No stigma attached to having Covid says support group

JULIA WADE
14 March, 2022

With Covid now officially widespread in east Kaipara – closing a number of businesses, sending individuals and families into self-isolation as well as spreading through the area’s schools with all recording various positive cases of students and teachers – a local social advocacy group wants to remind the affected community they do not have to walk alone.

From food deliveries to emotional support, Te Whai Community Trust have been assisting local families and whanau who have Covid as well as close contacts, and can help those in need in a number of ways, projects manager Kiri Eriwata says, who also wants to affirm there is no stigma attached to having the virus.

“It’s worth remembering that we don’t need to feel ashamed or embarrassed to have caught Covid. If you feel you need some emotional or mental support through this, there are many resources that are available to you,” she says. “People can contact Te Whai or check out the Get Prepared page on the Mangawhai Covid Response website which lists a number of reputable sources, emergency and helpline information.”

Although having food in the house is one of the major concerns of self-isolation, there are other aspects which people need to prepare for, Kaipara District Council community advisor and Mangawhai resident Gail Fotheringham says.

“When I read the rules around self-isolation, I realised that I would not be able to walk my dog as I would need to stay at home at all times. I hadn’t really had to think about that at the other Covid restriction levels as there was limited scope to walk around the local neighbourhood,” she says. “So I put the call out to some of the regular dog-owners who are already connected on a WhatsApp group and the offers came back to help immediately. Thankfully we have not had to self-isolate yet, but at least back-up is there if needed. That makes me feel supported and less anxious.”

After recent discussions with St John, Fire and Emergency, Northland District Health Board and local services, Eriwata says the need to register positive and negative RAT test results remains important as the data helps to gauge where the community lies in the Omicron outbreak and helps people access support from Te Whai through the Ministry of Social Development.

“Te Whai are contracted to the Welfare Response for the Covid Protection Framework, which allows the ministry to forward cases to us so we can provide food via contactless delivery, for those who don’t have someone to do that for them, as well as social services either online, by phone or if necessary in person with health and safety measures in place,” she says. “There’s also a call out for locals to keep scanning, even

though locations of interest are not shown on the Covid website anymore, it serves as a reminder to yourself and others where you’ve been and who you’ve been in contact with, in case you do catch Covid.”

Another ‘awesome support service’ available to locals is the ‘Help Hub’, an initiative by CauseWay Church who are providing contactless food parcel deliveries as well as support from counsellors.

“Anyone is welcome to contact the church or Te Whai if they find themselves in a position where they do not have someone to help, we have volunteers who can assist,” Eriwata says. “We’re also continuing to provide our usual service of providing food parcels for those in need as we’re still taking care of our vulnerable in the community, which is what Te Whai is all about.”

n Need a helping hand? Visit mangawhaicovidresponse.co.nz/get-prepared, tewhaicommunitytrust.co.nz or email healthhub@causewaychurch.co.nz

“If you feel you need some emotional or mental support through this, there are many resources that are available to you.”

– Kiri Eriwata