Not everyone can say they trained to become a registered nurse while still studying at high school, but that’s exactly what Hawke’s Bay DHB’s maternal and smokefree coordinator Alena Edmonds did.
Born and bred in the Czech Republic, choosing a career path at the age of 14 was the norm.
“It’s just how our education system worked over there, when I was 14 I had to choose a specialty or a trade, so I decided to choose nursing,” she said.
While the first two years of training were academic, Alena said the final two years involved practical training at the local hospital every morning for a half a day before returning to school to continue studying other mainstream high school subjects.
“I’m so pleased I chose nursing because it opened the door to becoming a trained midwife, a profession I’m so passionate about and love.
“After I arrived in New Zealand and become serious to stay here, I organised my registration as a registered midwife and have been with Hawke’s Bay DHB for just over 10 years now working in Ata Rangi and then as a casual midwife while raising my own young family.”
These days Alena’s focus has turned to a smokefree position focusing on maternal health and wellbeing of mama, pēpē and whānau as the DHB’s maternal and smokefree coordinator.
“I was yearning for something extra and I wasn’t sure what that was, but I have absolutely found it with this role which I’ve been doing for almost two years now.
“It’s important people know good support networks are in place to achieve their smokefree goals and I enjoy being that link between health professionals and whānau.”
Hawke’s Bay DHB works in partnership with Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, Te Kupenga Hauora – Ahuriri and Choices Kahungunu health services to provide a variety of free smokefree supports by qualified stop smoking practitioners through a regional stop smoking service, Te Haa Matea (easy breath) Hawke’s Bay.
Last year, 1 January to 31 December 2019, Te Haa Matea successfully supported 425 people to become smokefree. People who quit smoking save on average $12,000 per year (based on smoking a pack of cigarettes per day).
Alena says COVID-19’s Level 4 lockdown provided some additional challenges, but the team adapted and clients were still well supported through their smokefree programmes.
“Our team continued to provide phone consults and contactless deliveries of nicotine replacement therapies.
“Instead of lighting up a cigarette, light bulb moments happened. Lockdown really helped some of our clients to start thinking differently about their life and focus on how they could deal better with triggers and craving periods.”
Alena says while the choice to quit will always be a personal one, it was important people knew good support networks were in place to help them achieve their smokefree goals.
“We offer this free service from Wairoa to Central Hawke’s Bay. People can refer themselves via the team’s Facebook page or by calling our freephone number 0800 300 377, or they can be referred by their family doctor or midwife.
“Te Haa Matea provides a whole wraparound package of support from group or one-on-one support sessions to free nicotine replacement therapy and other incentives along the way, such as free nappy packs for pregnant women who successfully give up smoking.”
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