28 May 2013
 
The Whanganui District Health Board (WDHB) is set to unveil a DVD that makes no bones about what happens when a baby is shaken.
 
Titled The Power to Protect, the New Zealand-produced DVD will be shown to the Whanganui community on June 10 when National Shaken Baby Prevention programme coordinator Kati Knuuttila visits the city to discuss the DVD and prevention programme.
 
Following a morning showing at the WDHB for invited guests, the public is invited to a viewing  at the Ingestre Street Riverside Community Church Street at 1pm. Health professionals and community workers will attend a ‘train the trainers session’ at 3pm.
 
WDHB violence intervention programme coordinator Barbara Charuk hopes the Whanganui community will make the effort to see the DVD.
 
She says besides having the opportunity to listen to some brutally honest stories from families whose babies were shaken, the DVD provides practical tools for parents who might be feeling stressed.
 
“Tragically, we know that behind the average 20 babies a year who are admitted to New Zealand hospitals with injuries sustained from shaking there are many more who are shaken and not hospitalised,” Mrs Charuk says.
 
“To show our support for the programme, the WDHB has committed to making sure the DVD is seen by the parents of every newborn baby leaving Whanganui Hospital and by everyone in the Whanganui district who works with young families.
 
“This includes midwives, Plunket nurses, Tamariki Ora nurses and staff in public and private organisations working with parents and young children.”
 
Determined that people living in rural areas can see the DVD, Mrs Charuk has arranged showings in Raetihi, Taihape and Marton on 11 June at the following times and venues:

• Ruapehu Reap, 1 Tui Street, Taihape at 12.30pm
• Rangitikei Health Centre, Blackwell Street, Marton at 3pm
• The Centre, Seddon Street, Raetihi at 9.30am.