Photo courtesy of Sandy Scheltema/The Age

More to be done to improve Indigenous health

The results of a recent Australian Medical Association (AMA) study show that much more needs to be done to improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians.
Aboriginal elder Snowy McDonald, from the Papunya community, photo: Brendan Esposito/Fairfaxphotos
Snowy McDonald from the Papunya community received sight restoring surgery as part of The Foundation-coordinated Central Australian Eye Health Program. Photo: Brendan Esposito/Fairfaxphotos

The AMA's The Indigenous Health Report Card 2009 focuses on the current health status of Indigenous males - boys, adolescents and men.

The AMA's president, Andrew Pesce, described the health of indigenous males as being in a "tragic state", with study results showing that Aboriginal men can expect to die 11.5 years earlier than non-indigenous men.

According to a statement released by the AMA, "At every age - from boyhood to manhood - Indigenous males experience higher rates of diseases and conditions that are totally preventable."

The statistics show that between 2005 and 2007, Indigenous boys were 1.4 times more likely to die in the first year of their lives than Indigenous girls, and nearly twice as likely to die as other infants in the general population.

In many Indigenous communities across Australia, levels of poverty are comparable to those in some developing countries. In some parts of the country, between 65 and 70 per cent of Indigenous people die before the age of 65.  

The Foundation's work focuses on tackling the social determinants of poor health and supporting the work of Aboriginal-controlled organisations and health services. Through a series of interrelated projects including eye health, community engagement and development, aural health, literacy, nutrition, women's development, and training and skills development, The Foundation is able to address the underlying causes of health inequity.

Professor Fred Hollows began ground-breaking work to close the life expectancy gap in the 1970's with the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program which screened the eyes of about 62,000 Indigenous Australians over a period of 3 years.

Inspired by Fred's work, The Foundation is committed to working with Indigenous partners to improve the health and well-being of Indigenous people, especially those living in remote communities.