A Tongan health clinic in Auckland has come up with a new prescription, taking their services to the community for free.
The Tongan health society better known as the Langimālie clinic usually operates out of four locations in Auckland.
But this time they are offering their services free at the Vaine Mo’onia church hall in Grey Lynn.
“Our goal is to reach out to those people that never access any health provider” says clinical services manager Mele Vaka.
“They are more comfortable and happier where we go so it’s more like health services now it’s better for us to follow our people instead of them to follow us,” Vaka adds.
The church is the ‘heart’ of the Tongan community and this outreach program is already providing some relief for members like Niulala Pani.
“I wanted to take part in the health checks in case I have health issues I need to prepare for.”
It may be a temporary triage room but it’s a familiar place for church members like Siu Kaufanga to access a doctor.
“There are some who are scared of going. Not only that, but there is also the costs; it’s too expensive. But this opportunity that the clinic is offering us here at the church, is all out of love for our people.”
This is one of fourteen churches that the clinic is using as their consultation room and apart from the general health checks today, it’s also about immunising our young ones.
Langimālie CEO Dr Glenn Doherty says it’s vital to offer this service as a preventative measure.
“There’s definitely a need to catch up on the MMR space so we don’t end up with outbreaks down the road, so this is an opportunity today to reach out, get people caught up on their national schedules and opportunistic flu’s and covid as well,”
Another parishioner, Ika Vea, took up the opportunity to bring along her moko.
“We grab the opportunity to bring the kids to catch up with their health check and also found out here, some of their vaccination is not completed so all being done today which is really good.”
It’s no band-aid solution but one that will take the pressure off our health system this winter
“A lot of our Pacific people, they are very busy, they’ve got a lot of access issues so you know it’s, I guess, pushing the boundaries of that GP model a little bit and being a bit innovative about how we actually engage better with our communities,” Doherty says.
