Non‐government Organisations to Combine for Work on Chronic Disease in Aboriginal Peoples, Torres Strait Islanders and Rural and Remote Populations

Abstract

As a result of the National Health Priority Area Report on Cardiovascular Health and in particular, its remote and indigenous section, a consortium of five organisations ran a national workshop in Townsville inOctober 1999 on heart disease in Aboriginal peoples, Torres Strait Islanders and rural and remote populations. One of the priority areas identified at this workshop was the need for a more coordinated approach to chronic diseases and for the formation of an alliance of non-government organisations (NGOs) to work towards this and to undertake a lobbying and advocacy role.

Multi‐level support for physical activity and healthy eating

“…Investigators in Australia have called for and developed interventions for aboriginal groups whose risk of diabetes – a frequent outcome related to obesity – is higher than that for whites in that country (O'Dea 1991, Bailie et al. 2004); others have joined forces to address higher levels of chronic illness among Australian aboriginals (Field & Gregory 2000). In Mexico, an analysis of risk factors for diabetes showed an increased risk among people with surnames more commonly reflecting an indigenous background (Garza‐Chapa et al.…”