Massey and Waitemata District Health Board sign for closer links

Joint research on solutions to urgent health issues, such as diabetes, is one of the main aims of a Heads of Agreement signed by Massey University and the Waitemata District Health Board.

Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey said the agreement, signed at the Albany campus this week, will build on links already established between the University and Waitemata DHB in the areas of psychology, nutrition, nursing and speech language therapy.

New collaborative initiatives include a Bachelor of Nursing degree and a Master’s in Dietetics offered at the Albany campus from next year.

Mr Maharey said that while Massey does not offer medicine, it had other areas of expertise relevant to ensuring better health outcomes for New Zealanders through its nutrition, social work, nursing and public health programmes, and research facilities such as the Centres for Public Health Research, Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation, and Te Ropu Whariki.

“As we move into the 21st century, what health providers realise is that health care is about ensuring people lead long, healthy, prosperous lives,” he says.

Dr Dale Bramley, Waitemata DHB’s chief executive officer, says Massey’s contribution to health education and research made it a valued partner and participant in health education activities.

He said preventive health is a critical focus for the board, which provides hospital and community health services in western and northern Auckland. “We have 550,000 people in our catchment and we’re growing by about 10,000 a year. Investing in research, education, learning and innovation is at the heart of our district health board.”

He said a recent health report revealing that 40 per cent of Pacific Islanders aged over 51 have diabetes was alarming. “The long predicted diabetes epidemic has arrived. It is crucial that we stem the growing tide of diabetes that is affecting the quality of life of people in our community. In this, research and education with nutrition as the focus is key.”

Mr Maharey said the agreement reflects Massey’s and the board’s common interests in building an up-to-date, well-informed and effective health workforce “to help make this country a healthier, fairer place to live”.