Sideline check-ups target Maori men

Free heart disease checks for many Maori men in Northland may soon be as close as their nearest game of football.

Te Tai Tokerau Primary Health Organisation (PHO) is looking at places where Maori men congregate so that nurses can offer free screening in a bid to tackle the high rate of heart disease among men aged 35 and over.

The move has been sparked by figures that show deaths from coronary heart disease among Maori men in Northland are double the non-Maori rate.

Heart disease results in death for 287 out of every 100,000 cases in Maori males, compared with 132 deaths per 100,000 in other men.

Under an initiative now being developed, the Far North PHO wants to take its screening programme to public events, including football matches and marae-based occasions.

"It's groups of Maori men we're targeting," said general manager Rose Lightfoot.

Registered nurses with appropriate equipment would offer on-the-spot tests for cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

At-risk men would be counselled and arrangements made to have them visit GPs for further assessment, Ms Lightfoot said.

Nurses would also offer the men advice on avoiding heart disease, based on evidence from the latest health guidelines.

She said figures showed Maori men aged 35 and over were less inclined to be in contact with their GP.

Ms Lightfoot expected the programme to be launched within six months.

PHOs are Government-funded organisations designed to deliver primary healthcare throughout the country.

They are made up of GPs, practice nurses and other primary health professionals who work on patient follow-up and health-risk assessments.