When Sally Maoate sits down to talk with someone about
bowel screening she knows the conversation could very well
save that person’s life.
As a Kaitakawaenga for the
Bowel Screening Programme, it’s her job to educate and
encourage people to participate in the national bowel
screening programme.
Sally is one of three in the
Bowel Screening Programme Outreach team at Te Whatu Ora Te
Matau a Māui Hawke’s Bay, working alongside Liz Morley
and Sherly Galbraith. They are also supported by Pasifika
team members Silia Momoisea and Finehika Veikoso.
The
team are celebrating four years since the national Bowel
Screening Programme was rolled out across the
region.
Since its launch in Hawke’s Bay, a total of
57,737 kits have been posted out to eligible residents aged
between 60 and 74, with 33,503 kits returned. Of those,
1,520 people returned positive results requiring more
investigation and 83 cancers were detected.
All
eligible Hawke’s Bay residents are automatically enrolled in
the programme and sent pre-invitation letters sent via a
birth date system, however not all choose to participate and
it’s Sally and her team who encourage more people to take
the free test.
“We are working hard to raise the 48
and 41 percent Māori and Pasifika participation rates to be
on par with the overall participation rate of 62 percent of
the eligible population in Hawke’s Bay.”
“We
visit homes, marae, churches and community events to educate
as many people as possible. The programme saves lives by
detecting bowel cancer early when it can be successfully
treated so if we can get that message through to just one
person that’s potentially a life saved.”
The team
is often told by people reluctant to take the test that they
“feel fine” and “would rather not know if they had
cancer.”
Mrs Maoate wants people to understand that
not everyone experiences symptoms, but screening could
detect cancers earlier and allows for precancerous polyps to
be removed, which in the medium to long term reduces the
incidence of bowel cancer.
“Do it for your whānau
– and your mokopuna.”
The team recently completed
a successful education session with Taradale Intermediate
School with feedback revealing the group of 20 students
involved had gone on to have 115 discussions with friends
and whānau as a result.
“We realise just how
powerful the mokopuna voice is as most grandparents will do
anything for their mokopuna and that resonates with
me.”
Mrs Maoate is passionate about what she says is
meaningful work.
“It’s an important conversation
we’re having with people as it could save their life and
we’re humbled to be part of that.”
New Zealand has
one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world and it
kills more than 1200 people every year. Anyone with symptoms
such as bleeding from the bottom or blood in their poo, a
change in bowel habits lasting more than six weeks, stomach
pain which can be severe, any lumps or mass in your tummy or
weight loss and tiredness, should see their
doctor.
“Don’t delay, test today,” Mrs Maoate
says.
Call 0800 924 432 or visit www.timetoscreen.co.nz
for more
information.
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