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Otago Daily Times
10-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Women's health highlighted
An event taking place tomorrow aims to find ways to open up conversations, or talanoa, about important women's health topics. Pacific Island Advisory Charitable Trust (PIACT) and Pacific Trust Otago (PTO) are hosting Moana Lei events tomorrow, at the Hub, Otago Polytechnic, from 6pm-9pm. The events are designed to empower women, offering health information and health checks in a culturally safe and accessible space. In a statement, PIACT community linkage worker and Whanau Ora navigator Aiga Toomalatai said the events were timed around Mother's Day. 'We want to say thank you to our Pasifika mums and women for all that they do, and treat them to an evening of pampering, while offering opportunities to start or keep talanoa, conversations, going about what is important for women and how to keep themselves well. ''We need to look after ourselves.' Pasifika women are over-represented in statistics for screening with Southern women less likely to be screened on time, or screened at all, leading to higher rates of bowel, cervical and breast cancer among Pasifika women. 'There are many reasons for this, and we know one of the key reasons is that Pasifika women put their family first,' Ms Toomalatai said. Women will be treated to pamper stations, free food, prizes and gifts as well as having access to screening and vaccinations at the event. - APL
Otago Daily Times
07-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Event encourages screening
Pacific Island Advisory Charitable Trust general manager Rachel Murray. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Higher rates of cancer among Pasifika women are being tackled with a gathering in Invercargill tonight. Pasifika women are above average in all cancer screening statistics, Pacific Island Advisory Charitable Trust general manager Rachel Murray said. ''Pasifika women are overrepresented ... so they're less likely to be screened on time or screened at all, which can lead to higher rates of bowel, cervical and breast cancer.'' She hoped the evening would enable Pasifika women to talk about their health and get screening checks done. ''It's just having a talanoa [talk] around what's important for a woman and how to essentially look after themselves and their health.'' Doctors and nurses will be there to talk about bowel and breast screening and immunisations. After the discussion there will be an opportunity to get a free screening check and immunisations. The evening is at the trust's hall in Bowmont St, Invercargill.
