Published Tuesday, 26 June, 2007 at 09:43 AM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
$1 million to fight chronic disease in Torres Strait
Queensland Health will invest more than $1 million this year to improve the prevention and management of chronic disease in the Torres Strait, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.
Mr Robertson announced the funding at the Torres Diabetes and Renal Summit on Thursday Island.
“Indigenous Queenslanders are nearly five times more likely to suffer chronic disease and have three times the rate of heart disease and seven times the rate of diabetes,” he said.
“Residents in Indigenous communities often have limited access to timely health services, experience poor nutrition, problems accessing good food and fresh water, and health issues often exacerbated by alcohol abuse.
“This additional funding will be used to help strengthen our partnerships with Indigenous communities in the Torres Strait to better address diabetes and other chronic diseases.”
Mr Robertson said the funding included:
• $818,528 for nine new chronic disease positions;
• $120,000 to establish programs to address frequent and avoidable hospital admissions; and
• $110,000 for the Connecting Healthcare in Communities (CHIC) initiative in the Torres Strait.
He said the new positions included five additional child health workers who will focus on health promotion and chronic disease prevention.
“These child health workers will host community based programs on issues like breastfeeding, SIDS awareness and growth checks,” Mr Robertson said.
“They will also support vulnerable families through parenting programs, support families to increase uptake of immunisation and work with community groups and elders to promote healthy pregnancies and establish parenting support groups.
“A further two health prevention officers and two clinical workers will be employed to partner with Indigenous communities in the Torres Strait to implement alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention initiatives.”
Mr Robertson said the funding for the CHIC initiative will be used to set up a partnership council to help improve access to preventative and primary health care services in the Torres Strait.
“By better coordinating community health services we can help to relieve the pressure on public hospitals,” he said.
“Improved access to prevention and primary health care also helps to reduce avoidable admissions to hospital and emergency department presentations.”
26 June, 2007
MEDIA: MATTHEW JUTSUM 3225 2680
Mr Robertson announced the funding at the Torres Diabetes and Renal Summit on Thursday Island.
“Indigenous Queenslanders are nearly five times more likely to suffer chronic disease and have three times the rate of heart disease and seven times the rate of diabetes,” he said.
“Residents in Indigenous communities often have limited access to timely health services, experience poor nutrition, problems accessing good food and fresh water, and health issues often exacerbated by alcohol abuse.
“This additional funding will be used to help strengthen our partnerships with Indigenous communities in the Torres Strait to better address diabetes and other chronic diseases.”
Mr Robertson said the funding included:
• $818,528 for nine new chronic disease positions;
• $120,000 to establish programs to address frequent and avoidable hospital admissions; and
• $110,000 for the Connecting Healthcare in Communities (CHIC) initiative in the Torres Strait.
He said the new positions included five additional child health workers who will focus on health promotion and chronic disease prevention.
“These child health workers will host community based programs on issues like breastfeeding, SIDS awareness and growth checks,” Mr Robertson said.
“They will also support vulnerable families through parenting programs, support families to increase uptake of immunisation and work with community groups and elders to promote healthy pregnancies and establish parenting support groups.
“A further two health prevention officers and two clinical workers will be employed to partner with Indigenous communities in the Torres Strait to implement alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention initiatives.”
Mr Robertson said the funding for the CHIC initiative will be used to set up a partnership council to help improve access to preventative and primary health care services in the Torres Strait.
“By better coordinating community health services we can help to relieve the pressure on public hospitals,” he said.
“Improved access to prevention and primary health care also helps to reduce avoidable admissions to hospital and emergency department presentations.”
26 June, 2007
MEDIA: MATTHEW JUTSUM 3225 2680