22 Feb 2013

Pacific women hold health festival in NZ

1:10 pm on 22 February 2013

The organiser of a health festival in Porirua, New Zealand, says she hopes more Pacific women will access health services after attending an event called 'Pinkilious' tomorrow.

Caroline Mareko says women from church and community groups will be dressing in pink to highlight women's health issues.

She says there will be an array of activities including exercise demonstrations, health and beauty workshops, and health service information.

She says educational information on issues facing Pacific Island women, such as diabetes, obesity and heart conditions, will be available.

She says a core focus is helping more women access breast cancer services.

"A key activity of this campaign is to register our women into the breast screening programme, who are eligible for the free screening. So we've got twenty women who have appointments tomorrow to go to Kenepuru for their screening. And after the launch we've still got more women to register."

Caroline Mareko says educating young women in the community is vital and she says all families are welcome to dress up in pink and attend the event.