Helping mums be more healthy

Women and mothers gathered for a Ngamari Free forum of yarning, lunching and learning about consequences of smoking last week.

Part of an initiative of the Wheatbelt Aboriginal Health Service, Yarning Good Ways was hosted at the Southern Wheatbelt Primary Health Service in Narrogin, to help local Aboriginal women become healthier mothers.

WA Country Health Service Tackling Indigenous Smoking officer Vennessa McGuire facilitated the event and said it was a great turnout.

“It is very much about getting our ladies informed about smoking, what is out there to help them quit and what other services there are in our community that they can utilise,” she said.

“We’re also focusing on pregnant women and mumsand answering any questions they might have because some of them might be new mothers.”

The attendees were shown newly developed, educational, animated videos about the harms of smoking, which were part of a suite of clips set to be used in clinics and the community as part of the Ngamari Free program.

The event also offered opportunities to talk with the community midwife, Aboriginal health worker and the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Team.

Boodjari Yorga midwife Miriam Counsel provides support for pregnant Aboriginal women in the community and was one of the event’s facilitators.

“Today focuses on Boodjari Yorga women — nannas, mums, aunties, sisters and their children — we’re trying to promote how important it is not to smoke throughout pregnancy,” she said.

Nicole Culbong was one of the mothers that attended Yarning Good Ways and said she found it very helpful.

“It was very educational and easy to follow,” she said.

“If we could have more programs like this running for mothers and bubs, that would be great,” she said.