A study led by Dr. Viliami Puloka, a Tongan doctor based at the University of Otago, found that only 35% of Tongans in New Zealand participate in bowel cancer screenings, compared to 58% of the general population.
In speaking to RNZ, Dr. Puloka stressed the need for a “by Tongan, for Tongan” approach to address this gap. “Many Tongans face unnecessary deaths because the programme isn’t easily accessible to them,” he said. His team’s research, conducted with focus groups of Tongan-born New Zealanders over 60, underscored the importance of culturally tailored services.
The study, funded by the Cancer Society of New Zealand, calls for community-based screenings led by Tongan providers to improve accessibility and participation. Dr. Puloka said, “Most want to feel part of the solution, not just a problem to be fixed.”
The findings have been published in the New Zealand Medical Journal.