New Zealand
New Zealand is in the depths of the South Pacific, a country with a population of four and a half million people. One million of the New Zealanders, or twenty five percent of the population, is impoverished. It was this portion of the population that Dr. Wagner cared for while he lived in New Zealand and worked at the South Auckland Health District, in Manakau City.
There is an inordinate amount of ear disease in New Zealand among the Maori, Pacific Islander immigrants, and other developing world immigrants in New Zealand. The WHO stated that if there is greater than 4% middle ear disease in children of school age, then there is a massive public health problem. The amount of ear disease in New Zealand exceeded 10% in 2003.
The cultures of the South Pacific, including the Maori of New Zealand, have been isolated geographically from the rest of the world. As a result they have immature immune systems and are thus subject to greater risks of infectious diseases.
One of the strengths of the health system in New Zealand is their public health service. Through this program nurses are engaged in teaching public health issues, which include basics of ear disease at school, and they are allowed to examine patients and make the diagnosis and refer to ENT.
There is an inordinate amount of ear disease in New Zealand among the Maori, Pacific Islander immigrants, and other developing world immigrants in New Zealand. The WHO stated that if there is greater than 4% middle ear disease in children of school age, then there is a massive public health problem. The amount of ear disease in New Zealand exceeded 10% in 2003.
The cultures of the South Pacific, including the Maori of New Zealand, have been isolated geographically from the rest of the world. As a result they have immature immune systems and are thus subject to greater risks of infectious diseases.
One of the strengths of the health system in New Zealand is their public health service. Through this program nurses are engaged in teaching public health issues, which include basics of ear disease at school, and they are allowed to examine patients and make the diagnosis and refer to ENT.
