Fluoride Action Network Hutt Valley DHB contract

The Ministry of Health has contracted the Hutt Valley District Health Board to promote fluoridation regardless of public wishes, or the facts, as is apparent from the terms of that contract, reproduced below.

HVDHB adopted this contract without a vote of the Board as unilateral acceptance was "within the authority of the CEO".

But that does not explain why the CEO did not consider it appropriate to obtain a mandate from the Board on such a controversial issue – what was he afraid of?

This attempt to force upon the public a measure opposed by most who vote on the issue, is being funded by those who are its intended victims - the taxpayer - by $111,100 per year for 3 years.

The contract:

Key service components

Support the public and oral health sectors to provide co-ordinated, and effective

Health promotion, education, and advocacy services, and
Increase the numbers of fluoridated water supplies.Output One: National Co-ordination and support for fluoridation of drinking water supplies throughout New Zealand.

Strategy	Performance Indicator
1. Improving information dissemination and collaboration	Develop and manage a national email network for the public and oral health sectors. This email network would help to improve information dissemination and collaboration between various stakeholders, which could include research, policy and literature and also help to promote resources available for both sectors. Develop and manage a national water fluoridation contacts database. This would enable efficient management of the service that would in turn contribute to each of the strategies. Hold an annual National Fluoride Forum on behalf of the Ministry of Health. To be attended by personnel from the Public Health Sector, including dental and personal health representatives from public health services, DHBs, Maori and appropriate NGOs, and the NZDA and PHA. Investigate the feasibility of a national committee/advisory group, made up of representatives from around New Zealand and from a range of appropriate organisations. Establish a New Zealand Water Fluoridation website (possibly off the MoH website). RPH would set this up both as a public site, for the raising of awareness about oral public health, as well as with authorised access for communication and development of ongoing strategy between key stakeholders. The website would enable policy and government literature to be readily accessible to national and international audiences and help promote public oral health and water fluoridation, including resources available. Investigate the feasibility of conducting annual/regular surveys and setting up a standard survey for service providers to save costs nationally.
2. Raising awareness and knowledge about oral public health and water fluoridation to communities, and public and personal health representatives.	Develop and manage a national email network for the public and oral health sectors (see Strategy 1) Hold an annual National Fluoride Forum on behalf of the Ministry of Health (see Strategy 1) Establish a New Zealand Water Fluoridation website (see Strategy 1)
3. Promoting national resources available for communities in New Zealand	Ongoing scanning of effective strategies for water fluoridation promotion. Including liaison with service providers to gather and share information on effective and ineffective strategies. Develop and manage a national email network for the public and oral health sectors (see Strategy 1)
4. Promoting national resources available for health professionals in New Zealand	Develop and strengthen links with Oral Health Promoters to maximise opportunities to incorporate water fluoridation into wider oral health promotion activities. Investigate the feasibility of conducting annual/regular surveys and setting up a standard survey for service providers. Develop and manage a national email network for the public and oral health sectors (see Strategy 1)
5.Disseminating recent research. This would involve ongoing liaison with the MoH, Dental Research Unit, ESR and Community Dental Services on relevant research projects related to oral health and water fluoridation.	Establish a New Zealand Water Fluoridation website (see Strategy 1) Develop and manage a national water fluoridation contacts and database (see Strategy 1) Develop and manage a national email network for the public and oral health sectors (see Strategy 1)
6. Providing rebuttals on anti-fluoridation lobby claims (With no consideration as to the truth of those claims apparently – Ed) - Liaise with Ministry staff to provide advice on media activities relating to water fluoridation.	Effective liaison and communication with the Ministry is maintained before rebuttals are made in various media.
7. Making policy and government literature on oral public health and water fluoridation readily accessible for national and international audiences	Establish a New Zealand Water Fluoridation website (see Strategy 1) Develop and manage a national email network for the public and oral health sectors (see Strategy 1)
8. Sharing information on oral public health and water fluoridation internationally.	Establish a New Zealand Water Fluoridation website (see Strategy 1)
9. Co-ordinating responses to the media, proactive and reactive, on public oral health and water fluoridation.	Monitor media nationally to identify potential issues and alert public health and oral health audiences where necessary. This will enable timely responses to counter anti-fluoridation claims. (With no consideration as to the truth of those claims apparently – Ed) It may also be appropriate to provide media advice to local audiences and/or provide them with relevant information to assist in their responses. Effective liaison and communication with the Ministry is maintained before rebuttals are made in various media.