Health focus on first 1000 days

In spite of having the ‘‘healthiest children in New Zealand’’, Nelson Marlborough Health has taken on a programme to focus on the first 1000 days of life.

Known as Hei Pa Harakeke, the $105,000 pilot programme will involve all health services that affect a child’s environment, such as smoking cessation programmes for parents, postnatal mental health and vaccination.

Nelson Marlborough District health board member and GP Brigid Forrest said the initiative aimed to rectify health needs in early childhood.

‘‘We know that if a mum smokes or drinks during pregnancy then that child starts off on the back foot,’’ Forrest said. ‘‘And if we can actually rectify a lot of those things, especially with our children with asthma, recurrent infections – if we can make a positive change with them, they become much healthier children and healthier adults.’’

She said a large proportion of the health dollar went towards people in the later stages of life.

‘‘We do know the older you are the more health dollars you consume, you’re more likely to be admitted to hospital, you’re more likely to have surgical interventions, you’re more likely to develop cancer.’’

In the year ending June 31, 2019, 40.6 per cent of Nelson Marlborough inpatients were over the age of 65. Patients from age 65 visited a general practice an average of six times that year, compared with two to three for those under 65.

Hei Pa Harakeke will be trialled in Motueka with an ‘‘early intervention practitioner’’ upskilling staff to better support the first 1000 days.

The practitioner will be appointed in the coming months, and NMH hopes to eventually roll out the programme across Nelson Marlborough.

A report released by the University of Otago showed that Nelson Marlborough had the lowest rate of child hospitalisation (children aged 0-14) in the country from 2013-2017.

Although Nelson Marlborough health figures were good, chief medical officer and paediatrician Nick Baker said most adult diseases had their roots in early childhood.

‘‘We have the healthiest children in New Zealand, but we can do better.’’

‘‘We still have too many children suffering from preventable health issues such as asthma, injuries, and dental disease.’’

Blenheim mother-of-four Hannah Green thought focusing on early childhood was a good idea, and gave the example of promoting good dental hygiene in her child’s kindergarten.

‘‘We’ve always instilled teethbrushing morning and night in all our kids but some might not get that at home.’’

She said she would also like to see early childhood health problems like eczema and behavioural issues better funded by the DHB.

‘‘Mental health as well as physical health, because that’s also on the rise,’’ she said.

Blenheim father Dane Jones thought allergies were a crucial aspect of a child’s health in the early years.

Frances Kapeneta said she had been lucky with her son Hezekiah’s good health, but that encouraging good habits early in life made sense.

‘‘The first 1000 days are really special because that’s the foundation before they grow up,’’ she said.