DOCUMENT

Connecting across the MDANZ community. Warm greetings to you all. Mornings are becoming notably cooler and our members with conditions will be feeling the cooling temperatures, needing to take extra care, and to keep warm. The past fewmonths can be summarised under our key organisational value Connected – Tūhonotanga. This reflects howwe value the role of staff, whānau and communities and invest time and resources to foster strong relationships. From our National Office and Branch staff returning to their offices post a long Covid-19 pandemic, to members and supporters attending AGMs around the country, to our Fieldworkers being able to visit members in their homes again, I’m proud of the connections we make. Thank you to our community members who have stepped forward to participate in governance for the coming year. It is a vital role for our organisation. With the new National Council on board (read all about this on page 4 ) , we are about to start planning and budget cycles for the 2022- 2023 financial year. I am looking forward to continuing in my role as the National Executive Chairperson, helping to make a difference for our members. I’ll be the first to admit it can be a challenge, but it is extremely rewarding meeting and working with people in the MDANZ community. In this issue, I want to acknowledge and thank our member and Central Fieldworker, Talitha Vial, who appears on our front cover. Talitha shares her honest and courageous story with us on pages 6 and 7 . I hope you enjoy this issue of In Touch . Take care and stay warm. Kōrero with Trevor FROM THE DESK Trevor Jenkin National Executive Chairperson Pneumonia Vaccine Funding I t is important our members stay well, particularly through the winter months. It is recommended that individuals with neuromuscular conditions receive vaccination for prevention of pneumococcal diseases, such as pneumonia, due to increased risk of not only becoming unwell but also the increased risk of complications if there is an inability to cough and clear the airways effectively. Pneumococcal vaccines are fully funded for children under 5 however government funding is not generally available for older children and adults. For this reason, you may not be eligible to receive a funded vaccine through your local general practice (GP). Because cost is a barrier to having the vaccine, MDANZ has a reimbursement programme available to members who have a neuromuscular condition. MDANZ will reimburse you the cost of receiving the Pneuomvax 23 vaccine at your local GP. Simply go online to complete the reimbursement form with your details, attach your receipt and you will be reimbursed within five working days. www.mda.org.nz/What-We-Offer/ Pneumonia-Vaccine-Funding