Fanau Ola kae Fonua Ola A Pasifika Whanau Ora preventative approach to the respiratory health and holistic wellbeing of Pacific children within their families and communities
Sione Tu’itahiExecutive Director, Health Promotion Forum (HPF) Regional Vice President, International Union for Health Promotion & Education ( IUHPE)Asthma Foundation Conference, Wellington, NZSeptember 19-20, 2013
Significance of conference themeDiscuss effective
approaches for Pasifika children, fanau, family and communities
To include preventative and promotion approach
HPF leads health promotion in NZ
Builds sector & workforce capacity
Work at local, national, global levels
Peak organisation of over 100 members
Asthma and Pasifika Peoples Disproportionately affects
Maori and Pacific people, and lower socio-economic groups.
The prevalence of asthma in Pacific Island children is lower than for other ethnic groups. However, asthma is more prevalent among Pacific Island adults (20 percent) than other adults.
Maori and Pacific Island children with asthma tend to have more severe asthma.
In Auckland, here are about 40,000 Pacific people with asthma, half are children aged 0–14 years. (MoH, 2012)
Fanau Ola kae Fonua Ola Approach Dimensions and levels Fanau – siblings, extended
family Ola – holistic wellbeing Fanau Ola – Health Family Fonua – humans & rest of
ecology are one Fonua Ola – healthy
people & environment or community
Empowered fanau and communities taking control of their wellbeing and future
Challenges are noted but focus on strengths, potentials & aspirations
Global/ecological
National/collective
Local/mental
Family/ physical
Individual/ spiritual
Health Promotion prevents and promotes Empowers families &
communities Take control of their
wellbeing & address determinants of health
Masters of their own futures
Prevention, protection and promotion are socio-ecological & therefore more effective
Early intervention (fence on top of the cliff) saves money and life of individuals and communities
Inequities the most important & urgent challenge of the hour Not knowledge Not resources But the will to make the right
decision – e.g. healthy public policies
Status quo policies & strategies not effective enough
Ideologies and models of development such as neo-liberalism must be re-visited
Transformational strategies that can distribute power & resources more equitably are needed
Major paradigm shift (mind & heart shift) at local, national and global levels an effective way forward
Resources http://
www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/News-and-Publications/Statements/Best-health-outcomes-for-Pacific-Peoples.pdf
More on Fonua model http://
www.hauora.co.nz/resources/FonuaaPasifikmodel.pdf
HPF website http://www.hauora.co.nz/
Health Partners Consulting Group on behalf of the Ministry of Health and the metro-Auckland District Health Boards. It is available at: http://www.healthpartnersconsulting.com/ site/wp-