Cash helps spread vital health message to Pasifika women

One in five women in New Zealand have some form of gynaecological cancer.

A large portion of that group are women from a Pasifika background, Jan Barker from the New Zealand Gynaecological Cancer Foundation told the Herald.

One of the biggest issues was often a language barrier between patients and doctors.

“It is coming through that a lot of the woman of those cultures don’t understand the meaning of the word, gynaecological, and it’s a taboo area, they don’t like to discuss it,” Barker said.

The $10,000 grant from Auckland Airport will be a great help in striving to raise awareness among Pasifika women, Barker said.

The main goal is for women to be aware of what their body is telling them and to stop the disease in its early stages.

The foundation plans to use the money to translate one of their brochures into several different languages.

“It’s great for us because one of our targets is to translate [the brochures] so that people can understand us more,” Barker said.

Auckland Airport’s general manager of people and safety, Anna Cassels-Brown, said the foundation was a worthy recipient.

“Strong, healthy women are vital for families, communities and workplaces, so we’re thrilled to support a charity that will benefit Pasifika women living across the city.”