Celebrating the next victory, three years on
Ajubilant prime minister announced the virtual elimination of rheumatic fever at a Beehive press conference today. Jacinda Ardern – flanked by Health and Housing Minister Megan Woods, Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall and Health Ministry chief executive Sir Ashley Bloomfield – admitted she did a dance with her daughter when she heard the news. However, her daughter wasn’t impressed. ‘‘You know what 6-year-olds are like,’’ said Ardern, ‘‘they think parents dancing is lame.’’
With the elimination of Covid-19 three years ago, and now with rheumatic fever almost gone, Labour’s chances of winning the 2023 election are high, and many are talking of Ardern leading a third-term government.
‘‘It’s been a great effort by the housing and health officials, but most of all, the team of 5.2 million who’ve been greatly supportive,’’ said Ardern. ‘‘Rheumatic fever is a Third-World disease. You hardly find it in European countries, so it was about time we did something about it.’’
New Zealand has had about 160 cases of rheumatic fever a year since the early 1990s, when sharp increases in inequality thanks to Rogernomics and Ruthanasia kicked in.
‘‘Rheumatic fever is a serious infectious disease,’’ said Bloomfield, ‘‘and it tends to thrive in crowded environments. That’s why we had to focus on eliminating overcrowding in houses more than any other factor.’’
Woods agreed that the cost of reducing overcrowding was considerable but well worth it. ‘‘The upside is that it’s not just rheumatic fever that has declined but a whole lot of other diseases of poverty. And let’s not forget we’ve been spending millions over the years, largely unsuccessfully, to try to reduce rheumatic fever numbers.’’
‘‘By nearly eliminating it,’’ added Verrall, ‘‘the long-term savings will be considerable, as a large number of sufferers go on to develop heart problems later in life. And that’s massively expensive.’’
Her leader agreed. ‘‘Making a strict limit of two children per room in all houses seemed draconian to some people – and landlords were furious. But families don’t choose to live in overcrowded conditions – they are forced to. Fortunately, our Iwibuild and Falebuild accommodation programmes have made a massive difference.’’
Opposition leader Nikki Kaye gave guarded approval to the Government’s overcrowding initiative, although she wished the private sector had been more involved.
But ACT leader Judith Collins is far from impressed. ‘‘We’ve currently got a post-Covid, postAmerica’s Cup tourism boom, a film industry boom, and a shortage of five-star hotels in central Auckland. Yet this government is focusing on housing for a small group of people in South
Ta¯ maki Makaurau. With their recent rental warrant of fitness, I feel demonised for being a landlord.’’
Hobson’s Pledge spokesman Don Brash agreed, saying the initiative to reduce rheumatic fever was yet another example of race-based funding.
But the country’s mayors, including those of Kirikiriroa and O¯ tautahi, disagreed. ‘‘Over 95 per cent of cases of rheumatic fever are found amongst Ma¯ ori and Pasifika people, so it’s a no-brainer to focus on those communities,’’ said the mayor of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Paul Eagle. ‘‘You don’t put people on the ground in Khandallah to eliminate it.’’
Mayor Eagle believes the Government’s initiative to reduce overcrowding is having a positive effect on the mental health of council tenants as well. ‘‘When the city finally finishes consulting on Let’s Get Wellington Moving and gets out of debt – around 2035 – social housing will really take off as our top priority.’’
So will the victory against rheumatic fever lead to more public health initiatives? ‘‘What this rheumatic fever initiative proved,’’ said the prime minister, ‘‘is that, like Covid-19 before it, if you take expert advice and you’re not scared to take bold action, you can get outstanding results. That’s why we’re looking at implementing at least two more of the 45 recommendations from the 2019 report of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group over the next decade or so.’’
Could the government make a similar effort to abolish obesity in the future? Experts are calling for a sugar tax, free nutritious school lunches as well as a subsidised sport and exercise programme. Deputy Prime Minister James Shaw agrees. ‘‘It’s an opportunity to make a real change in the lives of our children. You can’t learn if you’re hungry and regular healthy meals and exercise is a great way to combat obesity.’’
But Grey Power president Winston Peters strongly disagreed. ‘‘While the horse racing industry is in crisis, the Government’s more worried about how many sugars we have in our coffee.’’
Peters refused to comment on whether he would launch a bid for re-election to Parliament.
Making a strict limit of two children per room in all houses seemed draconian to some people – and landlords were furious.