Ian McLean Spokesperson for the Green Party

At the recent AGM of the Green Party, co-leader Metiria Turei released a new policy with the aim of reducing the incidence of preventable diseases in children, which means the party will put a full-time nurse into all low-decile primary schools.

These nurses would support detection and early treatment of skin ailments and diarrhoea, and upper respiratory diseases such as rheumatic fever and asthma, among other things. Most important is that the Government would easily recover the approximately $30 million cost by reducing the rate of hospitalisations and long-term consequences for apparently simple complaints with severe effects.

The Minister of Health has been quick to respond, stating that 'we are already putting nurses into schools”. That is good to hear. But he neglected to mention that nurses are not going into a full-time care role in the low-decile primary schools where preventable diseases are most frequent.

The policy is supported by the NZ Nurses Organisation, the NZEI (the education union), and groups working on poverty issues.

Poverty, sickness and educational under-achievement go hand in hand. This policy is part of the broader Green Party objective of reducing the number of children living in poverty, and enabling them to live happier and healthier lives.

Ian McLean is a spokesperson for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. Contact him by calling 021 547556 or 07 579 4670 or by email: ian.mclean@greens.org.nz