Sir Collin Tukuitonga has been appointed as the World Health Organisation (WHO) chair of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (STAG-NCD).
The Associate Professor at Auckland University says the new role will see him advising on how best to manage conditions such as gout, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other noncommunicable diseases that affect Pacific and Māori disproportionately in comparison to other communities.
“The World Health Organisation relies on experts from around the world, they have groups to advise them on what works, what doesn’t work and what the priorities are. I’ve been doing some work with the World Health Organisation for some time so this is an additional responsibility particularly working with a global group,” says Sir Collin.
His focus will be on the Pacific region, in particular small island states that have major problems with diseases such as diabetes but lack the resources to make headway, lamenting the efforts that have been made over the decades to tackle rates and improve health outcomes.
Life expectancy for Pacific men is approximately 75 years and for Pacific women living to an average of 79 years. Outside of Aotearoa New Zealand in the Pacific Island small states the numbers dropped down to approximately 69.
Sir Collin says his appointment will allow him from a global point of view to identify things that make a difference. He will hold the role for the next two years.
