First Nations Healthy Skin Program

First Nations Healthy Skin Program

North West Hospital and Health Service and our partners have established the First Nations Healthy Skin Program which is funded by the Connected Community Pathways initiative. This new service will be available in Mount Isa, Doomadgee, Mornington Island and Normanton.

This program raises awareness of skin conditions such as skin sores, scabies, fungal infections and head lice, and provides the community with information on the connection between skin and heart health, including the potential to cause Acute Rheumatic Fever which can lead to Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD).  RHD is preventable. Preventing Strep A infections in the skin or throat or treating them with antibiotics when they do occur is key to the elimination of RHD.

The First Nations Healthy Skin program offers:

• Health promotion and education
• Skin and throat screening/checks
• Treatment
• Home visiting
• Information to support the prevention and management of skin and throat infections
• Community awareness events
• Healthy homes tips
• Referral to other services for further assessment and follow-up care

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers have taken the lead in community care and engagement on this program.By providing resources and information the community can understand how skin health affects our health and wellbeing. We encourage anyone with a skin infection or sore throat to see a doctor or health worker as soon as possible.

Resources can be downloaded below:

• pdf (rhdaustralia.org.au)
• pdf (rhdaustralia.org.au)
• 5.pdf (squarespace.com)
• ONED0004-16-17_Scabies-Remote-Com_Guides_2017_24pg-A4_(v10)_Digital.pdf (squarespace.com)
• ONED0004-16-17_Recurrent-Scabies_Guides_2017_16pg-A4_(v10)_Digital.pdf (squarespace.com)
• https://www.darlingdowns.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/165715/6321-6stepstoclearingscabies.pd

For more information, please contact:

e. NWHHS.SkinHealth@health.qld.gov.au

ph. Clinical Nurse Consultant – 0459 381 923

ph. Clinical Nurse – 0458 312 735

ph. Clinical Nurse – 0492 044 528