We are very concerned at the possibility that the Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa NZ (RHAANZ) will have to cease operations due to its precarious financial sustainability.
Over the past five years RHAANZ has rapidly become an important voice for our rural communities and has committed resources to envisioning and carrying out a programme of positive change for rural health in New Zealand. This has been done in close alignment and collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Primary Industries. Great possibilities lie ahead. However, the pressure on RHAANZ’s very small staff and the limitations of available funding sources mean that future is under threat.
RHAANZ has put a proposal to government via these Ministries for a contribution in part to core office functions and partly directed to specific projects on their agenda for rural wellbeing. Due to unfortunate delays, it remains unclear whether this bid will be successful. If it is not, then RHAANZ must cease operations on 1 July 2018. And in the meantime has had to stop all activities beyond completing its current contractual commitments.
We believe RHAANZ has a vital function in bringing a cross-sectoral rural community voice to both enunciate rural health issues and to identify and resource solutions. For the organisation to disappear from the scene, at a time when rural health itself is as precarious as ever, would be a terrible loss of goodwill, synergy and expertise.
Overseas rural health alliances have all received central funding in recognition of their value to both government and communities. New Zealand needs to follow that lead.
Anything that you can do to support the proposal for central government funding would be a boon for our rural communities and their future health.
#rhanz #fundrhaz
Don't Shoot.. 