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G4EBT > HEALTH 25.05.07 15:32l 146 Lines 5776 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 1A5468G4EBT
Read: GUEST DF6RI
Subj: Poor Aboriginal Health rpt
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Sent: 070525/1319Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:32039 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:1A5468G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : HEALTH@WW
The Australian Medical Association recently reported on lack of progress
in improving health and life expectancy of Aboriginal people and Torres
Strait Islanders as compared to the population as a whole.
The AMA says that the poor state of health and lack of health services
endured by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is a national tragedy
and a national shame. In the introduction to the six-page report the
President of the AMA says:
"I think we are being kind in that assessment".
Quote:
"It is the 21st century and we are still seeing health conditions and
health outcomes from a bygone era. The gap in life expectancy between
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous
Australians is a constant reminder of our failings as a community.
The gap reflects a lack of government commitment over decades to fix the
problem. But our efforts to educate, inform and hopefully reform,
continue.
Each year our Report Card paints a picture of appalling statistics and sad
realities on life expectancy, low birth weight, Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples' imprisonment, and a shortage of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander health workers.
This is balanced with stories of successful programs and services that
provide optimism for the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
health.
The bottom line remains the criminal underfunding of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander health, but this year we bring you a sorry tale of failure
by the health system that is meant to be the provider of care for all
people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Our story this year is all about access barriers.
There is a great divide between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples and non-Indigenous Australians in actually getting into the health
system to take advantage of the care and treatment that is supposed to be
there equally for all of us.
Some of these barriers are financial, some geographic, and others are
personal and cultural. Whatever they are we have to get rid of them. It is
folly for us to fight for more funding and services and programs and hope,
if the people we are desperate to help can't get to see their doctors and
carers, for whatever reason.
We who work in the health system have to continue to lead the charge to
right this most grievous wrong. It is not an impossible task, but it is
a vitally important task. We must never shirk it.
This year is a symbolic year for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
health reform. It is a Federal Election year, but it is also the 40th
anniversary of the 1967 referendum, which removed from our Constitution
significant discrimination against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Australians.
It is time now to remove discrimination from our health system.
Signed;
Dr Mukesh Haikerwal President, Australian Medical Association.
End quote.
That might sound to some like blame apportionment but the objective isn't
to decide who's to blame - it's about developing strategies that work.
For anyone concerned about this issue the six-page report "Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islanders Health Outcomes is excellent, and can be found at:
http://www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/doc/WEEN-73EVX9/$file/Reportcard_2007.pdf
Here's a clip which puts the problem into perspective:
Quote:
Life expectancy at Birth in Australia (years)
Population Category Male Female
All Australians (1999-2001) 77.0 82.4
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples (1996-2001) 59.4 64.8
All Australians (1920-1922) 59.0 65.0
Most Disadvantaged (2000-2001) 76.2 82.1
Least Disadvantaged (2000-2001) 79.8 84.5
Living in remote area 73.1 79.7
Living in urban area (1998-2000) 77.3 82.7
The gaps are stark.
The poor state of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' health is
clearly not just a problem of disadvantage or rurality. For the rest of
the Australian population these two factors have very little impact on
life expectancy.
The life expectancy shortfall for the 20 per cent of the non-Indigenous
Australian population classed as most 'disadvantaged' as compared to the
rest of the population is about 10 months for men and four months for
women.
As to the shortfall for those living in the most remote areas, the
statistics rise to 3.9 years for men and 2.7 years for women (much of
this differential is due to the high proportions of those living in
remote areas being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples).
Compare that to the 17.6 year life expectancy shortfall for Indigenous men
and women. Indigenous children born in 1996-2000 can only expect to live
as long as non-Indigenous Australians who were born in the 1920s.
There have been some welcome gains in child health, communicable diseases,
and some chronic diseases but these gains haven't been sufficient to
narrow the health gap between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal
populations.
So, while life expectancy is improving a little, the gap is barely
narrowing, and the difference is still significant. The population
is in a grim situation, and has a right to expect exceptional measures.
End quote.
(Sent for information - I'm not interested in debating it).
Footnote:
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is an independent organisation
representing more than 27,000 doctors, be they salaried or in private
practice, general practitioners, specialists, teachers, researchers, and
doctors in training.
Best wishes
David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
Message timed: 13:57 on 2007-May-25
Message sent using WinPack-Telnet V6.70
(Registered).
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