New initiative providing free health checks for farmers at rural events

Registered nurse Kirsten Barnes checks the blood pressure of Craig "Wiggy" Wiggins at the National Fencing Field Day at the Otago Taieri A&P Showgrounds last week. Photo / Shawn McAvinue

A third of the farmers who visited the launch of a new health check initiative were referred to see a doctor.

A van had been fitted out to allow a nurse to complete free health and wellness checks for the new Rural Health and Wellness Initiative.

Earlier this year, the initiative was launched by the Carr Family Foundation, founded by the Carr Family, who own agribusiness Carrfields.

In the back of a van, the nurse checks people's blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and body mass index.

Initiative spokesman Craig "Wiggy" Wiggins said it was a "privilege" to be asked by the family to facilitate taking the van on tour.

The van debuted at the Temuka Saleyards last month.

Of the people checked, 34 per cent were referred to see a doctor, he said.

The aim was to get the van to two or three rural events a month.

The van featured at the National Fencing Field Day at the Otago Taieri A&P Showgrounds and the Charlton Ewe Fair, near Gore, last week.

"The idea is to check as many farmers with gumboots on as we can because a lot of them don't get to see a doctor very often."

The aim was to check about 60 people a day at each event.

Listen to Jamie Mackay interview Craig Wiggins on The Country below:

He was finding at the events farmers were pressuring each other to get a check in the van.

"We've had a steady stream here all day," he said at the fencing field day.

He hoped the trend would continue at future events.

The plan was to take the van across New Zealand.

"Come and get yourself checked when you've got the opportunity."