One million dollars to fight chronic disease in Torres Strait
Current topicThe following information has been adapted from information provided by the Queensland Government
The Queensland Health Minister, Stephen Robertson announced in late June that Queensland Health will invest more than $1 million this year to improve on the prevention and management of chronic disease in the Torres Strait. The announcement was made at a two day health summit on Thursday Island.
Since 1999, the number of people with diabetes has almost doubled to 1047 in the Torres Strait. Indigenous Australians in Queensland are five times more likely to suffer from chronic disease and have three times the rate of heart disease.
The funding will include:
- $818, 528 for nine chronic disease positions, which include five additional child health workers, two health prevention officers and two clinical workers;
- $120, 000 to establish programs to address frequent and avoidable hospital admissions;
- $110, 000 for the Connecting Healthcare in Communities (CHIC) initiative in the Torres Strait.
Mr Robertson said the funding for the CHIC initiative will be used to set up a partnership council to improve access to preventative and primary health care services in the Torres Strait.
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