Monday, 10 June 2019, 3:09 pm
Press Release: National Heart Foundation
10 June 2019
Anna Rolleston has had a long standing
passion for her community and for reducing the impact of
heart disease.
As the co-convenor of this month’s
3rd Indigenous Cardiovascular Health Conference being held
in Wellington, she is hoping more progress can be made to
find solutions to the country’s high rates of heart
disease – particularly amongst Māori.
“Heart
disease is preventable and can be well managed,” Anna
says.
“However, we still have very high rates in New
Zeland, with Māori and Pacific people experiencing poorer
outcomes than others.
“Heart disease is more complex
than simply telling people to eat well, be more active and
to stop smoking. We need to take a step away from what
we’re currently doing, engage with our community, and
problem solve heart health in a different way to make a real
difference.”
Having bridged the gap between academia
and communities for many years, she has seen the highs and
lows of what’s being done to address heart disease.
“Through my community work and while carrying out Heart
Foundation funded research, I’ve seen and heard from real
people. I have come to understand that those of us that are
deemed ‘experts’ in heart health would be much more
successful in supporting people, if we understand those
people from their own perspectives. I’m passionate about
people having a real say in their own health.”
Much
of Anna’s work has focussed on using a Māori philosophy
to inform heart health solutions.
“One of the
biggest challenges is a lack of understanding within the
health system of how to support people beyond medical
intervention.”
She says what’s needed is a more
people-centred approach that delivers health services that
are focused on helping people to remain well.
“This
means gaining a better understanding of different people and
what works best to keep them healthy.”
Anna says the
upcoming Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand
(CSANZ) conference will provide an ideal forum for health
professionals and researchers from both sides of the Tasman
to network and exchange ideas and learnings.
“It’s
an opportunity for us to all come together and share our
thoughts, for the benefit of our unique communities and
ultimately improve heart health.”
Aside from her
co-convener role, Anna will be talking about a Heart
Foundation-funded trial that looked at the impact of
incorporating Māori values into a largely clinical
lifestyle management programme.
“For Maori, and for
many people, the issue is not heart disease – it is health.
Poor health may have a physical impact on our heart, but the
heart isn’t the only thing being impacted. What needs to
change is our approach to addressing the heart as a physical
system in the body distinct from anything else and separate
from the mind and spirit.”
The Conference aims to
come up with a series of recommendations and a five-year
plan that will improve cardiovascular health especially for
those groups in our community that are most affected.
Ends
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