In 2019 the first South Auckland Diabetes Summit was held at Waipuna Lodge with a full house of health professionals, funders, representatives, patients and other stakeholders. The summit came about after the 2018 closure of the DCSS diabetes quality audit in Auckland Primary care after over 20 years. After an initial look at the data, the question was how to take what had been observed in those years further because things clearly had a long way to go as far as improving the situation for people with diabetes or at risk of it.
So the community based summit "an urgent call to action" was planned.
The event commenced with a welcome by Counties Manukau Health Kaumatua, Te Teira Rawiri, and the MC, Professor Bruce Arroll, led the evening headlined by Distinguished Profession David Simmons who presented data from the DCSS audit highlighting the need for action. Special guest speakers Hon Peeni Henare, Associate Minister of Health, and Fepulae’i Margie Apa, CEO of Counties Manukau Health also presented. A follow-up debate was hosted by RNZ's Kim Hill with Dr Richard Cooper, Dr Matire Harwood, Dr Tim Hou, Dr Gary Jackson and Dr Brandon Orr-Walker.
See here for more information about the event.
