Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. Jacinda Ardern, has
announced that New Zealand will be launching an official
inquiry into the Government’s Covid-19 response as a means
of better preparing for future pandemics. The Pasifika
Medical Association (PMA) welcomes the inquiry but
emphasises the need for equity, taking into consideration
that Pasifika communities were the most affected during the
Covid-19 pandemic.
PMA President, Dr Kiki
Maoate ONZM FRACS, says the inquiry is an opportunity to
reflect on the response and what improvements can be
made.
“The inquiry will highlight what could be done
differently to ensure how we can better systems and
communication around our response during a
pandemic.
What we saw during the Covid-19 pandemic
were drastic impacts on Pacific communities so hopefully the
inquiry will capture some of that. The learnings will
benefit not just Pasifika but the whole of the country as
well.”
Through the Whānau Ora commissioning agency
for Pacific families, Pasifika Futures (PFL), PMA supported
61% of the Pacific population during the Covid-19 pandemic
by distributing 108,632 Covid packages.
In an interview
for RNZ’s Morning Report, PMA and PFL CEO, Debbie
Sorensen, reiterated the significant effect the Covid-19
pandemic had on Pacific communities across the
country.
“We have lots of lessons to learn. We had a
large number of infected families who experienced high
hardship and it’s important that the commission really
inquires into the specific responses with each community,
not just to take a one approach fits all.
We’re
really clear that equity in the response and in the resource
allocation is an important consideration.”
Mrs
Sorensen hopes the Government examines the processes
undertaken in responding to the needs of Pacific
communities.
“I believe advice was provided to the
Government; cabinet papers provided advice on specific
responses for our communities and that advice was ignored. I
think reviewing that practice, how the advice went up to the
Government and their response to that and their inquiry into
seeking more information is an important aspect of the
inquiry.”
The inquiry will commence in February 2023
and is expected to be complete
mid-2024.
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