Family experiences and a desire to make health care more accessible to Pacific people are common themes motivating this year’s Pegasus Health Pacific Health Scholarship winners into their careers.
Second-year nursing student Liliola Toma (who was born and raised in Tonga and came to New Zealand for good just four years ago), Diploma of Public Health Student Kathy Culshaw (of Fijian descent) and third-year nursing student Fonofili Taefu Pearce (of Samoan descent) received their awards from Pegasus Health Chair Dr Martin Seers at a ceremony in Christchurch recently.
Liliola Toma, a second-year full time nursing student and mother of seven, says the award is a welcome addition to the family coffers, especially with her now sacrificing a salary to enable her to study.
“Everything has gone up – shopping, food, heating in winter, and with seven kids, any help makes a huge difference.”
Liliola was working as a health promoter at Pacific Trust Canterbury when she made the decision to go to nursing school – but really, the motivation came much earlier.
“My younger sister passed away, and nobody knew she had heart problems. And I thought ‘I’d like to study cardiology’ – something I’m now planning to specialise in.
“Pacific people are over-represented in health statistics, especially for cardio-vascular diseases. They are more likely to open up to someone from their own culture than somebody they consider to be ‘different’.”
Juggling family life and study means time is tight for Liliola.
“It can be quite stressful and very busy – and sometimes I don’t have enough time to study – I study at the last minute. But I think I might be blessed with a very good memory.
“I even applied for the scholarship at the last minute – I almost didn’t apply at all, because I had an essay due the same day. I think I might even have been the last person to apply!”
The scholarships were established to encourage young Pacific students to train as health care professionals.
“Pacific people make up 7% of our population – yet only 1.5% of our GPs identify as being of Pacific descent,” says Dr Api Talemaitoga, a Pegasus Health Pacific GP and the Ministry of Health’s Chief Advisor Pacific Health.
“The figures for nurses and allied professionals would be similar – and it’s an issue right across the health sector.
“We know that patients can maximise the benefits from their health care professional when they can relate to each other better in terms of understanding the issues and explanations given about their health. So, it is about making sure that we continue to encourage more Pacific people to join the health workforce.
“The other aspect is about working within mainstream organisations so that they can enhance their relationships and responsiveness to the Pacific people they serve. Pegasus Health demonstrates this aspect well in delivering these scholarships for Pacific students.
