Integrating Equity into Health Strategies, Programmes and Activities Assignment 2022

Integrating Equity into Health
Strategies, Programmes and
Activities

Introduction
Australia has a vital role in improving the health conditions and social disparities of the
indigenous population of the country, namely the Aboriginals and people from Torres Strait
Island, who are vulnerable population in Australia. There remains a wide gap in social and
health status among the aboriginals and the non-indigenous people, which is apparent from
the social, economic and environmental factors prevalent in the country (Australia, 2013).
The UN committees, poses this as a serious issue concerning human rights and acknowledged
by the government of Australia. The main determinants of social and health gap include the
low access to primary healthcare facilities, along with less advanced health infrastructure, in
comparison to the accessibility of non-indigenous groups. The government hence follows a
holistic approach while dealing with the wider determinants of health pertaining to the lives
of aboriginals, guided by nine basic tenets of improving the life and accessibility of the
indigenous population, through namely spiritual, physical, cultural, social, emotional well
being through proper governance and building community capacity (McDermott et al., 2010).
The main reason behind the inequity of health services in aboriginal and Torres Strait islander
people is due to systemic prejudice. These people have less access to healthcare, and
infrastructure that can be avoided, if the government generates programs, which includes the
lives of the people. The people are prone to more risks pertaining to environment and
behaviour, along with inaccessibility towards proper infrastructure. Hence, the Australian
government to mitigate and bridge the gaps existing in wider determinants of health has
implemented various action plans pertaining to indigenous population like, Indigenous
Australian’s Health Programme, and Action Plans pertaining to different heath plans
(Australia, 2013).
In this report, the strategy pertaining to Diabetes Action plan and reducing Diabetes has been
taken up. Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic condition, wherein the pancreas of the body loses the
ability to produce and secrete insulin, to regulate the blood sugar levels (Falhammar et al.,
2010). These results in further complications like eye, kidney, foot diseases related to
diabetes, strokes, vascular disease, foot problems and nerve damage. It is perceived that 1.1
million people in Australia is suffering from this lifestyle disease, and 85% suffering from
DM 2 type, whereas 12% suffers from DM 1 type. Among the Torres Strait islander people
and aboriginals it has been increasing been common in recent decades although the exact

number of people suffering in this community is difficult to estimate. Among 24 studies,
3.5% to 33.1% of people in this community suffer from diabetes. The health survey
conducted by Government estimated that 1 in 5 above the age of 25 have DM2 (Chen et al.,
2010). The non-indigenous population above 25 years are between 6-8%, which shows
considerable gap. An action plan created by Diabetes Australia helps to improve the diabetes
level among this local community, and reducing impact of the disease among the
marginalised people. There have been higher rates in kidney disorders, heart strokes, eye
damage and various other complications, among this marginalised community, which is the
main reason behind using EQUITY SPA in this study.
The program deals with reducing the impact of diabetes among the people suffering from
diabetes in the Torres Strait islander people and aboriginal community of Australia. The
action plans is created to address the issue of diabetes being an important cause of mortality,
and in reducing the health gap (Australia, 2013). The guiding principles behind the action
plan are to include the family, children and community of the aboriginal community.
Through early engagement by community participation and building trust among the people,
the action plan helps in created culturally fit diabetes prevention strategy. As the disease is an
intergenerational issue, the cycle of diabetes is to be broken through education, pre-
pregnancy, post-pregnancy, and through school programs. The interventions created are
based on long-term programs, for improving sustainability and being innovative and
effective. Moreover, diabetes is prevented by keeping the wider determinants of health
factors like poverty, racism, culture, education and employment of the local community in
forefront (Chamberlain et al., 2015).
Analysis of program using the EQUITY SPA
Examine the SPA
The EQUITY SPA first step depends on Examination of the strategies of the action plan
along with programs created by the Diabetes action plan. The main strategies and
interventions created by the action plan are to enable prevention of diabetes throughout the
life cycle of the person, during their school education, pregnancy and life course of baby and
mother. The strategies, programs and activities of the action plan are to generate a shared
responsibility to reduce the diabetes among the local community (Australia, 2013). The goal
is to prevent the various consequences of co morbid conditions, and to make communities a
healthy place to live in for the aboriginal community. The interventions provided can help in

improving the lifestyles of the people, and enable better community based support programs,
for healthy lifestyle. Community wide intervention strategies are also followed for early
detection and prevention. Tailor made prevention programs helps in working in better
community development and helping families, and individuals in recognising diabetes,
prevention and care for diabetes. Moreover interventions can be achieved through an early
level through school based programs and educational drives. Systematic risk assessments
help in detecting diabetes, and in consultations by professional consultants for improving life
conditions of the aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people. Interventions like Road to good
health programs in Victoria have been arranged for behaviour change interventions, for the
Victorian aboriginal community (McDermott et al., 2010).
Figure: Key stages of SPA in Diabetes Action Plan
(Source- Self)
The SPA theory of the action plan of diabetes takes into account families, children, women,
adults and community of the target population. As the SPA initiatives of the action plan are
community based, the action plan aims at improving the equity of implementing better health
access. For targeting the aboriginal and Torres Strait people, MARVIN software has been
used by including music and language to improve understanding. This is to reduce harm and
minimise harm for the communities through a one-model fits all approach. The action plan
utilises role models and endorsements to increase health benefit promotions.