KHW/Te Ara Tuatahi (First Steps)

Central Health is proud to be one of the Providers delivering the Kahagnunu Hikoi Whenua (KHW) populations health initiative. Te Ara Tuatahi (First Steps) is the name we have given to Central Health’s Central Hawke’s Bay healthier lifestyle strategy, based on the well known whakatauki ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first steps’.

What is it?

Maori are dying prematurely from lifestyle caused chronic diseases including heart attack, stroke, diabetes and cancer. The KHW program is aimed at improving this situation. In essence KHW is a ‘by Ngati Kahungunu for everyone’ population approach healthy lifestyles intervention initiative for Hawke’s Bay and the Chatham Islands. It takes a holistic approach to health by addressing the three leading ‘lifestyle’ factors impacting on Maori health in Hawke’s Bay: poor nutrition, lack of regular physical activity and tobacco use.

Primary aims

To implement a region wide population approach healthy lifestyles intervention around nutrition, exercise and smoke free in order to reduce diabetic, cardiovascular and carcinogenic (cancer) risk among Maori, Pacific people and others in high deprivation areas in the Ngati Kahugnunu rohe and Hawke’s bay DHB district. Our population approach means that although primarily targeted at these groups. The projects are available to everyone.

Primary Objectives

• Increased participation in exercise
• Increased consumption of fruit, vegetables and whole grains
• Increased value, protection, support and promotion of breast feeding
• Decreased tobacco use

Primary Activities

• Community activity through community development and community action
• Structural activities focussed around influencing the environment
• Social marketing promoting positive and affirming health promotion messages.

Say what?

Basically we are working with the community to identify gaps and opportunities to get things happening. Some examples of projects we are involved with include affordable group fitness eg. Zumba, Box Fit, Cardio Jam, Boot Camp. We are also working with communities to develop community/school vege gardens and fruit growing, healthy cooking on a budget – free community/school based programs, Waka Ama, Free gym memberships for those at high risk of heart attack and stroke, community events like the CHB Mana Wahine TryAthlon and CHB Tane TryAthlon providing smoking cessation and free heart checks. We are also increasing our number of free nurse led community clinics.

These are just examples. The list is constantly growing. We also have a dream of opening our own very affordable gym in Waipukurau one day. In the meantime if you would like further information about what is currently available or under construction for your area or you would like to make suggestions for new projects please drop me a line. Just ring 068589559 and ask for Rob Ewers.