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Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has announced that two new brochures are now available to provide information for older people receiving Government funded home support.

The brochures What you can expect from home support services and What to do if you have a concern about your home support services have been published by the Ministry of Health.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew today congratulated Kaibosh on winning the supreme award at the TrustPower National Community Awards and Mokihinui-Lyell Backcountry Trust for receiving the runner-up award.

“Volunteers are vital to New Zealand, with 1.2 million volunteers contributing 270 million volunteer hours a year. But it is not just this direct effort than needs to be recognised. Volunteering builds social capital and therefore community strength and resilience.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew says more women than ever before are taking part in potentially lifesaving screening programmes for the early detection of breast and cervical cancer.  

“72 per cent of women eligible for breast screening had mammograms last year – 10 per cent more than in 2008,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“And nearly 60,000 more women took part in the National Cervical Screening Programme last year compared to four years ago. A total of 870,000 smear tests were carried out last year.

Health professionals are taking a lead role in identifying and helping those vulnerable to abuse, with all 20 DHBs having set up Violence Intervention Programmes (VIPs), Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew announced today.

“These VIPs seek to reduce and prevent the health impacts of violence and abuse through early identification, assessment and referral of victims presenting to DHBs,” said Mrs Goodhew.

“The DHBs are showing a true commitment not just to improving health outcomes, but to wider aspects of welfare.

Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew has today presented the inaugural UN Women’s Empowerment Principles Benchmarking for Change Award to Andrew Thorburn and the Bank of New Zealand.

The Benchmarking for Change award recognizes a company for embedding accountability to achieve gender equality through meaningful metrics, indicators, and reporting to track and monitor the inclusion of women at all levels of the company's operations.

Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced New Zealand’s pledge under the UN Women initiative Commit.

“I am pleased to announce that we have added our voice to those of the 46 other Governments around the world who have promised to take action to end violence against women and girls through Commit,” said Mrs Goodhew.

“This initiative urges Governments to take steps to ensure that women and girls are able to lead violence-free lives.

Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew departs on Sunday on a trip to New York, Washington, DC and Toronto.  From 4-6 March she will attend the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

“CSW is the principal global policy‑making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the advancement of women,” says Mrs Goodhew. 

“Every year representatives of member states and observers gather in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality and identify challenges.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew today welcomed the announcement by the Health Quality and Safety Commission of a pilot of a new patient safety programme.

“This new programme aims to reduce surgical site infections and is being led by Auckland and Canterbury DHBs,” said Mrs Goodhew.

Senior Citizens Minister Jo Goodhew and Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia are pleased to announce the funding of a new advisory service available to Canterbury people planning to re-build or renovate their earthquake damaged homes.

The Office for Senior Citizens and the Ministry of Health are providing a total of $99,000 funding to Enable New Zealand for a free professional advisory service on sustainable housing design.

Public feedback is being sought as part of a review of the 2007 amendments to enduring powers of attorney provisions, Senior Citizens Minister Jo Goodhew announced today.

“The Ministry of Social Development has developed an online questionnaire and will be holding regional meetings to receive feedback on the effectiveness of the amendments made in 2007 to the enduring power of attorney provisions in the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has welcomed a report linking a national quality and safety project to a reduction in blood stream infections.

“In 2011, about four to six patients per month in New Zealand intensive care units developed a bloodstream infection called central line associated bacteraemia or CLAB.  I am very pleased that the rate has now reduced to between zero and two patients per month,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew today announced that the new funding round for the Support for Volunteering Fund is now open.

“The Support for Volunteering Fund provides over $500,000 each year to projects and organisations that promote and support volunteering in New Zealand,” said Mrs Goodhew.

“The funding is divided between Volunteering New Zealand, regional volunteer centres and selected projects in the volunteer sector. The focus for the current funding round is Māori, Pacific and ethnic community projects.

The Government is committed to ensuring people with dementia receive help sooner and has invested $250,000 in a national awareness campaign.

TV commercials and magazine advertising raising awareness about dementia and the help available for people affected by this devastating condition starts this week. 

“The campaign, managed by Alzheimers New Zealand, aims to reduce the stigma sometimes associated with dementia and to encourage people to see a doctor if they or someone they know is showing signs of the condition,” says Health Minister Tony Ryall.