Rural families should be as FITT as any others – but need special consideration

On 15 May, the UN’s International Day of the Family, the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) has called for consideration of the special needs of families in country areas beset by economic and climatic uncertainty and the worst drought in living memory.

This year’s slogan for National Families Week (13-19 May) is FITT Families – Families Investing In Time Together.

The NRHA says that this is an idea that will resonate particularly strongly with rural families at a time when they are under such pressure from drought, water shortages and the uncertainties associated with climate change. Investing in time together is an important issue for a family’s health and wellbeing.

The closure of rural maternity services, and improving patients’ accommodation and travel assistance schemes are two specific issues that need to be addressed by the Government to improve the health of rural families.