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Hāpai Te Hauora, New Zealand’s largest Māori Public Health organization, is leading efforts to raise awareness and decrease the number of families affected by Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Infants (SUDI). The organization marked National Safe Sleep Day last Friday, reminding people to be extra careful during the colder months when the risk of SUDI increases.
Hāpai CEO, Jacqui Harema, emphasized the need to reduce the number of SUDI cases, which currently stands at 40 to 60 infants per year across the country. The organization’s goal is to support families and lower the occurrence of SUDI through a national, unified approach.
SUDI is the main cause of preventable deaths for babies aged 28 days to one year, with most cases happening between two and four months of age. Māori and Pacific infants have consistently higher rates of SUDI compared to non-Māori and non-Pacific infants.
Fay Selby-Law, General Manager of the National SUDI Prevention Coordination Service, said Safe Sleep Day is a chance to stress the importance of safe sleep practices for babies. These include breastfeeding, immunizations, and dressing babies in natural fibers to keep them warm.
Hāpai Te Hauora offers several resources, including a mobile app for SUDI prevention and awareness. The organization is also planning a workshop next week for the SUDI prevention and Tobacco control sectors to update them on research, clinical practice, community engagement, and Māori worldviews.
