Supporting Pacific families in the Omicron outbreak
With the Omicron variant of COVID-19 rapidly spreading around New Zealand this February and March, Pacific communities have been particularly hard hit. Vaka Tautua is supporting many Pacific families in self-isolation with household cases of COVID-19.
Hon Aupito William Sio with Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop (far left) and other Pacific leaders, church ministers and providers at the Government funding announcement, Nga Whare Waatea, Mangere.
This is in addition to the COVID-19 information and education support Vaka Tautua has been providing since the first case of COVID-19 in New Zealand in March 2020.
The latest figures from the Ministry of Health* show that Pacific peoples make up nearly a third of all current COVID-19 cases, and 42% of all hospitalised cases. The Government has responded to this over-representation of the Pacific population by announcing extra support for Māori and Pacific communities on February 22.
Minister Aupito William Sio said at the announcement of $140 million in additional government funding, “This investment is innovative, comprehensive, and Pacific-focused, allowing Pacific Peoples to prepare for the next phase of COVID-19 and to respond and rebuild in the aftermath of Omicron.”
Vaka Tautua’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop, was present at the announcement of extra funding for 160 Māori and Pacific health providers. She said, “Vaka Tautua stands ready to increase our support of Pacific households across Aotearoa, as Omicron is disproportionately affecting our communities. We remain committed, as always, to protecting the vulnerable and helping our Pacific peoples to self-manage their way through the outbreak and keep their fanau safe.”
Vaka Tautua is scaling up its efforts to ensure those most in need get the support they require, in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE), hygiene and essential wellbeing packages. The organisation continues to support Pacific community vaccination events in the Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury regions, which have been shown to be effective in increasing vaccination rates for Pacific peoples.
The team at Vaka Tautua is proud to continue to be of service to our communities during these challenging times.