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e pā ana ki a matou
- Canterbury
- Mid Canterbury
- South Canterbury
- West Coast
- Information Systems
- Public Health
- Te Pae Māhutonga
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Community and Public Health in South Canterbury (Timaru)
South Canterbury has a population of more than 55,600, and includes the Timaru, Waimate and Mackenzie Districts, between the Rangitata and Waitaki rivers.
According to the 2013 Census, the region is predominately Pakeha, but the population is now more diverse with 7 percent Maori, 2.5 percent Asian and 1.1 percent of Pacific ethnicities.
The region has a high proportion of people over 65 in the country (20.4 percent), and nearly 1 in 3 people in South Canterbury live in rural areas, nearly twice the level for the rest of New Zealand.
The work of the Timaru-based Community and Public Health staff aligns to the South Canterbury District Health Board’s (SCDHB) strategic priorities. Key focus areas are healthy lifestyles, child and adolescent health, and reducing inequalities.
Assistance in the areas of environmental health and infectious diseases is provided by Health Protection Officers. They are also involved in biosecurity monitoring at the Port of Timaru, inspections and advice for Early Childhood Centres, and drinking water assessments.
The Timaru office also has a Community Health Information Centre, providing a range of health education resources from the Ministry of Health and other providers.
Health Promotion Activities in South Canterbury
WAVE (Well-being and Vitality in Education) is a major public health initiative in South Canterbury. It is a programme of intersectoral activities aimed at creating and supporting healthier environments for South Canterbury children and young people. WAVE is unique to South Canterbury in that it supports and enhances health promotion activities across the education sector, ranging from Early Childhood Centres to tertiary providers.
Community and Public Health also works with the South Canterbury District Health Board to support the Ministry of Health’s vision of good oral health for all, for life. Preventing and promoting good oral health is a most effective way to make improvements over the long term. The South Canterbury Child Nutrition and Oral Health Promoter works with the community to create environments that promote good oral health from an early age, including:
- Supporting WAVE Early Childhood Centres to promote oral health; and
- Providing one-on-one dietary and oral health advice to families of children at high risk for developing dental caries.
Precautionary Closure of the Saltwater Creek Redruth Walkway
Timaru District Council media release: 21st June 2019
The Saltwater Creek pathway running alongside the Redruth Landfill will be closed as a precaution for 1-2 weeks as the Council deals with higher than normal levels of landfill gas in the area.
Regular monitoring at the site has identified higher than normal levels of the gas – a mixture of mainly methane and carbon dioxide that can also contain small amounts of other compounds.
The gas doesn’t present a major risk in an open air environment, but the Council has chosen a precautionary closure of the path for public safety, while work to deal with this issue is being undertaken.
The Timaru District Council will continue regular monitoring of the site and surrounding areas. The path will be reopened once the work is complete – most likely in the next 1 to 2 weeks.
Links
- South Canterbury District Health Board
- Environment Canterbury (Regional Council)
- Timaru District Council
- Mackenzie District Council
- Waimate District Council
