A health strategy has been developed for the rural areas surrounding Wowan and Dululu in Central Queensland with funding being made available by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.

“The Wowan/Dululu Multi-Purpose Centre (WDMPC) was chosen as the only Queensland pilot site to take part in the Rural Chronic Disease Initiative (RCDI). The RCDI was part of the Commonwealth Government’s Regional Health Strategy announced in the 2000-2001 Budget” said Jo Prior, RCDI Project Officer.

Jo Prior said that under the initiative, funding was received to develop a program to help prevent and better manage chronic diseases in rural and remote communities.

“It was noted that people in regional areas experience higher rates of chronic disease and injury than their counterparts in cities and often do not have the same access to required health services,” Ms Prior said.

The project’s consultants, Dr Sansnee Jirojwong and Ms Pam Savage from the Central Queensland University, identified cardiovascular health, stress and the need for early diagnosis of cancers as major concerns of the community.

“Many activities have been planned for the year, including interactive, education sessions to increase knowledge of cardiac and hypertension diseases. Also as part of the Initiative, ‘Farmsafe Qld’ will conduct audio workshops in Wowan/Dululu, Goovigen and Gogango during February and March to increase the understanding of the causes of hearing loss in rural areas,” Ms Prior reported.

The RCDI is linking many of its activities to services currently provided by the Wowan/Dululu Multi-Purpose Centre. One of these services to complement the RCDI is Audiometric Testing conducted by the Wowan/Dululu Multi-Purpose Centre in conjunction with the Central Queensland University.

Photo: CQU researchers Sansne Dr Sansnee Jirojwong and Pam Savage identified cardiovascular health, stress and the need for early diagnosis of cancers as major concerns of the Wowan/Dululu community.