Dr Lance O'Sullivan and his wife Tracey at their GP clinic 'Te Kohanga Whakaora'. PICTURE/PETRINA HODGSON

Dr Lance O’Sullivan and his wife Tracey at their GP clinic ‘Te Kohanga Whakaora’. PICTURE/PETRINA HODGSON

Kaitaia GP Lance O’Sullivan was named New Zealander of the Year last night in recognition of his initiatives to improve the health of Māori and children in the Far North.

His Kaitaia-based health projects have included free medical clinics, the school-based Manawa Ora Korokoro Ora health services for over 2000 children in the Kaitaia area, his low-cost clinic Te Kohanga Whakaora providing basic healthcare and the Kainga Ora (Well Home) project. The housing improvement programme sprang from his realisation that improving people’s homes was more effective in improving their health than writing prescriptions for recurring respiratory and other illnesses of poverty.

Dr O’Sullivan’s efforts for a community approach to helping overcome poverty-related health and wellbeing issues included challenging 2013 Far North mayoral and council candidates to cut the number of pokie machines in the district.

 

 

We’re thrilled that someone so humble and who is doing so much good for the community in Northland has been recognised with this prestigious award! Congratulations Dr O’Sullivan.
(text from NORTHERN ADVOCATE)