South Auckland healthcare clinic South Seas have had to act quickly to keep up with community needs amid the Covid-19 Delta outbreak, says Clinical Director Tagaloa Dr Andrew Chan Mow.
“It’s hit our community a bit harder this time compared to 2020,” says Tagaloa.
“We’ve had to escalate our services, especially the food bank. It seems to be the most requested support at the moment, which is not surprising given the repercussions from the 2020 pandemic outcome.”
“We realise this time around it’s extra tough. I think a lot of people who lost their jobs last year haven’t been able to get back to work, so it’s been more difficult for our families already struggling.”
Tagaloa says they have also ramped up other services, including the Covid-19 vaccination centre and call centre.
“We have almost doubled the size of our organisation this year,” he says. “I guess it’s the growth that has allowed us to respond a bit quicker to the significant need from our community at this time.”
Pasifika have the highest Covid-19 testing rates but, as of end of August, had the lowest vaccination uptake in the country.
“Thankfully we’re starting to see now a request from our community to be vaccinated. So our Pacific numbers are on the up and up. Still a bit of a gap in terms of equity, but I think we’re heading in the right direction now.”
Tagaloa says the message has spread thanks to communication with the local churches as well as better access to services, such as the recent Pacific 0800 number which offers support in Pacific languages.
“That cultural aspect is probably what was lagging behind at the beginning of the rollout.”
Services such as these have been bolstered by a $26m boost for Pacific providers like South Seas.
“We’re really grateful for the Government for fast-tracking the funding, because a lot of the stuff that we’re implementing and building on really needs the workforce along with administrative capabilities and other resources to get them off the ground,” says Tagaloa.
Tagaloa says their people have also been instrumental in building networks of support. The Bubblegum youth team, for example, is helping to run the food bank.
“Everybody is chipping in… That’s one of the reasons we’ve really been able to escalate the process as quickly as possible – is our workforce.”
With the work still ongoing, Tagaloa says he’s thankful to the community for their patience. He’s encouraging anyone who is yet to get the vaccine to call and book it for them and/or their whānau via the Pacific vaccination number – 0800 21 12 21. People will also be able to ring this number to access other support services within South Seas Healthcare.
