Turner Judy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Turner Judy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:623;Page:18462] 
7.  
JUDY TURNER (Deputy Leader—United Future) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Is she satisfied that current Government policies are adequate for ensuring the health and well-being of New Zealand’s children and their families; if so why? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Associate Minister of Health) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Health 
: Yes the Government’s health policies are all focused on improving the health and well-being of New Zealand children and their families. Some of those are the current meningococcal vaccine strategy; the primary health care strategy aimed at improving access for families to primary health care services; and the Healthy Eating - Healthy Action programme aimed at improving nutrition and physical activity. That is to name but a few. 
Judy Turner 
: Has the Minister received any reports indicating that our school dental service is in a state of crisis with severe shortages of dental therapists and outdated facilities that do not meet health and safety standards and can she confirm whether reports that 1149 Bay of Plenty children missed their school dental check-ups last year due to a lack of available resources are accurate; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I cannot comment on the accuracy of the figures but I believe the member. The Minister of Health is not satisfied with the current provision of school dental services. She is working with Ministry of Health officials to enhance those services for children. The Government is also committed to improving water supplies for communities around this country and has a subsidy to help them fluoridate their water. 
Steve Chadwick 
: What is this Government doing to protect New Zealand children against the outbreak of meningitis that is infecting them? 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Does the member not know? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: For Mr Smith’s benefit I tell him that the Government is spending a total of $200 million to immunise a million New Zealand infants toddlers schoolchildren and youth under the age of 20 against the meningococcal B disease. The programme is now under way in all district health boards north of Taupo and so far almost half a million doses of vaccine have been administered to more than 185000 children in those areas. The programme will have started throughout the entire country by the beginning of July. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Is the Minister aware that in the last 20 months 763 children have been admitted to Waikato Hospital with bronchiolitis—a viral disease often associated with poverty and overcrowding; and does she consider that those Third World child health statistics are acceptable in a developed country? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: No we do not consider they are acceptable in this country. That is why this Government has taken a holistic approach ensuring that we have proper housing policies in place—something the previous Government thought unnecessary—and that is why we have increased funding to district health boards to help treat these problems. We are taking a holistic approach to children’s health care in this country and we are trying to mop up after a disastrous National Government. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Is the Minister concerned that much of the food targeted at children is so high in fat sugar and salt that it contributes to childhood obesity and ill health as well as to poor dental health and will she therefore support moves to prohibit the advertising of unhealthy food to children; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: We do appreciate the growing problems around obesity. That is why we have put in place the Healthy Eating - Healthy Action programme. That is why an accord has been reached with food producers to over time reduce the levels of sugar and fat in the foods consumed on a regular basis by children in this country. 
Sue Kedgley 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked whether the Minister would support moves to prohibit the advertising of unhealthy food to children. I wonder whether the Associate Minister could address that question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The question of advertising was mentioned. The Minister might care to comment briefly. 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: At this point in time we see no need to ban such advertising but we will work with those food producers to ensure that children do eat the healthiest food possible. 
Judy Turner 
: Is the Minister aware that 40 percent of children who participated in a 2-year trial at Wanganui’s Castlecliff School needed glasses despite the fact that they had passed the Government-funded vision screening test and that a further 23 percent needed rechecking in a year and if she is will she take personal responsibility for the undetected eyesight problems of thousands of schoolchildren around the country given her refusal to act to ensure that the programme is properly evaluated and reviewed; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I know that the Minister is very skilful but I am not sure of her skills in ophthalmology so I doubt whether she could personally take responsibility. However funding of primary health organisations and primary health care initiatives will enable us to test such children early on and to put in place the remedies necessary to help them. 
Judy Turner 
: Has the Minister received any reports as to what effects if any the recent policy suggestion to adopt out children of domestic purposes benefit recipients could have on the health and well-being of the affected children and their families? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: We have seen reports like that. But unlike the leader of the National Party Dr Brash this Government has no policy to force the adopting out of children of domestic purposes benefit recipients and I believe we are strongly supported in that view by Katherine Rich.