Fri 25 Oct 2013 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Kevin Hague at the report's launch Green MP Kevin Hague says the first ever report into the health of GLBTI New Zealanders is a ‘landmark’ document. Researcher Michael Stevens from Affinity Services has analysed the public health needs of New Zealand’s ‘rainbow communities’, in the first-ever study of its kind. Stevens finds current health strategies and funding make no provision for the health needs of GLBTI people, despite greater levels of suicide, depression and substance abuse, as well as higher levels of obesity, and certain forms of cancer. “The current lack of targeted research means the health needs of the rainbow community are hidden from and thus excluded from current public health policy,” he says. “Addressing these facts and including this population in relevant health research would in fact save money for the health system through preventative action and increase the overall efficiency of health service delivery.” Stevens provides five clear policy recommendations, which you can read here Hague believes the report could be a world-first, and told those gathered at his launch it was hard for him to speak on an issue he feels so passionately about. “We have repeatedly set the world bar in New Zealand on how the health of our communities are impacted by discrimination and prejudice, and how we are acting on that,” the former NZAF CEO said. “This is a landmark report.” Hague drew laughs when he finished by saying “the main message is change the Government and we will implement it.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 25th October 2013 - 10:48am