Service that offers ex sawmillers free medical checks expands

Free, comprehensive medical checks for former sawmill workers are available in Whakatane and soon will be in Rotorua.

The Sawmill Workers Against Poisons (Swap) facilitation service has passed its fledgling stage and spread its wings into the wider Bay of Plenty and Rotorua.

In September 2010, Ngati Awa and the Ministry of Health signed a contract for the Bay of Plenty Facilitation for Sawmill Workers Exposed to Multiple Chemicals.

Since then, Swap has established a base for the service at the Ngati Awa Social and Health Services Trust site on the outskirts of Whakatane.

The contract signalled the end of a decade-long battle for Swap founder Joe Harawira who had petitioned the Government to recognise the effects of exposure to harmful chemicals former sawmill workers were dealing with.

For now 103 clients were registered with the service.

Co-ordinator for the facilitation service, Kereama Akuhata, said feedback from former sawmill workers using the service has been overwhelmingly positive.

"We are getting about 10 people each Wednesday who come in, play some cards, tell some stories and help out in the organic garden," Mr Akuhata said.

"Adding a doctor for two days a week to the services we already provide is a great feeling."

Dr Graham Jelley carries out hour-long, comprehensive medical checks for former workers and their families at the Swap site on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Mr Akuhata said Dr Jelley ran blood tests, checked lung function, checked for diabetes and tested uric acid levels.

"I've had former workers say they've never received a full medical examination before seeing Dr Jelley at the clinic," Mr Akuhata said.

"Normally they're in the doctor's room for a few minutes then out again."

Results of the examinations were also sent to the worker's own general practitioner.

"Maori men have one of the lowest statistics for visits to the doctor.

"We hope this service will help to address that statistic with Dr Jelley looking at seeing four patients a day, two times a week."

Mr Akuhata also helps former workers and family members access other services, such as sickness benefits.

The doctor's service has been running in Whakatane for the past month and will hopefully be established in Rotorua within the next month.

"We have been working with Te Whare Hauora O Ngongotaha in regard to establishing a base for doctors' clinics there," Mr Akuhata said.

"We hope to have the service operational within the next month or two."

Anyone wanting to contact Mr Akuhata should call (07) 3071472.