Rātā Marae Committee members joined other supporters, on 24 August 2022, for the launch of He Waka Eke Noa. This Health Research Council (HRC) funded research project is a partnership between Whakauae Research and Gonville Health. Held at the Gonville Café Library next to the Gonville Health primary care service, the launch also brought together staff of Gonville Health, the Whanganui Regional Health Network, Te Kunenga Ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University, and Te Aho o te Kahu Cancer Control Agency.
Supporters were formally welcomed to the launch by the research project's clinical lead, Dr John McMenamin. John shared some of the reasons why the research is important to him and to the team at Gonville Health. Gonville Health is in a high health needs area of Whanganui and provides care for many whānau impacted by cancers. While there are success stories, it is not unusual for these cancers to have been detected later than is the ideal, often leading to poorer outcomes.
Dr Heather Gifford (Ngāti Hauiti, Te Āti Haunui-ā-Pāpārangi) the project academic lead, talked about the unique opportunity the research presents for Whakauae to partner with both whānau and a mainstream primary health service provider. She observed that a world where Māori feel confident about primary health care services is important to all of us – whānau, the staff of Gonville Health and the research team. We all want to see Māori diagnosed early in their cancer journeys, increasing chances of survival.
The research team will work with both patients and their whānau members, as well as the team at Gonville Health, to look at how best to reshape primary care services to better support earlier diagnosis of cancer. The study has two aims: a service that positively influences Māori cancer outcomes and a chance for whānau to share their kōrero about what worked for them in their own journey with cancer.
The evening launch event presented opportunities for networking, as well as the sharing of kai and kōrero amongst the 35 – 40 people present. The research team thanks everyone who took the time to come along to the launch to tautoko the mahi scheduled to begin later in the year.
