PEOPLE POWER: Petone residents at a public meeting called to save their medical centre
PETONE residents protesting to keep their medical centre had their voices heard on Monday when a working group was established to look into saving the clinic.
More than 100 people crammed into Te Huinga o Te Whanau Hall in Jackson St for a meeting about the future of their local medical centre, which has been earmarked for closure.
Hutt City Mayor Ray Wallace chaired the meeting, which was attended by Hutt Valley District Health Board CEO Graham Dyer and Primary Health Organisation representative Bridget Allen.
Tears came for some residents as they gave their testimonies to the meeting. Mother Mele Peaua pleaded for the authorities to keep the clinic open.
“We need your help. This is the low-income community that we have. And I think us Maori and Pacific people are the ones who will suffer.”
Mrs Peaua, originally from Tonga, has six children whom she supports by working as a cleaner at three separate schools.
She said she could not afford the extra time it would take to get a health appointment elsewhere, and the amount of hours she worked already affected her family.
“I’m a hard worker. I work three jobs and have no quality time with my children because of this.
“If you want me to go to another [centre], you’ll have to get me another job.”
The working group for the Petone medical centre is to be facilitated by Mr Wallace and the council.
Also on the night, another group, to be called Positive Petone, was formed.
This group, which is to be based on the Positive Pomare group, will focus on the broader issues of Petone.
