Funding boost for health

Health organisations are welcoming news of an $875,000 injection into Auckland DHBs to combat stubbornly high rheumatic fever rates - except one who says more should be done.

The Government announced on Monday that almost a million dollars will be split between three Auckland DHBs, whose rates of the disease failed to fall, despite a $65 million nationwide prevention scheme introduced five years ago.

But Child Poverty Action Group said while the announcement was great, the money should be spread among other poverty-based diseases as well.

‘‘The Government needs to be looking at the bigger, broader picture,’’ said spokeswoman Nikki Turner.

‘‘Rheumatic fever isn’t our only major health issue. We have have major heath issues with something called bronchiectasis, chronic lung disease of young children who are left with it for the rest of their lives, we also have enormous problems with skin infections.

‘‘Rheumatic fever is important but we