Zachariah Reuelu works for Arthritis New Zealand as the Community Development Coordinator for Pacific Peoples and we asked him why he sees his work as an important part of who he is.

“My community wellbeing is important to me especially a healthy community that has access to full healthcare services.  My work in Porirua is a collaboration with whanau, local pharmacies, primary health providers and Arthritis New Zealand.

The intention is to identify Māori and Pacific patients on the practice register who have gout arthritis and been prescribed medication to manage the condition. We engage with the practice, foster relationships and co-design education services which are then facilitated by the practice (practice nurses).

The concept is to have families group sessions and several individual sessions to determine which these methods of education are more effective. There will be regular follow up over the course of the year.

The collaboration between the partners is committed to delivering quality care for people who have to date experienced an inequitable burden of poor health outcomes.

The work is meaningful and rewarding, this is my community and I love being part of the change.”