Gout is stopping some Maori and Pasifika from having full lives, warns former international netballer and coach Linda Vagana.
“There’s no need for individuals in our communities to suffer and miss out,” the former Silver Ferns player says. “Often they are embarrassed and make jokes or excuses for their pain or injury.
“You don’t have to live with gout and miss out on life’s offerings. It is treatable.”
Gout is a form of arthritis and the most common form of inflammatory arthritis. It is estimated to affect about five per cent of the total population aged 20 and over.
Maori and Pasifika men are most affected, with rates of four and eight times respectively higher than non-Maori and Pasifika.
“It is not just about what you eat,” Vagana says. “Genetics plays a part, and it is hereditary for our people. I want to encourage people that are in pain to get checked out and get back into life.”
Arthritis New Zealand aims to improve the life of every person affected by arthritis. We are a national not-for-profit organisation focused on raising awareness, advocating for those with arthritis and providing advice and support. For more information, phone the helpline 0800 663 463, find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn or visit www.arthritis.org.nz. Help us make a difference for the 700,000+ affected by arthritis in New Zealand by donating online at www.arthritis.org.nz or give $20 by dialling 0900 333 20.
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