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Associate Minister of Health, Hon Tariana Turia, has cautioned against complacency as New Zealand marks World AIDS Day (today 1 December).

“I want to acknowledge the commitment of a passionate and professional NGO and DHB workforce who have worked hard to improve service coverage for people living with HIV/AIDS” said Mrs Turia.

“The theme for World AIDS Day 2011 is ‘Getting to Zero’ – zero new HIV infections; zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths’.

Associate Health Minister, Tariana Turia, commends the brave initiative of the Australian Federal Government who have passed plain packaging laws for cigarettes through both houses of Parliament.

The legislation has got through all stages, now meaning Australia is the first country in the world to introduce plain packaging of tobacco.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia, has confirmed today that a contract was awarded in September 2011 to Korokoro Ora Manawa Ora (MOKO) to start throat swabbing services in Kaitaia.

“Some confusion has emerged publicly suggesting the Ministry of Health has not funded Rheumatic Fever checks in Northland. I believe it is important that clear information is provided to those who may be concerned.

The Associate Minister of Health and Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia today announced the launch of the Choice in Community Living programme in the Auckland and Waikato regions.

Choice in Community Living is about supporting disabled people who want to move from residential services, where they live in a house owned or rented by their support provider, to a home of their own.

The programme aims to assist disabled people to build a life like other New Zealanders through connection to natural supports and the wider community.

Associate health minister Tariana Turia presented four awards in two categories which honour the legacy of trailblazing leadership in Māori health.

Every year, a select group of applicants to the Ministry of Health’s Hauora Māori scholarship programme are awarded a John McLeod Scholarship or a Te Apa Māreikura Award.

Ibrahim Walter Soloman and Caroline Blucher are the recipients of John McLeod Scholarships while Michelle Turrall and Paula Moyle are Te Apa Māreikura award recipients.

A funding boost for weight-loss surgery is producing results, with Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia announcing an increase in the number of procedures nationwide in the first year.

There have been a number of reported cases of meningitis throughout the country and Associate Health Minister, Tariana Turia, is encouraging families, especially those with babies, young children and teenagers, to be especially vigilant.

“It’s important that if you think you or someone else you are close to may be at risk, don’t wait, take action! Ring a doctor or medical centre straight away or even the hospital if you have too. Meningitis is serious if left untreated” Mrs Turia said.

School children at six Flaxmere schools will continue to have their throats swabbed whenever they get a sore throat as part of an extra $12 million of government funding to combat rheumatic fever.

The Hawkes Bay 'Say Ahh' programme is the first of eight newly funded services around the country which detect and prevent rheumatic fever.

Minister for Disability Issues, Hon. Tariana Turia, has welcomed the New Model for Supporting Disabled People launched today in Tauranga.

“The overwhelming priority for me as Minister has been to support disabled people and their whanau with greater choice and control over the supports they receive” said Minister Turia.  “I have been determined to act on the aspirations  disabled people have shared with me, to identify and achieve what represents a good life for them.  

A review of the National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) has recognised its success in reducing cervical cancer, while suggesting areas that could be strengthened to ensure the programme’s continued effectiveness.

The screening programme, which is credited with preventing 750 cervical cancers and saving 100 lives a year, is reviewed every three years.

Health Minister Tony Ryall and Associate Minister for Health Tariana Turia says that Budget 2011 sees the Government put an extra $130 million into disability support services over four years.

Mr Ryall says, "An extra $8.5 million a year extra is going into residential support services with some of that to help deal with increasing numbers of people being supported in these facilities.

"Home and community services, for activities like showering, getting dressed, preparing a meal, and house work, is to receive another $6.6 million a year.

Budget 2011 delivers $7.3 million of reprioritised funding over four years to drive more effective, more efficient services for sexual and reproductive health.   

“This will deliver improved sexual and reproductive health for New Zealanders,” says Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia.

Associate Minister of Health, Hon Tariana Turia, has welcomed the latest  Year 10 (14-15 year olds) smoking prevalence data for 2010 released by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).

”The overall results are pleasing – in particular that daily smoking by Year 10 students is down to 5.5%”.

“While that is only a very small decline from 2009 (0.1%) I think we have to focus on the positive – that is, that it is still a decline, no matter how minimal” said Mrs Turia.

Associate Minister of Health, Hon Tariana Turia, is suggesting that New Zealanders have much to be proud of this World Smokefree Day (Tuesday 31 May 2011).

Mrs Turia has recently returned from Moscow, where she was invited to be a keynote speaker at the World Health Organisation Global Forum: Addressing the Challenges of Non-communicable Diseases.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia today announced a $12 million programme to reduce the rates of rheumatic fever in more vulnerable communities.

“This is an entirely preventable disease that can have serious consequences for children during childhood and throughout their lifetime. A simple sore throat can lead to permanent heart damage,” Mrs Turia says.

“The rates of rheumatic fever are now 14 times higher in New Zealand than in any other OECD country and we simply must do something about that.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia is shocked that a tobacco company would claim ‘it is not hard to quit smoking’.

The statement was made by the head of a major international tobacco company at its annual shareholder meeting.

“Make no mistake tobacco is a highly addictive substance that is claiming the lives of approximately 5000 New Zealanders every year and that alone should horrify tobacco companies.

“Tobacco casts a long shadow of death and disease that has touched almost every household in New Zealand,” says Mrs Turia.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia is leading a New Zealand delegation to the First Global Ministerial Conference on Healthy Lifestyles and Non-communicable Diseases being held in Moscow from 28 - 29 April 2011.

Non-communicable diseases include obesity, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

“They're called non-communicable because they can't be passed from one person to another but the rates of these diseases are increasing and having a major impact on health systems worldwide,” says Mrs Turia.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia is welcoming the Australian Government’s decision to legislate for the plain packaging of tobacco products.

In response to the Maori Affairs Select Committee enquiry into tobacco the New Zealand Government has already announced that it would monitor progress on Australia’s proposal to legislate for plain packaging of tobacco products and explore the option of New Zealand making similar moves in alignment with Australia.

Applications for funding under the 2011/12 Maori Provider Development Scheme are now being invited.

“Each year the Maori Provider Development Scheme invests in activities that build whanau capability, strengthen whanau connections, support the development of whanau leadership and enhance best outcomes for whanau.

“It also supports activities which aid the development of a highly skilled Maori health workforce and assists providers to improve their infrastructure, develop their workforce, achieve service integration and improve the quality of services.

The Associate Minister of Health, Hon Tariana Turia, today launched a framework to guide future research on Maori disability.

“Research should enable the voices of Maori living with a disability and their whanau to be heard. We hope that with the Maori Disability Research Agenda, research about Maori living with a disability will increase,” Mrs Tariana Turia said.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia is encouraging Maori students to apply for Hauora Maori Scholarships to help them start or finish their studies in health related courses. 

“These scholarships are about supporting students in their studies, and recognising their contribution to their community.

“This year a new category has been included for Community Health Workers and I would encourage students to apply,” says Mrs Turia.

The government’s full response to the recommendations of the Maori Affairs Committee Report, following an inquiry into the tobacco industry and the effects of tobacco use among Maori, was tabled in parliament today.

“This is a landmark moment in the history of New Zealand,” says Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia.

A bill tightening up tobacco controls has passed its first reading in Parliament today and will now go to select committee for public submissions.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says the introduction of the Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Bill is a further signal that this Government is serious about reducing the harm caused by smoking.

The Bill proposes banning tobacco retail displays and retailers from using tobacco trading names to advertise tobacco and stricter restrictions on selling tobacco to minors.

Legislation to discourage smoking by removing displays of tobacco products in dairies and other retail outlets was introduced in Parliament today by Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia.

“This Government is serious about reducing the harm caused by smoking and it is vital that we do more to help people quit smoking and stop young people from being tempted to take up the habit.

“The evidence shows that most people who smoke want to quit. It’s harder to quit when you walk into a shop and are confronted with the instant temptation of tobacco on display.