Turanga Health has partnered with The Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand to raise awareness of meningitis and increase immunisation rates in Tairāwhiti, particularly for Māori and Pacific peoples.

The Foundation has launched Te Pukapuka Kauruku Kiriuhi Uakakā, The Meningitis Foundation Colouring Book - which is also translated into Te Reo - as a valuable tool to educate parents and increase vaccination rates of children up to 6 years of age.

The book follows the story of Peepe the butterfly who meets young Kiwis on his adventurous travels showing how vaccines can help protect them from meningitis, just like a raincoat keeps you warm and dry, and sunscreen stops your nose getting sunburnt.

This Saturday (5 October 2024) is World Meningitis Day, and Gisborne's clock tower will lead the global "chain of light" as the first place in the world to see the sun, lighting up purple in remembrance of everyone who has lost their life, or had their life changed forever because of meningococcal and pneumococcal meningitis.

Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand Chair, Gerard Rushton, says in the last five years, 20 people in New Zealand have died from this vaccine-preventable disease. So far this year, there have been 44 cases of meningococcal disease in New Zealand, and one death.

"While it's good to see widened access to the meningococcal B vaccine since 2023, we are still concerned to see other vulnerable groups, such as Māori and Pacific Island infants and adolescents, being left behind.

New Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) data shows despite a 35% fall in the total number of meningococcal disease cases from 1 January to 31 July 2024 compared to the same period prior, Māori infants and toddlers remain at a higher risk of the disease.

Māori make up 36% of meningococcal disease cases so far this year and three-quarters of the eight cases aged under 5 years were Māori, making it the highest number of any age group.

"We can see from the latest data that the uptake for toddlers isn't quite as good, in addition to this we can also see that Māori infants and adolescents are still at risk and there is still much more work to be done to educate Kiwis and their whānau of the dangers of meningococcal disease," Rushton said.

Iwi health provider and a general practice, Turanga Health, helped support the launch of The Meningitis Foundation Colouring Book which will be used by health providers and community groups across the country to encourage vaccination and educate parents on the importance of protecting their whānau.

Turanga Health CEO, Reweti Ropiha, says vaccination rates are too low in the region and the Te Reo translated colouring book will help create a great whānau experience when community health teams visit Marae, Kura, Kphanga Reo and Hapu Mama wananga.

"Tackling the immunisation barrier in Tairāwhiti is about connecting with people in the right environment, and in the right way by those with lived-experience."

Gerard Rushon adds: "Meningitis is a disease that progresses very quickly and can result in death and disability. Vaccination is so important because the disease moves fast and can kill within 24 hours, with treatment often coming too late.

"We need to ensure that parents, health care workers, teachers, friends and family members know the signs and act quickly," he said.

More information on the symptoms of meningitis is available here.