News

The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand is pleased to announce the appointment of Meliame Cocker to the newly created position of Pacific Community Services Coordinator.

Mrs Cocker has been with the Heart Foundation since 2003 and has been working as a Heart Health Presenter with the high-risk Pacific Island community.

The new role will see her planning, coordinating and delivering programmes and services especially tailored to Pacific Islanders.

"We will be conducting heart health education programmes which include cooking demonstrations. We will also focus on nutrition and physical activity and raise the awareness of heart disease. Resources, training and support are being provided for community health workers.

We will also continue our smokefree talks which are focussed specifically for Pacific Islanders."

Mrs Cocker is working towards a Bachelor of Health Science degree in Health Promotion at AUT and says the Pacific diet needs to be changed.

"The diet is so loaded with saturated fats that we need to limit the fatty foods people are eating such as corned beef and pork. When cooking, we want to encourage people to drain or trim away fat and dilute any coconut milk used. Steaming, roasting or baking is always preferred over frying."

The Pacific Island Health Bureau at the Heart Foundation holds talks at schools and workplaces to encourage a heart healthy lifestyle.   

Mrs Cocker is based at the Heart Foundation's Auckland office but will travel regularly to work with the local community and organisations. She is contactable on Tel (09) 571-9191 x 724 or e-mail MeliameC@nhf.org.nz.

The Heart Foundation is the charity that leads the fight against cardiovascular disease (heart, stroke and blood vessel disease) through funding research, advancing cardiac rehabilitation and promoting healthy lifestyles.

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