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Mum becomes unlikely advocate for childhood immunisations
supplied by DDHS 8 February 2014
W
hen Toowoomba mum Michelle Marks was growing up, getting needles to stop diseases wasn’t important. And when it was time to have her own children vaccinated, she followed in the footsteps of her own parents. “Because my mum didn’t think it was needed, I didn’t think to get my first child vaccinated,” Ms Marks said. But now after having subsequent babies, Ms Marks is an advocate of vaccinations. “As my eldest started getting older, I thought, not only didn’t I want him to get sick, I didn’t want him passing on any sickness to his baby siblings,” she said. Ms Marks visited Kobi House at Toowoomba Hospital recently to take advantage of the free immunisation services provided to Indigenous children. Her children two-year-old Nyshaiya Harmony received her second dose of hepatitis A and four year-old Tykia Monai received vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio. Fellow Toowoomba mum of five Sandra Suey agreed that getting her children vaccinated was an important part of being a good parent. “I’ve been coming to Kobi House since my eldest was a baby and she turns 12 this year,” Ms Suey said. “It’s an easy service to access, especially with the kids, and there’s no waiting time.” Advance Health Worker Immunisation Rica Lacey is based at Kobi House and works among a team of clinical nurses to ensure all
Advance Health Worker Immunisation Rica Lacey (back) with Kobi House patient Tamahlii helps provide services to mums like Sandra Suey and bub Bently.
of their Indigenous patients are upto-date with their vaccinations. “My role involves providing parents with information regarding childhood immunisations and BCG (vaccine against tuberculosis) vaccinations, and to schedule their first appointment at Kobi House which includes six-week immunisation, BCG vaccination and a child health check,” Ms Lacey said. “I work in closely with Boomagam Caring, who home-visit babies from birth to six weeks. “I link in with other services,
such as Darling Downs South West Queensland Medicare Local, to assist with transport, ensuring the clients can access Kobi House for their appointments. “I am actively working with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers within Toowoomba Hospital to establish and maintain links with both our community and the services available to our people through the hospital, to ensure our community are able to easily access and use the available services.”
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