Rheumatic fever: Researcher on appalling rates for Māori, Pasifika | Q+A 2024

Māori and Pacific people are 30 to 40 times more likely than Pākeha to contract rheumatic fever. Of all rheumatic fever cases in New Zealand, 90% are in Māori or Pacific people.
Public health researcher Jason Gurney has studied the disease and its causes, and has woven his family history with rheumatic fever in a new book 'The Twisted Chain'. Gurney says it's time for New Zealand to have an adult conversation about health disparities.
Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

[@MMGGG-h9o]

I love the example about melanoma and the general idea about ethnicity-based care. Targeted care doesn't mean you miss out, its there for the people that need it. This "us and them" mentality is so frustrating and extremely selfish. What these polices do is to reduce future harm from evidence based medical practice to eventually decrease health, and social spending due to early intervention.

[@annahouston9528]

If anyone is at risk of harm to health we should be doing something about it. This government is causing a big rift in NZ and it is only going to cause more problems!

[@AtCheruti]

If anything the government is doing the opposite because only by improving the economy can the money to improve health be earned. People sitting around on welfare will not ever get better healthcare. It's nobody's duty to slave away to provide for people who don't provide for themselves. Everything takes money and money doesn't grow on trees or appear when a person in a hat swishes a wand.

[@samocooper9070]

Yes lets focus on the poverty and poor housing, should we only care if they happen to be brown? this government is saying we should focus on need not race, how is that causing a rift? Isn't this reporting creating a rift saying its only a race based problem, and we should look at certain races to help only them.

[@mra4955]

what should we be doing about it?

[@CLove-mo7cc]

@@mra4955improve doctor pay will directly improve the number of Dr workforce. More doctors = better healthcare access = less hospitalisation and chronic disease development. Doctors are leaving he country because they are under values and can make more money overseas, student doctors aren’t even staying in the country once they graduate so you can just say we will train more and more when literally none are staying.

[@overover..]

The rift was there already, caused by our media

[@tama5570]

Really need a balanced panel to have a fair portrayal + discussion of such issues. The number of Māori & Pacifica in govt funded governance roles trying to achieve race based objectives on $150k + salaries is reprehensible. Then racial nepotism takes hold, service etc contracts given based on race… little of the benefits go to those in need - it’s about nothing but political warfare.

[@kathleenlewis1954]

It takes two or three weeks to get a drs appointment and a different dr every time.

[@MMGGG-h9o]

You need to educate yourself on where and how to get a throat swab if this is an issue for you. Pharmacies, nurse lead care, community paramedics in GP practices and school-based testing are all avenues to get tested for strep throat. Particularly in areas that have extremely high rates.

[@DeniseMiller-b3m]

Theron Shoals

[@gpsfinancial6988]

We used to have many sore throats in our family but were recommended a NZ made probiotic called Blis which seems to have all but eliminated them. I think they Blis did a successful trial on the East Coast, but MOH never seemed to run with it for some reason.

[@mra4955]

bot

[@gpsfinancial6988]

@@mra4955 All of the characteristics but none of the personality of a bot

[@mra4955]

@@gpsfinancial6988 spam bot

[@mra4955]

@@gpsfinancial6988 no, youre right, more like a grifter

[@LucyJoseph-x8x]

Conn Island

[@GladstoneYvette-t1s]

Jones Wall

[@YeterAydın-f1y]

Murray Prairie

[@SydneyEsquibel-h8s]

Trevion Islands

[@redpink9773]

How about equality of opportunity, instead of equality of outcomes. We would get less illness instead just less by the desired race.

[@EvansSara-g8u]

Abshire Meadow

[@DennyGil-m9p]

Jaskolski Prairie

[@JanChaparro-g9o]

Rhea Underpass

[@BoswellPhil-f7x]

Gage Corners

[@MariaStillman-h2k]

Goyette Vista

[@josephl9619]

Race, race race - keep it up jack, you are doing a great job dividing the country. Yay!!

[@kiwikiwi223]

Thank David seymour and his policies

[@CLove-mo7cc]

Sounds like you know nothing how health outcomes occur

[@josephl9619]

@@CLove-mo7cc Sounds like you think all disparities are because of racism colonisation and discrimination. Except in areas where maori and pacific islanders outperform of course, where you are either silent or proud.

[@CLove-mo7cc]

@@josephl9619 sounds like you are talking out your ass and not listening to what was said in the interview. At no point was racism or discrimination a factor in the development of this disease rather it’s social-economical disparity.

[@overover..]

​@@josephl9619spot on

[@MarissaDelaney-b5i]

Bogisich Circles

[@annemackay-ib4gy]

Oh please jack, getover yourself

[@neilivory7278]

It's shameful you can't listen to interviewer Jack Tame ask interesting important factual questions to Dr Jason Guerney about a NZ epidemic without your snide comments Anne.You're most likely to be in that particular group that slams stuff like this in your so-called mainstream media and much preferring to get your information on reumatic fever from inferior alternative sources.Wake up and get a real life in the real world of NZ.

[@jasonberry7687]

He can't he's woke and broke

[@tracymichaelsen493]

dont watch moaning old cw

[@Tantium]

James Lame