From the Chair
Sally
Webb , Chair , Bay of Plenty District Health Board
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There are two articles in this edition of Health Matters that I especially want to reflect on and ask you to give your consideration .
The first concerns immunisation and how Immunisation Week this year targeted pregnant women . Getting immunised against whooping cough and influenza when you are pregnant are two of the most important ways you can help protect your baby in their first few weeks of life .
We tend to forget how important immunisation is in preventing infectious diseases . Let us think about polio , which is caused by a virus that can lead to a mild or a very serious illness . The virus infects the bowel and from there can attack the nervous system , causing meningitis or paralysis . This paralysis is usually permanent .
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Polio was once one of the country ’ s most virulent infectious diseases and New Zealand experienced severe polio epidemics in the early 1900s . The vaccination was developed in the 1950s and , in the 1960s , mass immunisation campaigns saw polio completely disappear from our country .
However , polio is spreading in some overseas countries and could be brought back into New Zealand by travellers and immigrants . Therefore it is important our children , and international travellers , continue to be immunised against polio . Ensuring you and your children are immunised is a great way of protecting the whole of our community .
The second article I want to draw your attention to concerns oral health . Taking good care of your mouth , teeth and gums is a worthy goal in itself . Good oral and dental hygiene can help prevent tooth decay , gum
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disease and bad breath , — and can also help prevent other disease .
Good oral health starts with our children . When it comes to keeping your family ’ s teeth healthy , it ’ s important to ensure they brush and floss , but it ’ s just as important to be mindful of what they put in their mouth . There is a long list of foods and drinks that are bad for your teeth . In fact , they can actually hinder or reverse the good that your dental routine is doing .
Sugary drinks , such as fruit juices and soft drinks , are definitely on this list . Although they are popular drinks for children everywhere , they are not the best choice .
Check out the results from our school competition to see the creative ways in which some of our youngsters are learning about the importance of oral health .
Immunisation and good oral health are two
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ways to protect your family , to keep them healthy and living life to the fullest . Take the time to make a difference for you and the people who are important to you .
He aha te mea nui o te ao ?
He tangata ! He tangata ! He tangata !
What is the most important thing in the world ?
It is people ! It is people ! It is people !
Arohanui
Sally Webb
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Healthy mouths as tooth-conscious toddlers win oral health contest
Hundreds of tooth-conscious tots have battled it out to be named the Bay ’ s best for healthy mouths .
26 Early Childhood Centres across the Bay of Plenty took part in the annual World Oral Health Day competition , with Tauranga ’ s The Tot Spot triumphing in the Western Bay .
The contest challenged the centres ’ staff , parents and children to get creative in promoting oral health . They did just that with everything from growing veggie gardens , to healthy picnics , producing themed artwork , songs and displays , performing dental demos and fizzy drink experiments and producing newsletters .
“ The effort put in by all the centres was awesome ,” said BOPDHB Oral Health Promoter Norma van Arendonk . “ But The Tot Spot went above and beyond for the second year running with their ideas on how to create a healthy mouth .
“ We had a huge number of participants this year and the judging was extremely challenging because the standard was so high . The judges were amazed at the creativity and dedication of the staff , whanau and tamariki .”
Winners : Children from Tauranga ’ s The Tot Spot ( which won the annual World Oral Health Day competition in the Western Bay of Plenty for the second year running ) with the BOPDHB Oral Health Promoter Norma van Arendonk ( far left ) and The Tot Spot Pre-school Team Leader Christine Hodgson ( far right ).
The Western Bay World Oral Health Day 2016 results were : 1st The Tot Spot ( Cameron Rd , Tauranga ); 2nd Community Kindy the Bay ( Welcome Bay ); 3rd Gate Pa
Kindergarten ; and highly commended were : Maungaarangi Kindergarten ( Welcome Bay ) and Te Puke Kindergarten .
This year ’ s competition theme was ‘ Healthy Mouth , Healthy Body ’ and the centres were provided with an activities book - by contest organisers the BOPDHB Oral Health Promotion team - to record the activities undertaken .
The Tot Spot Pre-school Team Leader Christine Hodgson said she was delighted and proud of the children ’ s achievements .
“ We ’ re very proud to have won for a second year ,” said Christine . “ All the staff were on board and the kids and their families really got into it . A lot of the kids were pressuring their parents into taking part .
“ Most of the activities took place in a 3-week period but a lot of the oral health messaging has become part of what we do here . We are working on an oral health policy which would include things like only drinking water and promoting the healthy lunchbox .”
The winning centres received water bottles or toothbrushes and toothpaste , as well as certificates to record their achievements . All centres have had their entries laminated and returned as a learning resource .
Volunteers are being sought for ground-breaking research into the effects of singing and music on Parkinson ’ s disease sufferers .
The research , the first random control trial of its kind , is being conducted by Bay of Plenty District Health Board ( BOPDHB ) Senior Speech and Language Therapist Robin Matthews .
Volunteers Sought for Parkinsons Research
“ The aim of the study is to answer an international call for a well-designed controlled study to evaluate the impact that singing and music has on voice and wellbeing in people with Parkinson ’ s disease ,” said Robin .
Parkinson ’ s New Zealand believes the data will assist them in ensuring their service delivery remains evidence based , responsive and relevant . The Lottery Health Research Committee agrees and have awarded Robin
$ 32,000 to fund part of his research . He is now looking for volunteers within the Bay of Plenty to take part in the project .
Robin said a recent survey of 500 New Zealanders with Parkinson ’ s found that fewer than 24 % had seen a speech and language therapist , despite up to 90 % developing communication difficulties .
“ Physical exercise , although essential for muscle tone , mobility and balance , does little to improve the muscles of voice . Therefore , a different and more direct form of exercise is required , which is why there is increasing global interest in group singing and vocal exercise as a means of improving voice in people with Parkinson ’ s and the reason behind this new research .”
If you are interested in volunteering , or simply want to find out more , contact Robin by phone on 07 579 8783 or 027 326 1464 or by email on rmat107 @ aucklanduni . ac . nz