for Bayswater and Gladfield Exhibition

Sunday will be the last day for the Bayswater and Gladfield display at the museum. This display has been on for 3 months and has attracted many people from those areas.

The next display will be split in two - the first subject will feature local transport through the years (cars, trucks and garages); and the second one will feature projects from the students of Otautau School.

Toward the end of the year the museum is planning a display of the history of the Fairfax area. If you have photos or objects to loan, please bring them by the museum. It's open Wednesdays and Sundays, 2pm-4pm.