Health group may reform

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 441, 23 June 1992, Page 1

Health group may reform

A new Community Health Watch Committee (CHWC) may be formed in Waiouru following a public meeting on 30 June. The meeting is being held by the ManawatuWanganui Area Health Board in response to a request from the community to re-activate the CHWC in Waiouru. There are 21 other committees around the Board's area. They are voluntary groups made

up of interested members of the community whose role is to keep a "watch" on health issues, raising concerns and suggestions on health needs with the Board and taking action to improve the health of their area. Each committee has an annual budget of $2,000 to help with their expenses. The committees have played an important role over the past six years but it could be argued that

they are even more vital following the demise of elected Area Health Boards. With the elected Boards gone, Community Health Watch Committees are the primary means for the community to have a say on health matters. Waiouru has had a CHWC for nearly six years. The changing population of Waiouru has meant that the committee has had a high Turnpage 2

Health group

Frompagel turnover of members, but until recently there were always enough to keep things ticking over. The Waiouru committee has been involved in a wide range of health activities over the years, including: • holding a baby-sit-ting course aimed at teenagers; • holding a Health Fair, and having displays at the Desert Fair; • initiating Well Women's Clinics; • holding public meetings to get community feedback and making submissions on a wide range of plans and proposals in health; • running a campaign to reduce winter sports injuries; • organising a "Good Neighbour Week"; • promoting the use of fire guards in homes in winter; • raising concerns over Board services with the AHB; • promoting the use of child restraints in cars; • encouraging the Army to install condom vending machines in Camp toilets; • disseminating health information in the community; • getting a sample test made in response to concerns about the quality of the local water supply;

• seeking an improved radio service to the area, so that people could receive information from local radio stations in case of a civil defence emergency. The value of community committees has been recognised by the Area Health Board. Although mechanisms for community input into the new health system haven't yet been determined, the Board believes that Community Health Watch Committees are an already established and proven means of community input into health and could play an important role in the new system. It is therefore promoting the committees at the national level and will continue to support them at least until the Board is "wound up" in mid-1993. If the people at the public meeting would like to form a new CHWC, nominations for the new committee will be taken. All anyone needs to be eligible to join is an interest in health and a little spare time (the committees usually meet once a month). Anyone who would like to learn more about the committee is welcome to attend the meeting, which is to be held at 7pm, Tubsday 30 June at the Community Centre.