Sat 26 Oct 2013 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Shaun Robinson The New Zealand health system's lack of recognition and response to specific health issues faced by the glbti communities is "a scandal" according to the head of a major health care NGO. NZ AIDS Foundation CEO Shaun Robinson says the government health system is not giving sufficient attention to issues such as syphilis, mental health issues, hepatitis, anal cancer, alcohol and drug problems and a long list of other health concerns which disproportionately affect glbti people. Robinson's comments follow the release on Thursday night of an important research project, Rainbow Health, which found there is 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 report, by health researcher Michael Stevens, highlighted a lack of targeted research, which means glbti health needs are hidden, and therefore excluded from government policy. At last month's HIV Treatments Update forum Robinson also took the opportunity to highlight the lack of action on health problems separate from, or related to, HIV/AIDS. He said it is time the glbti communities got angry about the neglect of their specific health needs and likened the lack of health system understanding or action to the situation experienced by women and Maori until the late 1970s.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 26th October 2013 - 11:17am