Ganna Research Network
Improving Heart Health for Peoples of Fiji Living in Aotearoa-NZ
Improving heart health for Peoples of Fiji living in Aotearoa-NZ
Our goals
Evidence-based advocacy
Equity in health and wellbeing
Engaging Peoples of Fiji in celebrating the resilience, strength, and cultural practices of their foremothers
About us
As Peoples of Fiji, we propose conducting the first ever genetics study focused on premature coronary artery disease which runs in families at disproportionately high rates within our community.
Peoples of Fiji (including i-Taukei, Rotuman and Indo-Fijian ethnic groups) form approximately 2% of Aotearoa’s population and potentially experience 20% of all premature coronary events under 40-years of age in NZ. Due to inadequate ethnicity capture for our people groups (particularly for Fijian and Fijian Indian respondents), data for Peoples of Fiji are inadequately represented in health reporting, risk assessment calculations and academic reporting.
We are currently undertaking community-wide discussions regarding the cultural frameworks with Fijian (i-Taukei, Rotuman and Indo-Fijian) communities to deepen trust, relationship and partnership and to ensure a solid foundation of leadership for future work. Including all major ethnic groups in this process is important to ensure data interpretation and analysis is performed by people who have the relevant historical, cultural and contextual understanding of the data being analysed.
