Tu Kotahi Maori Asthma Trust Services

Working with whānau to promote understanding and management of asthma and respiratory conditions. THIS IS A FREE SERVICE

Is it Asthma?

If you have asthma you might sometimes feel:

• Wheezy (your breath might whistle in and out)
• Short of breath
• Tight in the chest
• Or you might have a cough

How can we help you?

There are lots of things we can do to help you manage your Asthma well, including:

• Teach you how to use your inhalers and spacer correctly
• How to use a peak flow meter
• Asthma plans
• Recognizing triggers and worsening asthma
• Medications (and what they do)
• Work with your child’s school to ensure your child has their inhaler and a plan
• A yearly asthma camp
• Spirometry clinics

Is it Bronchiolitis?

Bronchiolitis is an infection of the airways in the lungs.  It most often occurs with pēpi in their first 2 years of life.  The infection starts with signs and symptoms similar to those of a common cold but then progresses to coughing and wheezing.  Although it is often a mild illness some pēpi are at risk of developing a more severe bronchiolitis that requires hospitalisation.

How can we help you?

We can visit you in your home and give advice on the following areas:

• What is Bronchiolitis?
• Signs and symptoms
• Prevention
• Smoking and Bronchiolitis
• Monitoring pēpi’s Bronchiolitis using a Symptom Chart
• Bronchiolitis kit for whānau
• Provide clinical assessment on pēpi
• Including vital signs; temperature/heart rate/respiratory rate and pēpi’s breathing.

Is it COPD?

COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive

Pulmonary Disease.  Some people call it CORD or Emphysema.  If you have COPD it means the breathing passages (airways) in your lungs are blocked and your lung tissue is damaged.  This will cause you difficulty when breathing.

 How can we help you?

There are lots of things we can do to help you manage your COPD well, including:

• Teach you how to use your inhalers and spacer correctly
• How to use a peak flow meter
• COPD management plans
• Recognizing triggers and worsening symptoms
• Medications (and what they do)
• Work with your whanau to ensure they have a good understanding of COPD
• Spirometry 

Ma wai tēnei ratonga? Who can access this service?

• We are set up specifically to meet the needs of Maori and we are grassroots driven.
• Available to whanau who live in the Hutt Valley, Wainuiomata or Upper Hutt Regions

Whakapā mai – Who to contact for more information

• Phone 04 939 4629 and ask for Cheryl
• See us at 2/20 Port Road, Seaview, Lower Hutt 5010
• Complete the Contact Form to have someone call you back
• Click here to make a referral to one of our services