Tend launches first Te Wiki Hauora Wāhine/Women’s Health Week

Next week, Tend Health launches its first Te Wiki Hauora Wāhine/Women’s Health Week to raise awareness, educate, encourage and empower Kiwi women to prioritise their health and wellbeing.

Tend Health Founder and Co-CEO Cecilia Robinson says all too often Kiwi women put other’s wellbeing ahead of their own, suffering in silence while supporting their loved ones.

According to a new survey of female-identifying patients to understand their relationship with their own health and wellbeing, more than half (57%) of women don’t get regular annual health checks.

“When we asked everyday Kiwi women about their health, it became evident women can feel the need to shy away from discussing their health – both with medical professionals and each other,” says Robinson. In fact, 40% of survey respondents didn’t feel comfortable talking about their health with their friends.

Furthermore, more than one-third (38%) have never talked with their mother or female caregiver about their periods, and more than half (58%) have never talked about menopause.

“This week, we’re encouraging all of Aotearoa New Zealand’s wāhine to take the reins of their health, to check up on each other, and to have those brave conversations with one another and medical professionals,” says Robinson.

“We have days, weeks and months dedicated to raising awareness for men’s health and wellbeing which is an important step. But our wāhine are precious too. They deserve a week in the health spotlight and a reminder that their health matters too.

“Better health for our wāhine benefits everyone. When women have access to quality healthcare, they’re better able to achieve their goals, participate in the workforce, contribute to economic growth, and support their families' health and wellbeing. Women's health is whanau health.”

As part of the inaugural Te Wiki Hauora Wāhine, the Women’s Health Week website hosts stories, blogs, videos and podcasts covering a wide range of topics to act as an educational resource.

Kiwibank is proud to support Tend’s Women’s Health Week to encourage more women to be aware of the options for them to take an active role in their health journey. Kiwibank Chief Executive Steve Jurkovich said, “Raising awareness and supporting women to engage in important conversations about their health and prioritise their wellbeing is essential.

“Not only does this lead to better health outcomes, but it also provides an opportunity to strengthen family and community dynamics. Fostering a supportive environment is better for everyone. We know that good health is a key factor in achieving other life goals, including financial stability and success.”

Go online to complete the Kiwibank Health Personality quiz, a fun and easy way for women to start thinking about how they approach their health. It includes tips and the chance to win 1 of 10 $1,000 Prezzy cards thanks to Kiwibank.

Sponsor Denise Cosgrove, The Selwyn Foundation Chief Executive, says it’s important for Aotearoa New Zealand to have open, frank discussions about women’s health - especially when it comes to vulnerable older women and their needs.

“As a society, we can sometimes lose sight of the most vulnerable in our communities. As our population ages, it’s paramount we continue to support the wellbeing of our older wāhine and enable them in getting preventative screening and other health checks wherever possible ,” says Cosgrove.

Throughout Te Wiki Hauora Wāhine, there will be a range of activities and topics covered with support from many famous Kiwi women sharing their stories including Dame Valerie Adams, Stacey Morrison, Matilda Green, Suzanne Paul and Megan Alatini – to name just a few.

There will also be insights from prominent female clinicians and healthcare experts including Dr Eileen Sables, Dr Alex Lafaele, Dr Lee Mathias, Dr Olivia Smart, Dr Amelia Ryan, Dr Bev Lawton, Dr Jenny Kruger, Lily Henderson and Michelle Kasey.

Additional partners include My Food Bag Fresh Start, The Period Place, Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, Talk Peach Gynaecological Awareness, EttieKits, femfit® by JUNOFEM, MenoMe and Embodyme.