Mele Finau Fetu’u Vaka

Clinical Services Manager, Tongan Health Society

Mele Finau Fetu’u Vaka is a clinical services manager, overseeing vaccinator nurses and cold chain policies. She makes sure nurses “go hard on recall” and the outreach team get to those who are hard to get hold of.

Here, she celebrates Tongan Language Week (18-24 August), and talks about why it's important to maintain the language, as well as the recent challenges and achievements in immunisation in the NZ Tongan community.

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What do you love about your role in immunisation?

I love seeing my team serve our family, whānau and community and helping them to catch up with their immunisation schedule.

Why is it important for us to maintainand grow the Tongan language in NZ?

This is so important for our Tongan families to understand and clarify things that they may not understand – such as why it is important to be immunised to protect them from illnesses and disease that can be prevented.

What have been some of the achievements you have seen in immunisation for the Tongan community in recent years?

·        Immunisation campaign and vaccination drive-through during COVID-19

·        Immunisation outreach event which managed to get to some Tongan families who are overdue with immunisations

·        Working in partnership with Tongan churches to do immunisation outreach at their venues (church halls).

‍Could you share some Tongan words that would be helpful for people working immunisation to start out with?

·        Vaccine faito’o huhu malu’i

·        Immunisation huhu malu’i

·        Health mo’ui lelei

·        Love ‘ofa

·        Community nofo ‘a kainga, komiuniti

·        Hello/greeting Malo e Lelei

·        How are you? Fefe Hake?

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What are you most proud of about the NZ Tongan community?

I am so proud of our Tongan people, they want to work together in the community.

The 2024 theme for Tonga Language Week is 'E tu'uloa 'a e lea faka-Tongá 'o ka lea'aki 'i 'api, siasí (lotú), mo e nofo-'a-kāingá - The Tongan Language will be sustainable when used at home, church and in the wider community.

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