Review of services for people living with HIV in New Zealand

C. INA FOUNDATION CHARITABLE TRUSTInquiry1. Is there a clear statement of purpose for theservice and, if so, how was that determined:What type of service is it?Who is it designed to serve primarily?How was this determined?How long has it been in operation?Have the aims of the service alteredduring its history – and why?Is there a mission statement?2. Are the aims and activities of the serviceconsonant with applicable MoH policies:Review alongside existing MoHstatements about services for PLHADoes the service fill known gaps in publichealth service provision?ResponseINA is a not for profit charitable trust with services and objectives ofimproving the quality of life for people living with HIV and the quality ofinformation about HIV to our communities (mission statement).Providing, advocacy, education, representation, whānau support, anddevelopment training. Incorporating the whare tapa wha 2 approach toholistic wellbeing; physical, mental, spiritual and family.INA’s target communities are Māori, indigenous and Pacific Island,regardless of age, gender, sexuality. INA also invites all ethnicities toparticipate in our events, etc. INA was developed as an indigenousresponse to HIV and AIDS as what was expressed in Toronto 2006 bythe ‘Toronto Charter’ placing Indigenous communities at the heart ofthe response to the epidemic. Officially, INA has been operating sinceFebruary 2008. Unregistered, INA was a concept rejuvenated frommembers, of the Te Whānau Tautoko group that started in the late1980’s. And has been operating without official capacity since thattime. A change since that time was the Charitable Trust Act 2008 thatprovided avenue to a renaissance of Te Whānau Tautoko and atransition to the new name of INA.INA resonates the principles portrayed by the Ministry of HealthPolicies of Whānau Ora and He Korowai Oranga by:working collaboratively with whānau, hapū and iwi with Māori toidentify appropriate methods of encouraging safe sex practices andhealthy sexual behaviours that leads to preventing and treatingdisease. By utilising traditional knowledge, experiences and historicreferences – Tikanga and Kawa – to build a base of knowledge thatwill increase health and wellbeing pertaining to sexual health forthe protection of whakapapa against diseasehaving active participation by Māori living with HIV at all levels ofthe health and disability sector in decision‐making, planning,development and delivery of sexual health services. By developingMāori providers and workforce capacity; as Māori educators,counsellors, therapists, leaders, and health professionals. Studieshave shown internationally, that the inclusion of people living withand affected by HIV/AIDS has a significant impact on preventionand policy. INA focuses on developing Māori living with HIV as wellas Māori affected and concerned about the HIV/AIDS epidemicaddressing the inequalities currently within the New ZealandHIV/AIDS health sector and improving services to whānau that areculturally appropriate, timely, of high quality and effective.Therefore reducing disparities for Māori and increasing wellbeingthrough the application of Rangatiratanga and Tikanga Māoriallowing Māori to take an active leadership role within the ‘Fightagainst AIDS’, Nationally and Internationally. Also within thegovernment and its agencies; to achieve the aim of whānau orawithin the broader determinants of health for Māori.2Mason Durie.REVIEW OF SERVICES FOR PLHA 65