Rooted in Culture, Driven by Care

OUR PEOPLE | MEDICAL CARE

For Dr Nazreen Begum Hussain, joining The Fono wasn't simply a career move. It was a calling.

"There are many opportunities to delve into various cultural aspects of the Pasifika community," she says. "My background as a Fiji Indian drew me to this opportunity to help shape the health and well-being of the clients that form The Fono. I feel comfortable to fit in and be part of the Pasifika community."

It's a sense of belonging backed by more than 40 years in healthcare. Nazreen brings that depth of experience to her role as Aiga Fono Care Team Lead and Nurse Practitioner, a role she is the first and only to hold at The Fono. It is a career that has taken her through every stage of life, from delivering babies to caring for people at the end of their lives. And it's a journey that recently reached a significant new milestone.

After seven years of doctoral study, Nazreen has achieved a Doctor of Health Science, an achievement she describes not as a personal triumph, but as a promise kept to the 29 research participants who trusted her with their stories, and a commitment to improving the lives of Indian and Fiji Indian older adults in Aotearoa.

Her research, conducted in two phases and three languages, explored what frailty means to older immigrants in a New Zealand setting. The findings challenged purely medical definitions and revealed the profound social and cultural dimensions of ageing well.

The journey wasn't easy. Nazreen balanced work, study and family while also being on call for four years. Her dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic earned her a recognition award from former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. "My learning became theirs," she says of the effect on her family and colleagues. "It contributed to each of us growing in our own way."

Finding a Home at The Fono

That depth of learning now shapes the way Nazreen works every day at The Fono. Indian and Fiji Indian patients make up a significant part of the community she serves, and she draws on her research directly in her consultations and care plans, a practical framework she has developed and extended to all older adults and their families.

The Fono's integrated model of care, where medical, social and community support are all available in one place, is what makes this kind of holistic practice possible. "There are so many supports in-house which makes it easier to refer clients and ensure their needs are being met," she explains, and it's an environment she believes would be hard to replicate anywhere else.

Care in Action

For over two years Nazreen has led the Aiga Fono Care team, working alongside nurses and social workers while also seeing patients herself. She visits people in their homes, orders tests, prescribes medications, completes death certifications, and supports patients and families through palliative and end of life care. "The role is challenging but vital for our communities," she says. "It allows us to manage the health and wellbeing of our patients in the comfort of their own homes."

Her research has also made her a stronger advocate. "I have become more confident in my quest to meet the needs of older people and in particular those who are frail, physically, psychologically, socially and culturally." She is now working to share her findings more widely, with publications and presentations planned for health professionals and community groups throughout the year.

Outside of work, Nazreen enjoys Zumba, boxing, music, dancing, walking and photography. She shares her life with her husband, three adult children, and five cats: Milo, Cocoa, Mumma Cocoa, Simba and Misty.

It's a full life, rich with learning, service, family and the quiet satisfaction of knowing her work has made a difference.