As a Smokefree Coalition member we are always discussing and planning our next health promotional event. During 2019 the Coalition would like to set up a database that can be shared among our own health organisations, city and regional councils, inner city business hubs etc to promote businesses around our area who become smokefree champions. As you will all appreciate there is nothing worse …

September is traditionally time for our key fundraiser, Balloon Day which is the Friday of  the annual Asthma Awareness Week. This September we also brought the Sailor the Puffer Fish Show to schools throughout Hawke’s Bay and  embarked on a number of promotional activities to try and ensure people in Hawke’s Bay know that we are here to help them and their whānau when …

The show, performed by well-known personality, Chris Lam Sam relayed an important and powerful message of asthma awareness, which is at the forefront of BHB’s Asthma Friendly Schools Programme. It covers: What is asthma? How do we get asthma? What problems it may cause in the lungs What can trigger asthma? What is an inhaler and spacer? What to do in an emergency at …

We recently visited  Martha and her family at home for an asthma review which includes asthma education. Asthma first aid is part of the education given. Martha is holding our BHB asthma first aid magnet that is given to families we see. It is a quick reference in the event of an asthma emergency, one of many free educational resources available. An asthma assessment also includes …

Mediaworks Hawke’s Bay Operations Manager Justin Rae was diagnosed with asthma when he was just 4-years-old. He woke one night, struggling to breathe . Blue in the face he roused his parents who rushed him to the after hours clinic, but were told it would be faster to drive him through to the hospital than wait for an ambulance. It was the fastest trip …

The Breathe Easy COPD Support Group is about providing an opportunity to learn more about topics that make living with a respiratory illness easier. It’s also a great opportunity to catch with or forge new friendships, with others who know what it feels like to struggle to breathe. These monthly events are held at alternating Napier and Hastings venues. Get in touch with us …

Breathe Hawke’s Bay exercise subsidies are a real benefit for a number of our members and can help keep tamariki (children) and pakeke (adults) healthy and fit. It’s a bonus we are able to offer thanks to the generosity of bequests, donations, Tough Kid and our annual major fundraiser, Balloon Day. “As a charity the funding we receive from most sources has to be …

We value the relationships we have with organisations like Volunteering Hawke’s Bay who refer willing volunteers to us. Another key relationship that we have been building over the past few years is with local tertiary provider Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT).  In the last 12 months we have worked with groups and individuals from three differently faculties; Sport and Recreation, Nursing and Business Studies. …

The owners of Mitre10 MEGA Napier & Hastings are the Ricketts family  They are proud to call Hawke’s Bay home and being involved in the community is very important. “Being a significant sponsor of various local organisations and charities, it is a pre-requisite that the funds provided makes a difference to local people.  Mitre10 MEGA is delighted to partner with Breathe Hawkes Bay so …

Palliative care aims to optimise function and to enhance quality of life for patients with serious and life-limiting illnesses. It focuses on reducing the burden of symptoms, and supporting patients and caregivers. Palliative care for patients with respiratory conditions often includes symptom management and support of patients. Symptoms such as dyspnoea (shortness of breath), cough, haemoptysis, sputum production, fatigue, and respiratory secretion management, especially …

We meet on a bi-monthly basis and during my time with the group we have completed many health promotion events, written submissions to council and government and supported other members events. Each year, May is World Smokefree Month and this year a subcommittee of the coalition developed a programme of various events to be held across the region. Johanna Wilson, Hawke’s Bay District Health …

Combining knowledge from BHB Medical Advisors, paediatric respiratory specialists at Hawke’s Bay District Health Board and BHB respiratory nurse educators; the resource aims to help those families with tamariki under a year old recognise and manage bronchiolitis, a condition that has become common throughout Hawke’s Bay and is often responsible for hospital admissions in babies. To request copies contact the office on 0800 ASTHMA …

No other group in the world has focused on bioengineering, a structure-based mathematical models of lungs. These models simulate the structure of lungs in three dimensions producing a virtual laboratory that can be used in applied studies. This ground-breaking research here in Aotearoa is being conducted by her research team to try to derive new image and model-based biomarkers for use, relatively simply, in …

Samuel Diamond (8) is keeping on top of his asthma with regular swimming lessons, a healthy home environment and check ins with a BHB Respiratory Nurse Educator. As with most relationships, BHB and Samuel have gotten to know each other better over time and by having regular contact our team were able to identify other ways that we could support him. Our relationship with …

We took care of all the usual annual tasks that need to be completed but also heard back from our membership on a number of topics. Of note is the feedback they encountered when collecting for Balloon Day. Our environmentally conscious communities are saying no to balloons due to the potential harm they can cause our coastal regions and the wildlife that live within …

La-Or Lewis recently had an annual asthma review with our Respiratory Nurse Educator Jo. In preparation for her review she created her own peak flow monitoring chart or diary, so she was able to show Jo important information about her asthma control over a period of time. Measuring your peak flow using a peak flow meter (as seen in the photo with La-or) can …

Over 200,000  kiwis have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or otherwise known as emphysema, chronic bronchitis and/or chronic asthma. As a health professional it is always pleasing to read that New Zealand is leading the way in best practice for our patients. A recent study found it is safer to treat patients with far lower doses of oxygen then what is used currently. Professor …

Meri Kirihimete – Merry Christmas I can’t believe we are at the end of another year. So much has happened in our organisation along with a few changes. Midway through the year we said goodbye to Chris and welcomed Amber into our team. We recently saw the departure of Toni and have welcomed Sharyn to the BHB team as our permanent administrator. Even though …