A south Auckland Whanau Ora provider says it's treated nearly 4000 children for the type of sore throat that can cause rheumatic fever.
Nurses with the Mana Kidz programme under the National Houora Coalition have taken more than 24,000 swabs from school pupils.
On Thursday, the medical team's community work is being marked with a celebration in Otahuhu.
National Houora Coalition deputy chair Henare Mason says taking swabs is just the beginning of a welfare plan for the children.
He says although rheumatic fever has its genesis in a Group A Streptococcus, it is prevalent in poor communities that need help with housing and income.
