NZ - Fluoride poll costs put at $182,000
Fluoride poll costs put at $182,000
Dunedin
By Elspeth McLean on Wed, 4 Jun 2008
News: Dunedin
Do you agree with the fluoridation of drinking water? Public relations costs accounted for almost a third of the money spent on fluoride referendums held in conjunction with last year's local government elections in Otago and Southland.
In a written response to questions raised by the Otago Daily Times, Otago District Health Board chief executive BrianRousseau said the anticipated total cost of the Vote Fluoride Campaign was $182,000, with the public relations component totalling almost $57,500.
The board was still waiting for some of the accounts, but holding the referendums with the local body elections was cheaper than holding them in isolation.
After the poll, a further $18,000 had been spent on a telephone survey into the effectiveness of the campaign, carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
The ministry paid $175,000 towards the campaign and the rest would be paid from Public Health South's operational budget. Public Health South covers both Otago and Southland and is funded directly by the ministry.
The referendums were held in Central Otago, Waitaki, Southland towns and some Clutha towns. Mr Rousseau said it was not possible to provide a breakdown of costs into geographical areas.
Results were varied.
None of the polls in the Waitaki district was in favour; in Southland, Ohai was the only town marginally in favour, with a dead heat in Lumsden;all three Clutha towns were in favour and Central Otago showed Alexandra, Cromwell and the Maniototo area in favour with other towns against.
Asked whether he considered the referendums value for money given the mixed outcome, Mr Rousseau said following the polls about 12,000 additional people could now have piped supplies of water with optimum levels of fluoride for the first time.
He said because adding fluoride prevented dental decay and benefited people's dental and overall health, having more people drinking fluoridated water would reduce demand on health services, benefiting everyone in Otago and Southland.
"Worldwide, people are realising the need to move towards helping people avoid developing health problems, based on the philosophy, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Our seeking of referendums was a concrete expression of that approach and our desire to help prevent disease in the people of our region as much as we can."
Fluoride Action Network NZ (Fannz) has expressed concern about the referendums in Central Otago, Clutha and Southland, suggesting they were biased and unreliable because the only information at the poll was that provided by the Ministry of Health.
Spokeswoman Olive McRae said it was not acceptable for the Ministry of Health to provide information for the opposing side.
In Waitaki, which voted against fluoridation, residents were given sheets with both ministry information and Fannz information, she said.
Dunedin
By Elspeth McLean on Wed, 4 Jun 2008
News: Dunedin
Do you agree with the fluoridation of drinking water? Public relations costs accounted for almost a third of the money spent on fluoride referendums held in conjunction with last year's local government elections in Otago and Southland.
In a written response to questions raised by the Otago Daily Times, Otago District Health Board chief executive BrianRousseau said the anticipated total cost of the Vote Fluoride Campaign was $182,000, with the public relations component totalling almost $57,500.
The board was still waiting for some of the accounts, but holding the referendums with the local body elections was cheaper than holding them in isolation.
After the poll, a further $18,000 had been spent on a telephone survey into the effectiveness of the campaign, carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
The ministry paid $175,000 towards the campaign and the rest would be paid from Public Health South's operational budget. Public Health South covers both Otago and Southland and is funded directly by the ministry.
The referendums were held in Central Otago, Waitaki, Southland towns and some Clutha towns. Mr Rousseau said it was not possible to provide a breakdown of costs into geographical areas.
Results were varied.
None of the polls in the Waitaki district was in favour; in Southland, Ohai was the only town marginally in favour, with a dead heat in Lumsden;all three Clutha towns were in favour and Central Otago showed Alexandra, Cromwell and the Maniototo area in favour with other towns against.
Asked whether he considered the referendums value for money given the mixed outcome, Mr Rousseau said following the polls about 12,000 additional people could now have piped supplies of water with optimum levels of fluoride for the first time.
He said because adding fluoride prevented dental decay and benefited people's dental and overall health, having more people drinking fluoridated water would reduce demand on health services, benefiting everyone in Otago and Southland.
"Worldwide, people are realising the need to move towards helping people avoid developing health problems, based on the philosophy, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Our seeking of referendums was a concrete expression of that approach and our desire to help prevent disease in the people of our region as much as we can."
Fluoride Action Network NZ (Fannz) has expressed concern about the referendums in Central Otago, Clutha and Southland, suggesting they were biased and unreliable because the only information at the poll was that provided by the Ministry of Health.
Spokeswoman Olive McRae said it was not acceptable for the Ministry of Health to provide information for the opposing side.
In Waitaki, which voted against fluoridation, residents were given sheets with both ministry information and Fannz information, she said.
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