Called Young Mums and Bubs, the service is a health promotion programme being established by Hokonui Runanga Health and Social Services and the Hokonui PHO.
Two nurses have been employed to roll out the programme in Gore and will be based at the Hokonui Runanga.
Registered nurses Megan Karena and Jaime Squires have developed the programme, needed to redress the poor statistics related to the difference in life expectancy between Maori and non-Maori.
On Wednesday, Miss Karena and Miss Squires presented their programme to local agencies who would also benefit by having another option for their clients to be referred to.
In 2000, statistics showed that the life expectancy of female Maori was 72, compared with non-Maori females at 82, Miss Karena said.
"In 2002, only 18.6 per cent of Maori mothers were recorded as breastfeeding, with the rate decreasing with maternal age," Miss Karena said.
While the programme was targeted at hapu (pregnant) Maori mothers under the age of 25 and residing in Eastern and Northern Southland, Miss Karena said any hapu woman, or woman with a baby who was in need of the service could contact them.
Services will include breastfeeding promotion and support, mental health support, drug and alcohol education, smoking education and assessing and identifying the different needs of each individual.
If you would like more information about the programme please contact Jaime Squires on 027 387-6393, or Megan Karena on 027 218-4420.
