MORE Aborigines will have access to immunisation and healthcare thanks to the addition of a multipurpose immunisation van at Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service.
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The van will allow health workers to carry out more outreach services for indigenous community members as far as Corowa, Myrtleford and Holbrook.
Aboriginal health worker family support Jocelyn Wright began the push for a mobile service about 18 months ago.
She said it would run programs including immunisation, child and adult health checks, sexual health awareness, oral health promotion and oral health checks.
“We saw a need for going out and doing outreach visits and we were particularly interested in increasing the immunisation rates in the Aboriginal population,” she said.
“Now we can extend on our current services. And the education around it is a huge benefit as well — on all topics, like breastfeeding, parenting, women’s health and so much more.”
Federal funding allows the use of the van to come free of charge and is distributed through the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health at Sydney University.
Graham White, from the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, visited AWAHS to hand over the keys to the new vehicle.
It will start out as a three-month contract, however, if the van is utilised, the contract is likely to be extended.
AWAHS also received $20,000 from the Sanofi Pasteur immunisation grant scheme, which was used to buy equipment for the van.
AWAHS child and family health nurse Nicole Rootsey said the locations of the van would be promoted on Facebook.
“Hopefully people do access this service so we can keep it running,” she said.
“We will go to the areas of need around Albury and Wodonga; so, to community centres, mums and bubs indigenous play groups and places we know our clients go to.”
For more information call (02) 6040 1200.