Tongan Outreach Programme

The project has two key objectives:

• An outreach focus working collaboratively with the Ministry of Health in Tonga, including Chronic Disease (CD) and Non CD nurses and other Ministry staff in villages, initially in Tongatapu.

• The develop of a THS satellite clinic in the Kingdom that aligns with the THS clinics in Auckland and the new model of care that THS has developed.

THS staff undertook the initial part of the programme in the villages of ‘Ahau and Lapaha in November 2014 and followed up this work in April 2015. THS is particularly interested in clients with chronic conditions and youth. Future work will include health promotion and screening initiatives in high schools and villages.

The Tongan Royal family have offered land for THS to develop its envisaged satellite clinic in Tonga and HRH Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili is engaged with supporting and promoting the programme.

The project focuses on:

• Diabetes

• Rheumatic Fever

• Looking after your feet with diabetes

• Early screening – BP, BMI, blood glucose levels

• Youth health screening

• Gout

• Health eating and exercise

• Hepatitis B prevention and education

• Medical consumables for insulin management