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Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI: Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and the University of Ottawa Accelerate Low Dose Radiation Research and Foster Next Generation of Scientists

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHALK RIVER, Ontario, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology organization, and the University of Ottawa (uOttawa), one of Canada’s most innovative universities, are pleased to announce a new partnership to advance knowledge, education, research and innovation in low dose radiation (LDR) exposure health effects.

    Leveraging the leading research organizations’ complementary capabilities, the new partnership builds on CNL’s global leadership in LDR research with the establishment of a CNL-led LDR innovation hub, accelerating research critical to public safety and the health of Canadians. It will also serve to increase capabilities, education and training opportunities to graduate students and early career researchers.

    The partnership will also extend uOttawa researchers’ access to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s world class facilities at Chalk River Laboratories, including the unique Biological Research Facility, associated irradiation facilities and LDR Tissue Bank, and establishes a CNL satellite laboratory within uOttawa’s new Advanced Medical Research Centre (AMRC) – set to open in 2026. This physical presence will be co-located with the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB) as well as uOttawa state-of-the-art Core Facilities, which altogether will support new research directions in radiation sciences and advanced organoid-based systems biology. These areas are rapidly developing strengths at uOttawa, positioning the university as a national, and potentially international, leader in this field. uOttawa will also offer reciprocal access to key research facilities on campus, in addition to those located at the faculty of medicine and in AMRC.

    “As a major player in the global research and development effort to support LDR research, CNL is focused on the prevention or reduction of radiation exposure effects in workers, patients and the larger population,” says Dr. Stephen Bushby, Vice-President, Science & Technology, CNL. “We are very excited to include uOttawa as a major partner in the work needed to shed light on this complex field of research.”

    As part of this partnership, CNL will be contributing towards the acquisition of a mass spectrometer, which will be installed in the in the Metabolomics Core Facility at uOttawa. This strategic investment, supporting collaborative initiatives between OISB and CNL, will enable leading-edge single-cell metabolomics and spatial metabolomics, a rapidly advancing field with transformative potential in biomedical research. This will be the only equipment of its kind in eastern Canada, offering unique capabilities for high-resolution chemical imaging at the cellular level. The instrument will not only serve researchers at uOttawa, but also attract national and international collaborators, firmly establishing uOttawa as a leader in metabolomics and precision health research.

    The mass spectrometer will be a central component of the new Spatial Biology and Single-Cell Suite (3S) within the AMRC. This cutting-edge suite will integrate transformative new technologies into a coordinated workflow that complements and enhances five existing and intensively used Core Facilities: Flow Cytometry, Metabolomics, Gene Editing, Cellular Imaging, and Bioinformatics. By bridging these platforms, 3S will significantly expand research capabilities in some of uOttawa’s strongest areas of discovery, particularly brain, heart, and cancer biology—driving breakthroughs in systems biology, precision medicine, and therapeutic development.

    “This new equipment, the only one of its kind in Eastern Canada, positions the University of Ottawa as a leader in metabolomics and precision health research, while attracting national and international collaborations,” says Julie St-Pierre, Interim Vice-President, Research and Innovation, uOttawa.

    This new partnership builds on over a decade of collaborative research involving CNL and multiple uOttawa faculties, including Engineering, Science and Medicine. These collaborations have advanced understanding of the biomedical impacts of LDR, including studies on DNA damage and repair, protein synthesis, epigenetics, mitochondrial biology, metabolism, immunity, and stem cell functions. As part of this partnership, CNL has also provided funding support for postdoctoral fellow stipends, further enabling high-impact research and talent development.

    With the field of LDR research growing and Canadian leadership in LDR research well-recognized, both organizations will continue to explore additional opportunities to further strengthen this partnership.

    About CNL

    As Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology laboratory and working under the direction of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance – restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.

    By leveraging the assets owned by AECL, CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions.

    To learn more about CNL, please visit www.cnl.ca.

    About the University of Ottawa

    The University of Ottawa is powered by research. Located in Canada’s capital, we bring together energetic and creative scholars to tackle urgent global challenges and to respond to emerging opportunities.

    As one of Canada’s most innovative universities, we generate breakthroughs and discoveries that make a real difference in communities across Ontario, Canada and the world. Our thought leaders provide evidence-based insights that inform policy and support industry.

    Our influence keeps growing due to our vast range of international partnerships, including our membership in the U7+ Alliance. As the world’s largest French-English university, we are a driving force in the Francophonie.

    To learn more about uOttawa, please visit www.uottawa.ca.

    CNL Contact:
    Philip Kompass
    Director, Corporate Communications
    1-866-886-2325
    media@cnl.ca

    uOttawa contact:
    media@uottawa.ca

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c4cd1c0-401a-44e6-83ce-e65ea78dc6b4

    The MIL Network –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: Children’s health and comprehensive development is our priority task

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko spoke at an extended joint meeting of the State Duma committees. The event was held as part of preparations for the government hour on the topic of “On protecting the health of schoolchildren and on the development of physical education and mass children’s and youth sports.”

    The meeting was also attended by Deputy Chairmen of the State Duma Vladislav Davankov and Irina Yarovaya, Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov, State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Sports Alexander Nikitin, chairmen of five committees and leaders of five factions in the State Duma.

    “The health and comprehensive development of children is our top priority. I thank all the deputies who pay attention to this issue. As President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin says, there is nothing more important not only for any family, but also for the state, than children. We are guided by this and work together with you in such areas as improving the educational process, properly distributing the workload of schoolchildren, involving children in systematic physical education and sports, and others. This is already bringing tangible results,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The Deputy Prime Minister thanked the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin for the effective organization of the work and outlined the key areas of interaction between the deputies and the Government.

    In the field of education, systematic work is being carried out to create safe conditions for children to stay in educational institutions. A balanced academic and extracurricular load is provided for schoolchildren, and a unified lesson schedule is being developed.

    Medical offices are being opened and renovated in general education organizations. Over three years, about 1.4 thousand general education organizations with medical offices have been renovated.

    The coverage of medical examinations has increased to almost 98%, and almost all children’s clinics have been modernized. Preventive work is being carried out: over 1 million children passed through children’s health centers alone last year. Free hot meals for primary school children have been organized by order of the President. According to social surveys, over 80% of parents and students are satisfied with the quality of free hot meals.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko also noted the work on involving children in systematic sports activities. For this purpose, a single sports and educational space is created and sports events are held annually. Work is also underway with all-Russian sports federations to expand modules in physical education classes. There are already 32 such modules.

    “As part of the federal project “Success of Every Child”, we have significantly updated our material and technical base. Today, there are more than 60 thousand physical education and sports clubs of all types operating throughout the country, with about 24 million people involved, including 7.5 million children. We are opening early physical development centers for children, including in preschool educational organizations. We are paying special attention to creating additional opportunities for children with disabilities. About 400 thousand such children regularly attend more than 130 thousand adapted facilities,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

    Last year alone, around 680 mass events took place in different regions. School sports leagues are actively developing. More than 3 million children met the GTO standards last year.

    “We are creating a sports reserve of gifted children – this is the key to Russia’s future success in international competitions. Today, 14 thousand of these young athletes, our stars, are part of national teams in 111 sports. The guys are trained according to federal standards and programs by 89 thousand coaches,” added Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The “Zemsky Trainer” program is being launched in 28 regions, which will allow trainers to receive a lifting allowance of up to 2 million rubles. The coverage of the population receiving a tax deduction for physical education and health services is expanding.

    Also, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, it is necessary to take control of the issue of banning the collection of fees from athletes under 18 years of age for participation in official competitions.

    The Russian Sports Fund will be created in the country. One of its tasks will be the development of children’s and youth sports. The fund will assist regions and federations in purchasing sports equipment, organizing and holding competitions, and compensating expenses for events.

    Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov noted that requirements aimed at regulating the workload of students have been established at the legislative level.

    “A law has been adopted that approved unified federal educational programs. This year, order No. 704 comes into force, which establishes calendar and lesson planning. It establishes how many hours are allocated for studying a particular subject. We also standardized the number of tests and assessments, homework. The order has been agreed with Rospotrebnadzor, takes into account all requirements to eliminate excessive workload on students. It is very important that regions follow it in organizing the educational process,” noted Sergey Kravtsov.

    According to the Ministry of Health, a comprehensive approach to protecting children’s health, including the implementation of national projects and programs, allows Russia to achieve results recognized throughout the world: child mortality has decreased more than 2 times over the past 10 years. Over the past 5 years, it has been possible to achieve maximum coverage of schoolchildren with preventive examinations. About 85% of children are healthy or almost healthy. In addition, since 2024, expanded neonatal screening has been introduced for all children, which allows for the detection of severe diseases and metabolic diseases at the preclinical stage, and therefore, to begin timely treatment and take comprehensive measures for the rehabilitation and social adaptation of children, including in the school environment.

    According to the Ministry of Sports, 9 out of 10 children are already involved in an active lifestyle. This figure is the result of consistent state policy to popularize mass sports among young people and create accessible infrastructure.

    In the DPR, LPR, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, it is planned to build 19 open-air sports and fitness complexes by the end of 2025. 12 facilities have already been built, and 7 more will be completed by the end of the year.

    According to the Ministry of Education, more than 90% of schools have all the necessary conditions for physical education and sports. Over the past 5 years, together with the United Russia party, the material and technical base for physical education has been updated in more than 5 thousand schools. As part of capital construction, more than 1.5 thousand gyms of general education organizations have been renovated. In 2025, major repairs are planned for 897 gyms of general education organizations in 82 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, including in new regions.

    In conclusion, the Government representatives agreed with the State Duma deputies to continue to jointly resolve issues.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: In Impassioned Speech, Pressley Calls for Justice for Adriana Smith, Condemns GOP’s Cruel Abortion Bans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    30-Year-Old Pregnant Mother Declared Brain-Dead at 9 Weeks Pregnant Mandated to Remain on Life Support Under Georgia’s Cruel Abortion Ban

    “This is cruelty. The latest episode in a long history of the experimentation and exploitation of Black bodies. I grieve for Adriana’s family. For the torture they are experiencing, layered with the daily uncertainty they are navigating as they try to do right by their daughter and lay her to rest peacefully. Her parents are by her bedside. Her 5-year-old asks when will mommy wake up.”

    Video (YouTube)

    WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, delivered an impassioned speech on the House floor demanding justice for Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old pregnant mother who was declared brain dead in February and forcibly remains on life support due to Georgia’s abortion ban. She underscored that Adriana’s case is far too common in the unjust history of denying Black women their dignity, humanity, and right to bodily autonomy – and that GOP abortion bans such as Georgia’s deepen this pain and bar critical healthcare freedom.

    A transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks, as delivered, is available below, and the full video is available here.

    Transcript: In Impassioned Speech, Pressley Calls for Justice for Adriana Smith, Condemns GOP’s Cruel Abortion Bans

    U.S. House of Representatives

    June 5, 2025

    Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the story of Adriana Smith.

    Adriana Smith was a 30-year-old nurse from Georgia. 

    The mother of a vibrant 5-year-old boy. 

    She started to experience debilitating headaches, and she sought medical care. 

    She was discharged, her pain dismissed – as is so often the case in this country and certainly in our healthcare system for Black women. 

    The next morning, Adriana woke up gasping for air and was taken to Emory Hospital where she was declared brain dead.

    There are no words to provide healing for a pain this deep. 

    A dedicated and loving mother, a compassionate nurse, gone at the age of 30. 

    In the days that followed, Adriana’s family and son should have been able to make a solemn independent decision about what happened next as they celebrated her life, as they mourned this devastating loss, as they pieced their lives back together and began helping their 5-year-old cope with the grief and loss of his precious mother.

    But the state of Georgia denied Adriana her bodily autonomy and dignity in death. In the days and weeks that followed her family found themselves in a desperate battle with Emory Hospital. 

    The hospital believed that the anti-abortion bill that Georgia enacted in 2022 following the gutting of Roe v. Wade tied the hospital’s hands, mandating that Adriana’s body – her brain-dead body – remain hooked to machines, not because there was any chance of survival – she had already transitioned. 

    But because Adriana was 9 weeks pregnant, about a month past a missed period. 

    Adriana’s body has been turned into an incubator. 

    An incubator with no medical rationale, no ethical reason, and no compassion.

    Mr. Speaker, from the days of enslavement Black women’s bodies have been subject to medical abuse, assault, and degradation in this country. 

    We are more likely to die in childbirth. We are routinely denied medical care. We are dehumanized. And like the case of Adriana Smith, our bodies and our dignity are desecrated in death.

    This is cruelty. The latest episode in a long history of the experimentation and exploitation of Black bodies.

    I grieve for Adriana’s family. For the torture they are experiencing, layered with the daily uncertainty they are navigating as they try to do right by their daughter and lay her to rest peacefully. 

    Her parents are by her bedside. Her 5-year-old asks when will mommy wake up.

    Adriana should be here today – her blood clots treated, her voice trusted, her pain believed. 

    She should be decorating a nursery for her little son with her family and celebrating her son’s last day of kindergarten. 

    But Adriana’s body lies hooked to machines, in a hospital bed as part of an unjust medical experiment for more than 3 months. 

    No family should have to endure this. None of us are free until all of us are free. 

    I yield.  

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Executive at Investor Relations Firm and Two Associates Plead Guilty to Insider Trading Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    Robert Yedid, Andrew Kaufman, and Mark Jacobs Admit to Illegal Trading in Several Health Care Company Clients of Investor Relations Firm

    Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that ROBERT YEDID, ANDREW KAUFMAN, and MARK JACOBS pled guilty to participating in a five-year insider trading scheme to reap illegal profits from stock and options trading based on inside information about several health care company clients of the investor relations firm where YEDID was employed.  Together, YEDID, KAUFMAN and JACOBS made more than $500,000 in illicit gains through this scheme.  JACOBS pled guilty today before U.S. Chief District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.  YEDID and KAUFMAN pled guilty before Chief Judge Swain on May 29, 2025.

    “Robert Yedid betrayed the trust of his employer and its clients by stealing confidential information and passing it to two friends, Andrew Kaufman and Mark Jacobs, to make unlawful, profitable trades based on inside information,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “This Office is committed to prosecuting securities fraud and ensuring that insiders and their friends can’t cheat their way to profits.  With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to police the financial markets and hold those accountable who misuse nonpublic information for personal gain.” 

    FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “Robert Yedid abused his authority as a former investor relations director and provided his friends with material nonpublic information to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit profits.  By betraying the trust placed in his position, Yedid established an unlawful financial advantage for his insular social circle that was not afforded to all investors.  May today’s plea serve as a deterrent to any individual who exploits confidential trading information for personal benefit.”

    According to the allegations contained in the Information and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:

    Between 2019 and 2024, YEDID, KAUFMAN, and JACOBS engaged in a scheme to trade in stocks and options based on material nonpublic information about several publicly traded health care companies, in violation of the duties of trust and confidence that YEDID owed to his employer, an investor relations firm, and to the companies.

    YEDID was a director at an investor relations firm that provided public relations services to health care companies, including BioDelivery Sciences International Inc. (“BDSI”), CinCor Pharma (“CinCor”), Inotiv (“Inotiv”), Inspire Medical Systems (“Inspire”), Nano-X Imaging Ltd. (“Nano-X”), and OncoCyte Corp. (“OncoCyte”).  In this role, YEDID had access to the content of upcoming press releases, which often contained highly sensitive, non-public, and potentially market-moving news, such as earning reports, regulatory approvals, clinical trial results, and merger and acquisition announcements.  YEDID owed a duty of trust and confidence to his employer and its clients and was prohibited from misusing or disclosing the firm’s confidential information for personal gain or to benefit others.

    Beginning in 2019, YEDID knowingly and willfully tipped his friends, KAUFMAN and JACOBS, with valuable, nonpublic information of upcoming corporate announcements involving at least six client companies.  That confidential information included advanced notice of an upcoming merger for BDSI; clinical trial results for healthcare products being developed by OncoCyte and CinCor; and quarterly earnings announcements for Inspire, Nano-X, and Inotiv.

    YEDID understood and intended that the information he provided to KAUFMAN and JACOBS would be used to execute securities trades before the information became public.  As expected, KAUFMAN and JACOBS executed trades based on YEDID’s tips.  In many cases, KAUFMAN and JACOBS traded aggressively in the securities of the companies, often purchasing shares or options just days before major announcements were made.  Together, KAUFMAN and JACOBS traded in stocks and options on at least 17 different occasions based on YEDID’s tips.  KAUFMAN generated profits of more than $480,000, and JACOBS generated profits of more than $35,000. In exchange for the tips, KAUFMAN shared half of his illegal profits with YEDID by giving him cash in envelopes during various meetings in New York City.

    In November 2024, FBI agents approached YEDID, KAUFMAN, and JACOBS as part of this investigation.  Shortly after being contacted by the FBI, KAUFMAN intentionally deleted spreadsheets he maintained that listed the illegal profits he made through trading based on YEDID’s tips.  KAUFMAN deleted these records in order to impede and obstruct the FBI’s investigation.

    *               *                *

    YEDID, 67, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

    KAUFMAN, 68, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison; and one count of obstruction of justice, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

    JACOBS, 77, of Malvern, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

    YEDID is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge Swain on September 12, 2025, at 2:30 p.m; KAUFMAN is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge Swain on September 18, 2025, at 11 a.m; and JACOBS is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge Swain on September 19, 2025, at 11 a.m.

    The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. 

    Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI.  Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its cooperation and assistance in this investigation. 

    The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Rothman is in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Diverticular disease: the surprisingly common gut condition you’ve probably never heard of

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sophie Davies, Lecturer in Nutrition & Dietetics, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University

    It’s not something people often talk about at the dinner table, but your gut health plays a huge role in your overall wellbeing. And one of the most common conditions affecting the large intestine is diverticular disease.

    Diverticular disease or diverticulosis is where small bulges or pouches (called diverticula) form in the wall of the colon, often due to a weakening in the muscle layer. These pouches are usually harmless, but in some cases they can become inflamed or infected – a condition known by the slightly different name of diverticulitis.

    Around 70% of people in western countries will have developed diverticular disease by the time they reach 80. It’s also increasingly showing up in younger adults, which may be linked to the low-fibre, highly processed nature of many modern diets. UK dietary surveys show that people are currently consuming only 60% of their recommended daily fibre intake.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    The reasons some people develop diverticular disease and others don’t aren’t fully understood. However, several factors have been identified as contributors, including the structure and movement of the colon, diet, fibre intake, obesity, physical activity and genetics.

    Most people with diverticular disease don’t experience symptoms. However, some may report pain or discomfort in the lower left side of the abdomen – often worse after eating – as well as bloating, diarrhoea or constipation. These symptoms can mimic other digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), making diagnosis more complex.

    Despite how common it is, diverticular disease is often misunderstood. Many people have no symptoms at all, while others experience ongoing digestive discomfort.

    Diverticulitis (when diverticula in the colon become inflamed or infected) is usually marked by more severe symptoms, including constant abdominal pain, a high temperature, nausea, and in some cases, changes in bowel habits. These symptoms warrant urgent medical attention, as untreated diverticulitis can lead to complications.

    Thankfully, small changes in diet and lifestyle can make a big difference and outdated advice is quickly being replaced by evidence based recommendations. Historically, people with diverticular disease were told to avoid foods like nuts, seeds and popcorn out of fear that they might get stuck in the diverticula and cause inflammation. However, this idea has now been debunked.

    Updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence confirms there is no need to avoid these foods unless specifically advised to do so by a healthcare professional.

    What does help is a high-fibre diet. Fibre softens stools and makes them easier to pass, which helps reduce pressure in the colon and prevent constipation – one of the known risk factors for diverticulitis. When stools are small and hard, they may become lodged in the diverticula, increasing the chance of inflammation or infection.

    In addition to eating more fibre, staying well hydrated and being physically active also support healthy digestion. Water helps fibre do its job, while regular movement can encourage normal bowel function and reduce the risk of complications.

    If you’re unable to meet fibre targets through food alone, your doctor or dietitian may recommend fibre supplements or mild laxatives.

    Official UK guidance advises adults to eat at least 30g of fibre per day. Some simple ways to do this include starting your day with a high-fibre breakfast cereal and adding fresh or dried fruit. Switching to wholemeal or granary breads, choosing wholewheat pasta or brown rice, and including more lentils, chickpeas, beans and vegetables in your meals can all help.

    For example, grated carrot, red lentils or kidney beans can easily be added to mince-based dishes, while raw vegetables such as peppers or carrots work well with dips like hummus or guacamole.



    Read more:
    Some vegetables are pretty low in fibre. So which veggies are high-fibre heroes?

    When increasing your fibre intake, it’s best to do so gradually. A sudden jump in fibre can cause bloating or gas, so give your digestive system time to adapt.

    By making small, sustainable changes to your diet and lifestyle – like eating more fibre, staying hydrated and moving your body – you can reduce your risk of discomfort and complications. With up-to-date medical advice and a balanced approach to nutrition, it’s entirely possible to keep your gut happy, healthy and functioning well for years to come.

    Sophie Davies does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Diverticular disease: the surprisingly common gut condition you’ve probably never heard of – https://theconversation.com/diverticular-disease-the-surprisingly-common-gut-condition-youve-probably-never-heard-of-256922

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Video Recap of Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s Tour of Community Clinic At Risk of Closing Due to Republican Medicaid Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

    On Friday, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) joined St. John’s Community Health President & CEO Jim Mangia for a tour of St. John’s Avalon Health and Access Center to highlight the devastating ripple effects of Republican-led Medicaid cuts on Los Angeles communities.

    California’s 37th District ranks fourth highest in the nation for Medicaid enrollment, with over 400,000 residents relying on Medicaid. Located in CA-37, this clinic offers a comprehensive ecosystem of care for low-income patients, providing services that extend beyond healthcare, including a counseling center, food bank, laundry facilities, and a computer lab—all of which are at risk due to the Medicaid cuts included in the budget reconciliation package passed by House Republicans.

    Check out a video recapping Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s visit here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bills to Expand Access to Palliative Care, Hospice Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), member of the Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus, joined her colleagues in introducing a pair of bipartisan bills to expand access to palliative and hospice care. The Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act and Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act would put critical care for Wisconsinites’ aging and sick loved ones within reach for more families. Palliative care focuses on relieving and preventing patients’ suffering and improving their quality of life.

    “Having served as my grandmother’s primary caretaker as she got old, this issue is deeply personal for me and countless Wisconsinites who have had similar experience caring for a loved one,” said Senator Baldwin. “I know the challenges both patients and caregivers face, and we need to better support both of them. I am proud to work with Democrats and Republicans to expand and improve palliative care for American families because everyone deserves to know that if they need it, compassionate and affordable care is within reach.”

    The Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act would better allow families to access that critical service as early as possible by establishing a demonstration project through Medicare to expand access to palliative care at the time of diagnosis of serious illness or injury. Currently, patients on Medicare can only access palliative care through hospice. This legislation would provide comprehensive palliative care services much earlier in the course of illness, improving quality of life for the patient and their family and often also improving outcomes.

    The Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act would carve out payment for transfusion services within the Medicare hospice benefit, allowing for separate billing to Medicare for transfusions. Patients needing this care would be able to continue to receive it outside of the hospice bundle, while still receiving full hospice benefits. Currently, many patients needing transfusions to maintain quality of life (due to conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma) often wait much longer to opt into hospice because they can lose access to transfusion care when they do so, given that such care currently is paid for out of a capped hospice benefit amount. Hospices are allowed to cover transfusions, but it is very costly, so few patients can afford to do so on a regular basis when in hospice care.  

    Medical research shows that palliative and hospice care have been associated with enhanced quality of life for patients, reduced hospital expenditures and lengths of stay, and longer patient survival time.

    “The reintroduction of the Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act is a meaningful step toward ensuring patients and families can receive high-quality care when and where they need it. Building on the success of the Medicare Care Choices Model, we believe a concurrent care approach within hospice should be developed for national dissemination,” said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home. “We also appreciate Senator Rosen’s leadership on the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act, which addresses a key access challenge. The Alliance is proud to support these efforts to expand person-centered, community-based care.”

    “The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) has long championed a Medicare payment model designed to close the gaps in care for individuals with serious illness, as well as their families and caregivers. This model aims to support palliative care teams of all sizes, structures, and regions in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care,” said Kristina Newport, MD FAAHPM, HMDC, AAHPM Chief Medical Officer. “We are proud to endorse the bipartisan Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act, which proposes testing a community-based palliative care model. We commend Senators Rosen, Barrasso, Baldwin, and Fischer—co-chairs of the Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus—for their leadership in introducing this vital legislation and their dedication to expanding access to palliative care. This effort will help align treatments with patients’ unique goals and preferences, enabling more care to be delivered in the settings where patients live.”

    “We commend Sens. Rosen, Barrasso, and Baldwin for the introduction of the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act,” said Belinda R. Avalos, MD, president of the American Society of Hematology. “This bill will support critical access to transfusions for patients with blood cancers in hospice and will make great strides in guaranteeing comprehensive palliative care.” 

    “The Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies applauds Senators Rosen, Barrasso, and Baldwin for reintroducing the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act,” said Debra BenAvram, FASAE, CAE, AAB CEO. “The Association is committed to advancing patients’ access to safe blood transfusions throughout the continuum of care, and this bill addresses an important barrier for patients receiving care under the Medicare hospice benefit.”

    “Blood transfusions are a proven palliative measure that can significantly enhance the quality of life for many patients,” said Kate Fry, CEO of America’s Blood Centers. “This legislation bridges a gap in care, ensuring patients can receive transfusions while also benefiting from the holistic support provided under the Medicare hospice benefit. It’s a compassionate step forward in patient-centered care that recognizes the complex needs of those navigating serious illnesses.”

    Senator Baldwin has championed efforts to expand access to palliative care and grow our palliative care and hospice workforce. Senator Baldwin previously introduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) to help build the palliative care workforce through enhanced training, improved education and increased funding for palliative care research.

    The Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act is led by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and co-sponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Deb Fischer (R-NE).

    The Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act is also led by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and co-sponsored by Senator Barrasso (R-WY).

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: $HAREHOLDER ALERT: The M&A Class Action Firm Encourages Shareholders of OPOF, PRA, SWTX and HURA to Take Action

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2024 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and are investigating:

    • Old Point Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: OPOF), relating to the proposed merger with TowneBank. Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of Old Point will elect to receive $41.00 in cash or 1.1400 shares of TowneBank common stock for each share of Old Point outstanding common stock.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for July 2, 2025.
            
    Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/old-point-financial-corporation-opof/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • ProAssurance Corporation (NYSE: PRA), relating to the proposed merger with The Doctors Company. Under the terms of the agreement, ProAssurance stockholders will receive $25.00 per share in cash.

    Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/proassurance-corporation-pra/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for June 24, 2025.

    • SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SWTX), relating to the proposed merger with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Under the terms of the agreement, SpringWorks shareholders will have the right to receive $47.00 in cash per share of SpringWorks stock held.

    Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/springworks-therapeutics-inc-swtx/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for June 26, 2025.

    • TuHURA Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: HURA), relating to the proposed merger with Kineta, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, TuHURA would acquire the rights to Kineta’s novel KVA12123 antibody for a combination of cash and shares of TuHURA common stock.

    Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/tuhura-biosciences-inc-hura/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for June 23, 2025.

    NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE THE SAME. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

    1. Do you file class actions and go to Court?
    2. When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders?
    3. What cases did you recover money in and how much?

    About Monteverde & Associates PC

    Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. 

    No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in the above listed company and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

    Contact:
    Juan Monteverde, Esq.
    MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
    The Empire State Building
    350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
    New York, NY 10118
    United States of America
    jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
    Tel: (212) 971-1341

    Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com).  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

    The MIL Network –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: The food affordability crisis is one reason governments need to step up for school food

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Tina Moffat, Professor, Department of Anthropology, McMaster University

    Despite the hard work and dedication of hundreds of local grassroots organizations across the country to deliver student nutrition programs, there are, too often, not enough funds to purchase the food to meet student needs.

    As described in a study of elementary school parents’ and teachers’ perspectives on school food in southern Ontario, in the city of Hamilton and Peel Region, far too many school food programs cannot adequately meet existing nutritional needs of hungry students. Some teachers described how students, as young as four years old, come to school without enough nutritious food to fuel them through the day.

    As a researcher who examines biological and cultural determinants of human nutrition and food security, I conducted this study with academic colleagues in partnership with the Coalition for Healthy School Food.

    Fortunately, in 2024 the government of Canada announced a new National School Food Program and policy. As of March 10, 2025, the federal government has made school food agreements with all provinces and territories.

    This is an opportunity to reinvent school food across Canada and to catch up to other G7 countries that have long-running traditions of school food programs.

    Perspectives on school food programs

    In our study we asked parents through an online survey and focus group discussions in Hamilton and Peel Region to tell us what they envision for a future national school food program.

    Eighty-three per cent of the respondents were women; respondents self-identfied as South Asian (eight per cent), Black (five per cent), Indigenous (four per cent), Middle Eastern (four per cent), Southeast Asian (three per cent), Latino (three per cent), East Asian (three per cent) and white (70 per cent).

    Forty-three per cent of households were classified as experiencing some level of food insecurity, with 41 per cent having an annual household income of less than $69,999.

    Ninety-six per cent of survey respondents said they want their child to participate in a school food program, and 77 per cent said they would be willing to pay some amount for it. In parent focus groups, and teacher interviews, participants cited such benefits as:

    • Improving the nutritional quality of what students eat;
    • Reducing the consumption of highly processed foods;
    • Improving behaviour, learning, mental health and energy levels;
    • And connections to curriculum like nutrition and food literacy education.

    Participants saw affordability as one of the major barriers to an accessible program. Suggestions for funding models ranged from universal free programs to government-funded programs subsidized by optional parent contributions, and corporate donor funding.



    Read more:
    School gardens and kitchens could grow with Ontario’s proposed food literacy act

    Most parents and teachers were adamant that programs be universally accessible with nutritious and diverse food options for all students regardless of ability to pay.

    Severely underfunded provinces

    Federal funding of $79 million flowed to the provinces and programs in the first year of the government’s National School Food Program, but those funds were quickly used up.

    As noted by the Coalition for Healthy School Food, not all provinces are contributing in the same way towards school food programs to date.

    In Saskatchewan and Ontario, school food is severely underfunded relative to other provinces and territories. Saskatchewan and Ontario’s per capita investments are four times lower than the national median of 63 cents per student per day: Nova Scotia contributes $3.30 whereas Saskatchewan and Ontario are at the bottom of the pack at three and nine cents per student per day respectively. That’s based on an annual average of 190 school days per year across Canada.

    Without significant funding increases from those provincial governments, none of the hopes and dreams for a National School Food Program in Saskatchewan and Ontario will come to fruition.

    Challenges and opportunities ahead

    While the need for more funding is paramount, there are also logistical issues to tackle. Without commercial-grade kitchens in elementary schools, some survey respondents suggested centralized food preparation models by upgrading existing neighbourhood or high school infrastructure, from which meals could be distributed to local schools.



    Read more:
    What needs to happen next for Canada to have a successful school food program

    Others were in favour of contracting local food businesses as providers. A few parents raised the concern that school boards might contract large food conglomerates, resulting in a situation where corporate profit compromises food quality.

    Teachers voiced the need for adequate staffing and volunteer support so as not to unduly burden school staff. Some parents and teachers felt strongly about minimizing packaging waste. As one teacher stated:

    “I would be concerned about the environmental impact, going from trying to conserve and be mindful of what we use, like reusable containers, to a disposable model … I think it would send a poor message to kids who we’re asking to protect their environment.”

    The topic of how much time students have to eat arose frequently in discussions. In Ontario, many schools at the elementary level adhere to a two-break or balanced day model, where students have a “nutrition break” in the morning with recess, and another in early afternoon (instead of two short recesses and a mid-day window for lunch/recess). This may be a reason why parents and some teachers say that kids don’t have enough time to eat.

    Diversity and inclusion

    In addition to logistical operations and accessibility, parents and teachers voiced the need to consider social and cultural diversity and inclusion. They noted the diversity of student dietary requirements and preferences — from food allergies/intolerances and cultural and religious foods to concerns about what respondents referred to as their “picky eaters.”

    Teachers pointed out that halal and/or vegetarian foods must be made available. The oversight of food safety and offering a diversity of healthy food choices was mentioned repeatedly by parents.

    Meals and ingredients could be posted in weekly or monthly menus — like they are in in France, for example — to ensure students and their families are aware of what is being served.

    Programs engaged with students, community

    There was enthusiasm for exposing kids to culturally diverse menu options that would make students from all backgrounds feel included and welcome.

    While some parents were concerned that their kids might not eat foods they’re unfamiliar with, others thought it would be great to expose them to new foods that they might eat at school even if they wouldn’t at home.

    Some parents were excited about the prospect of community involvement, including volunteers but also students in food prep, distribution and cleanup. Beyond the school community, some proposed fostering partnerships with local farms, community gardens and local food providers.

    In sum, participants voiced the need for flexible programs that could be tailored to specific school, family and community needs — with clear communication with all families and school staff about the school food programs’ goals and operations.

    Much more work to do

    We have a tremendous need and opportunity in Canada to strengthen our food system and food security with the National School Food Program.

    We have just begun this project with the commitment of some federal, provincial and municipal funding, but there is much more work to do in developing school food programs in each part of the country.

    The continued food affordability crisis and the threat of tariffs by the United States make it clear how important these programs are.

    No matter how these programs end up evolving, parents and teachers in Hamilton and Peel Region have clearly voiced their desire for equity — school food program accessibility, regardless of family income. They also want to see food offerings meeting students’ diverse dietary requirements, and the inclusion of student, family, educator and local community partners.

    Tina Moffat receives funding from SSHRC.

    – ref. The food affordability crisis is one reason governments need to step up for school food – https://theconversation.com/the-food-affordability-crisis-is-one-reason-governments-need-to-step-up-for-school-food-257868

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: St Leonard’s Place void reveals new archaeological discovery

    Source: City of York

    Published Monday, 9 June 2025

    Remnants of what is believed to be one of the largest medieval hospitals in the north of England have been found inside the void which recently opened on St Leonard’s Place in central York.

    The void, which is in the middle of the road outside York Theatre Royal, was made safe before contractors and archaeology teams began investigation works. These also necessitated a lane closure to keep workers, traffic and the public safe.

    Once the void had been accessed, archaeologists uncovered what is believed to be part of the 12th-13th century St Leonard’s Hospital which stretched from the modern day Museum Gardens to the Theatre Royal. This was an area that post Reformation was used as the Royal Mint, giving it its post medieval name of Mint Yard, which were demolished several hundred years ago and a road made on top of it.  The archaeological find was discovered as work was taking place to repair the sinkhole on St Leonard’s Place.

    The findings have been recorded in line with CIFA standards, images have been taken and recorded with further analysis to take place.

    It is anticipated that the remains are likely the buildings of Mint Yard, which by the 1800’s were a warren of residencies, yards and stables and were demolished to make way from the new Georgian streetscape in 1836, as it became one of the most fashionable parts of the city at the time. The demolished parts of the city walls were then used to create a base for their new road, which we now know as St Leonard’s Place.

    Following the archaeological recording, it has now been deemed that works can resume to repair the void. It is expected that work in the current area will take until Tuesday morning, before moving the site closer to the Theatre Royal, to ensure the road surface is fully repaired. During this period the traffic management arrangements will stay the same and it is hoped that the road will reopen to two-way traffic on Friday 13 June.

    Councillor Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport said:

    We thank people for their patience and we know these emergency works have caused disruption to residents, visitors and bus operators.

    “We knew that there is a lot of complex archaeology in the area dating back to the Roman legionary fortress. Throughout the works we have been live to this while doing all we can to get off site as quickly as possible. However these finds, while fascinating, have set our timescales back a bit.

    “We will continue to share updates as the work progresses. At peak times the inner ring road is very busy so we’re asking people to plan ahead, use the outer ring road to traverse the city where possible and consider other ways to travel to the city centre. That includes getting the bus, walking or cycling. While some buses are being diverted they will continue to serve communities across the city. Dedicated travel information is available at www.york.gov.uk/StLeonardsPlace.”

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representatives Doggett and Ocasio-Cortez Urge DOJ To Investigate New Allegations That UnitedHealth is Endangering Patients to Maximize Profits from Medicare Advantage Program

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

    Reporting from The Guardian alleges UnitedHealth Group is paying nursing homes to reduce hospital transfers and promote do-not-resuscitate orders to increase profits

    Contact: Alexis.Torres@mail.house.gov

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi urging the Department of Justice to expand its reported investigation into UnitedHealth Group to include reports that the company is engaging in fraud through the Medicare Advantage program. Investigative reporting from The Guardian accuses the healthcare conglomerate of trying to deliberately reduce access to care for nursing home residents in order to pocket more money from the federal government.

    “The potential harm of UnitedHealth’s business practices extends far beyond waste of taxpayer dollars and appears to be endangering enrollees and harming health outcomes. We strongly urge you to expand your ongoing investigations to include the allegations outlined in The Guardian and other appropriate lines of inquiry concerning the impact of UnitedHealth’s business practices on patients,” wrote the lawmakers.

    The full letter is available here.

    Last month, it was reported that the Department of Justice opened up a criminal investigation into UnitedHealth Group for possible Medicare fraud. The lawmakers request Attorney General Bondi expand the DOJ’s current investigation to include new allegations that UnitedHealth Group has engaged in the following business practices regarding the Medicare Advantage Program:

    • Paying nursing homes to delay or deny patients hospitalizations to increase profits.
    • Pressuring patients to establish do-not-resuscitate orders, which instruct providers to not perform CPR for patients who have stopped breathing.
    • Providing financial incentives for enrolling residents in UnitedHealth’s Medicare Advantage long-term care plans.

    Last month, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Raul Ruiz (CA-25) introduced an amendment to the Republicans’ reconciliation bill to crack down on corporate profiteering in the Medicare Advantage program and strengthen traditional Medicare. Separately, Representative Doggett led House Members in urging Republican leadership to pass legislation to rein in rampant taxpayer overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ohio Company Sentenced for Violating OSHA Rule Leading to Worker’s Death

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Ohio Company Sentenced for Violating OSHA Rule Leading to Worker’s Death

    A Delaware corporation with a manufacturing facility in Ohio was sentenced to pay a $500,000 fine, the statutory maximum, after pleading guilty to willfully violating an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule. In addition to the fine, Fabcon will serve two years of organizational probation and comply with a Safety Compliance Plan. The criminal charge is related to an incident where an employee was killed when a pneumatic door closed on his head.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ohio Company Sentenced for Violating OSHA Rule Leading to Worker’s Death

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A Delaware corporation with a manufacturing facility in Ohio was sentenced today to pay a $500,000 fine, the statutory maximum, after pleading guilty to willfully violating an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule. In addition to the fine, Fabcon will serve two years of organizational probation and comply with a Safety Compliance Plan. The criminal charge is related to an incident where an employee was killed when a pneumatic door closed on his head.

    Fabcon Precast LLC makes precast concrete panels at its facility in Grove City, Ohio. Batch operators were employees responsible for operating and cleaning the facility’s only concrete mixer, which discharged concrete from its bottom through a pneumatic door. The mixer had an exhaust valve that, by design, released the pneumatic energy which powered the discharge door to make it inoperable.

    The valve’s handle broke off, and was not replaced, prior to June 6, 2020. On that day, batch operator Zachary Ledbetter was injured trying to close the discharge door due to the broken valve. Ledbetter was eventually freed from the door, but he died at a hospital five days later.

    “Today’s sentencing reflects Fabcon’s willful failure to implement measures to protect its workers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Sadly, this led to Zachary’s death. This tragedy shows the importance of following safety standards.”

    “Fabcon Precast LLC willfully failed to adhere to OSHA safety regulations which resulted in the tragic and preventable loss of a worker’s life. This sentencing highlights our steadfast commitment to continue working with OSHA and our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who jeopardize workers’ safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Megan Howell of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Great Lakes Region.

    Federal law makes it a class B misdemeanor to willfully fail to follow an OSHA safety standard, where the failure causes the death of an employee. The class B misdemeanor is the only federal criminal charge covering such workplace safety violations.

    The Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General investigated the case.

    Senior Trial Attorney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Cullman, of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and for the Southern District of Ohio respectively, prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Announces Dramatic Decline in Overdose Deaths in Connecticut

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced preliminary figures from the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) showing a 26% decline in overdose deaths in 2024 compared to those in 2023. The state’s efforts to expand access and availability of life-saving medication, in addition to public education and harm reduction efforts, have been essential in addressing the opioid and overdose epidemic.

    “Let there be no doubt, the opioid crisis remains a very serious public health issue,” Governor Lamont said. “The 990 individuals we lost in 2024 to overdose is far too many of our family, friends, and loved ones to take a victory lap or celebrate when there is still so much more work to do. But, we can be heartened that the data is moving in the right direction, with three consecutive years of fewer deaths due to the robust efforts taken to saturate the state with naloxone and train the community on its lifesaving administration, as well as enhance public awareness of the risks associated drugs like fentanyl. We are at a critical inflection point in this crisis and I have confidence that the investments being made by the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee and state and federal resources will continue to reduce deaths and provide a path to treatment and recovery supports.”

    Data from the DPH Drug Overdose Report found 990 confirmed drug overdose deaths in 2024, compared to 1,338 in 2023. There has been a decreasing trend of overdose deaths consecutively over the last three years. Approximately 76% of these deaths involved fentanyl. (More data can be found here.)

    “These data from the DPH Drug Overdose Report are promising, but the hard work to protect public health and save lives continues,” DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, said. “Every life lost to overdose forever alters the life of an entire family and countless loved ones. At DPH, we have implemented numerous prevention efforts to address this problem. Amplifying state and local partnerships, applying harm reduction strategies, and interventions to prevent young people from starting to use substances in the first place make up a public health strategy that will help our communities. Our work continues to keep these data trending in the right direction until no lives are lost to drug overdose.”

    “These numbers show that our hard work and innovative approaches are making a difference in peoples’ lives across the state,” Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) Commissioner Nancy Navarretta said. “Connecticut has demonstrated a clear commitment to reducing overdose deaths, and increasing access to harm reduction, treatment, and recovery supports. We are starting to see some positive results- and the work must continue. By adopting and implementing a statewide naloxone saturation plan with our partners, we have been able to make life-saving tools available at no cost across the state and we see the results in a third consecutive year of decreases in fatal overdoses. With the increased availability to medication for opioid use disorder and expansions to the service array through settlement dollars, it is our mission to continue this trajectory.”

    At DMHAS, the Opioid Services Division was established in 2018 in response to the growing overdose crisis and to expand statewide access to the prevention of opioid use disorder, opioid treatment, recovery support, harm reduction, outreach, engagement, and overdose prevention coverage with a focus on overdose deaths. DMHAS has secured funding from the federal government, including the State Opioid Response grant, and ensures that all opioid-related funding is coordinated. In partnership with numerous state and community-based organizations, DMHAS has launched a series of targeted responses intended to reduce the negative impact of opioid use on Connecticut citizens and communities. The division manages projects and initiatives that resulted from infusion of State Opioid Response grant funding as well as those approved by the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee.

    Among the 2024 improvements include:

    • Expanded innovative services in the state, adding three and continuing to support original Harm Reduction Centers in municipalities with highest morbidity rates: Hartford, Waterbury, New Haven, and New London;
    • Added outreach services via Peer Navigator Programs in two areas of the state;
    • Distributed close to 60,000 naloxone kits (naloxone is a lifesaving, overdose reversal medication), exceeding the state saturation goal for the year;
    • Hosted a successful and informative Harm Reduction Conference. The conference included four expert speakers from around the country, as well as two panel discussions, focused on addressing equity, and stigma, 390 individuals attended the conference: 263 in person and 127 virtually.

    Additional information is available on the DMHAS Opioid Services Division website at portal.ct.gov/dmhas/programs-and-services/opioid-treatment/opioid-services.

    Anyone seeking services regarding opioid use disorder in Connecticut should visit www.liveloud.org or call 1-800-563-4086 any time, day or night.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appointment of Axel Heitmueller as the PM’s Expert Adviser on Health

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Appointment of Axel Heitmueller as the PM’s Expert Adviser on Health

    Axel Heitmueller has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Expert Adviser on Health. 

    Axel Heitmueller has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Expert Adviser on Health. The Prime Minister’s Expert Adviser will advise ministers and drive forward the Government’s vision for health and social care.

    Axel brings with him extensive experience working in the healthcare sector as CEO of Imperial College Health Partners and Executive Director of Strategy at the Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust Hospital.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 9 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Nominations open: recognizing infrastructure excellence

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada officials to hold a media availability regarding Canada’s summer seasonal weather outlook

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Gatineau, Quebec – June 9, 2025 – Media representatives are advised that officials from Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada will hold a media availability to discuss Canada’s summer seasonal weather outlook.

    The media availability will be held via Zoom. Following the briefing, media will have the opportunity to ask questions to Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada experts. This availability is for attribution and may be recorded.

    Event: Media availability (bilingual)
    Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
    Time: 1:00 p.m. (EDT)
    Location: Via Zoom

    To join the media availability, please follow the Zoom link.

    Notes to media:

    • Please note this event will be the primary opportunity for media representatives to connect with experts on this topic.
    • When joining the media availability on Zoom, media representatives interested in asking a question are asked to change their screen names to include their full name and media outlet. Unidentified participants will not be called upon.
    • Media representatives can adjust the video layout of their screen for broadcast purposes. To do so, please follow these instructions.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: DeGette, Pallone, and Democratic Health Subcommittee Members Demand Hearing on Alarming Disruptions at NIH

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (CO-01), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and all Democratic Health subcommittee members called for an urgent hearing with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), amid growing concerns over sweeping disruptions to the agency since the beginning of the second Trump Administration. 

    In a letter sent to Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), the Members requested a hearing to examine “significant staff reductions at the agency, the documented delayed or canceled research activities at NIH, and policy changes that have taken place in the first months of the Trump administration.”

    “Congress has a constitutional responsibility to oversee executive actions that fundamentally alter the structure, capacity, and mission of agencies established in statute, in a bipartisan manner. The current trajectory of NIH under the Trump administration is alarming, marked by political interference, anti-science rhetoric, and destabilizing personnel and funding decisions,” the letter reads. 

    The Members outlined sweeping and destabilizing changes at NIH since January, including: 

    1. Attempting to push out at least 2,500 NIH staff as part of broader HHS-wide staff reductions totaling more than 20,000 employees;
    2. Cancelling over 800 research grants—totaling billions of dollars—impacting research into cancer, mental health, rare diseases, infectious disease, and health disparities;
    3. Freezing NIH grant-operations and external communications, stalling the agency’s ability to carry out its mission; and
    4. Proposing a nearly 40% budget cut to NIH in the Administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget, despite strong bipartisan support for biomedical research.

    The letter continues, “It is critical the Energy and Commerce Committee convene a hearing with Director Bhattacharya to examine these actions and assess whether the NIH remains equipped to serve the American people and maintain its leadership in global biomedical research. We are deeply concerned the disruption at NIH and our biomedical research enterprise will have untold costs in terms of lost innovation and treatments and cures for the American people.”

    The Members sent the letter following the publication of the “Bethesda Declaration” in which hundreds of current and recently terminated NIH employees expressed deep concerns to Director Bhattacharya about the direction NIH has taken under President Trump. 

    Read the Member’s full letter here.

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Wildfire smoke can harm your brain, not just your lungs

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Dr Bhavini Gohel, Clinical Associate Professor, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary

    Wildfires are already burning in parts of Canada, and as they do, many communities are already facing the familiar thick haze as smoke drifts in.

    Smoke from wildfires has already led Environment Canada to issue air quality warnings for much of Ontario. In Toronto, smoke led to the city briefly having the worst air quality in the world.

    Anyone who has experienced wildfire smoke knows how it can leave you with a scratchy throat, stinging eyes and impact your lungs. However, smoke can also affect your brain. Tiny airborne pollutants found in smoke have been linked to increased risk of stroke, dementia and flare-ups in neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS).

    These effects can disproportionately impact older adults, people with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples and those living in low-income communities. This isn’t just about climate. It’s about equity, and health systems need to catch up.

    Canada’s 2023 wildfire season was the worst on record, and as climate change worsens wildfires, it may be a sign of what’s to come.

    Animation of Canada’s 2023 wildfire season by cartographer Peter Atwood, using NASA data to show the daily spread of fires and smoke across the country. (Peter Atwood)

    A direct path to the brain

    Alongside harmful gases and heavy metals, wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter, also known as PM2.5. These tiny particles can travel deep into your lungs, slip into your bloodstream and even reach your brain. Some even bypass the lungs entirely, entering the brain directly through the nose.

    After entering the brain, these toxins can cause inflammation and stress, damage nerve cells and even accelerate cognitive decline. Studies have linked exposure to air pollution to an increased risk of stroke and dementia. Even short-term spikes in smoke exposure, like those during wildfires, lead to a surge in emergency visits for strokes, especially among people over 65.

    A 2022 experiment had thousands of adults participate in an online attention task under smoky conditions. It found that just a three-hour spike in fine particulate matter, typical of a heavy smoke episode, led to measurably worse attention scores. This fits other evidence that breathing smoke makes people mentally foggy, forgetful or fatigued.

    Fine particulate matter in wildfire smoke can reach the brain via the lungs or nose, causing inflammation, neuronal damage, and raising the risk of stroke, dementia, cognitive decline, and MS flare-ups.
    (Muskaan Muse Laroyia)

    Wildfire smoke, dementia and MS

    In 2024, a study found that chronic exposure to wildfire-related air pollution significantly increased the likelihood of someone being diagnosed with dementia. The risk was most pronounced in low-income communities, where people often have less access to clean air, health care and protective measures.

    For people already living with neurological conditions like MS or Parkinson’s disease, the stakes are even higher. Exposure to fine particulate pollution has been linked with increased hospital admissions for MS relapses, particularly in young patients. Other research points to worsening symptoms of epilepsy and cognitive decline under extreme heat and polluted air conditions.

    Despite these mounting risks, neurological health considerations have been largely absent from wildfire preparedness initiatives and public health responses. That needs to change.

    If you want to stay informed about local smoke exposure, tools like AQmap can help you track PM2.5 levels in real time across Canada.

    Some more impacted than others

    Some face far greater risk from wildfire smoke than others, including older adults, those with pre-existing health conditions, people with lower socio-economic status, Indigenous populations, people residing in remote areas and children. This is a health equity issue as much as a medical one.

    Each of these groups faces unique and compounding challenges during smoke events. For example, older adults are more vulnerable to the cardiovascular and neurological effects of smoke. They also face greater barriers to accessing filtered environments.

    People with disabilities or chronic illnesses, including those with neurological conditions, often can’t relocate during smoke events and may rely on power-dependent medical devices that can fail during climate emergencies.

    Low-income families are more likely to live in housing without proper air filtration or cooling. These same communities often face higher baseline rates of neurological disease.

    Indigenous communities, more than 80 per cent of which are located near fire-prone areas, face recurring displacement, interruptions to care and disproportionate exposure to smoke each summer.

    Children and adolescents are particularly susceptible to the harmful neurological effects of wildfires. Because their brains are still developing and they breathe more air per body weight than adults, children are especially vulnerable to harmful pollutants.

    Studies have linked early-life exposure to fine particulate matter with an increased risk of neuro-developmental disorders, lower cognitive function and structural brain changes.

    These populations aren’t just more exposed, they also have fewer resources to respond.

    Rethinking Canada’s health systems

    Recognizing these inequities, we are developing a climate-health equity framework for Canada, with a specific focus on neurological health. Our interdisciplinary team is asking: how can we build health systems that protect vulnerable brains during climate emergencies?

    Health-care workers in Alberta Health Services have designed the Climate-Resilient Acute Care Clinical Operations Framework. This framework supports hospitals in becoming both greener and more resilient, ensuring care can continue during wildfires, floods and extreme heat events.

    Importantly, it also centres the needs of equity-deserving populations, integrating climate adaptation into emergency care, supply chains, staffing and patient communication.

    What needs to change?

    1. Public awareness must expand beyond respiratory health. Neurological effects of smoke should be included in public health messaging, especially for high-risk groups.

    2. Health systems must be climate-ready, with clean air shelters, evacuation protocols and services tailored to meet the needs of neurological patients.

    3. Communities need support, from funding for air filtration to co-ordinated outreach during smoke events. Indigenous-led fire stewardship and community health initiatives should be part of national planning. Supporting Indigenous-led fire stewardship not only strengthens wildfire response but also respects Indigenous sovereignty and traditional ecological knowledge.

    4. Clinicians must be empowered to address climate-related health risks. Training in environmental health, including its impact on the brain, is increasingly essential.

    Wildfire season is back, and with it, an urgent need to protect more than just our lungs. The science is clear: breathing smoky air affects our minds, especially for those already facing health and social vulnerabilities.

    Climate change is a brain health issue. Building a healthier, more equitable future requires us to treat it that way, starting now.

    Dr Bhavini Gohel works for the Canadian Coalition for Green Healthcare.

    Muskaan Muse Laroyia does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Wildfire smoke can harm your brain, not just your lungs – https://theconversation.com/wildfire-smoke-can-harm-your-brain-not-just-your-lungs-258052

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Advances Initiative for Primary Care Nurse Practitioners to Provide Publicly Funded Health Services

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 9, 2025

    The Government of Saskatchewan is asking for an expression of interest (EOI) from Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who want to deliver publicly funded primary care services.

    This initiative will allow NPs to work to their full scope of practice, promote collaborative, team-based care, and increase access to primary care services for patients. 

    “We are committed to ensuring that every Saskatchewan resident has access to a primary care provider by 2028,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “This new initiative creates more opportunities for Nurse Practitioners throughout the health system and improves access to primary care services across our province.”

    The expression of interest opens today. NPs who would like to be considered for this initiative should fill out the EOI by July 6 at midnight. 

    The Government of Saskatchewan announced plans in 2024 to develop a funding model that allows NPs to deliver publicly funded primary care services, such as health assessments, treating common illnesses and injuries and chronic disease management. This is the first step in the plan.

    After EOIs are submitted, invitations to apply will be sent out in late July. Successful applicants will enter a contract developed by the Ministry of Health and will function as independent contractors.

    The Ministry of Health will work with the Saskatchewan Association of Nurse Practitioners (SANP) to implement this initiative.

    “We are excited to see this project come to fruition, as it allows Nurse Practitioners to work both individually, and alongside primary care physicians and allied health professionals,” SANP President Michelle O’Keefe said. “We appreciate the efforts by the Ministry of Health to provide Nurse Practitioners access to an innovative funding model that promotes team-based care.”

    Information sessions on this project will be held virtually on June 17 and 19, 2025. For more information on these sessions, this project or to fill out an EOI please visit: saskatchewan.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    Media Inquiry Line
    Health
    Regina
    Phone: 306-787-4083
    Email: media@health.gov.sk.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: NHS Foundation Trust found guilty of health and safety offences

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    The North East London NHS Foundation Trust has been found guilty of a health and safety offence, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police into the death of 22-year old Alice Figueredo at Goodmayes Hospital in 2015.

    The ward manager of the hospital, Benjamin Aninakwa, 53 (25.06.1971) of St Francis Way, Grays was also found guilty of a health and safety offence.

    Alice was being treated on the Hepworth Ward at the hospital after being sectioned under the Mental Health Act in February 2015.

    During a trial lasting seven months, the court heard that the Trust and Aninakwa failed in their duty of care to protect Alice from harm across the six months she was on the ward, before she took her own life on 7 July 2015.

    Alice’s parents, Jane and Max Figueredo, said: “We would like to thank all those involved in the Metropolitan Police, the Crown Prosecution Service and their barristers for their diligent dedication to investigating and prosecuting Alice’s death.

    “Thank you for believing that her life mattered and that the way she was so heartbreakingly, abysmally failed by the staff at this hospital, should not just be ignored and kicked into the long grass – which is what we believe NELFT set about doing after Alice died.

    “We also want to thank the Judge and the jury in this case for their very evident hard work and conscientious commitment in what has been a much lengthier trial than any of us expected.”

    Detective Inspector Jonathan Potter, who led the investigation, said: “My thoughts remain with Alice’s family. They have had to endure years of heartbreak before sitting through a long and difficult trial where they heard time and time again about the tragic series of inactions that led to their daughter’s death.

    “This was a complex investigation led by the Metropolitan Police Service, into a unique case that has led to the conviction of the Trust and Benjamin Aninakwa for health and safety offences.

    “There is nothing I can say that will bring back Alice, but I hope that today’s verdict offers some comfort to her family.

    “While there are thousands of NHS workers that do a commendable job every day, today’s result must also ensure that lessons are learnt to stop the same mistakes happening again.”

    Nine months after Alice’s death, following a report by her parents, the Met’s Specialist Crime Command launched an investigation into the Trust and Aninakwa.

    To build evidence of the offences committed, officers developed a careful understanding of the ward itself, painstakingly combing through more than 2,600 medical documents, many of them hundreds of pages long, as well as dozens of witness statements from staff, family and friends of Alice. Officers also interviewed Aninakwa and took statements from various members of the trust.

    Despite the rarity of a case like this and amid investigative difficulties presented by Covid, officers gathered a range of experts to consult about their experience of being on similar wards. This included nursing staff and psychiatric practitioners, as well as senior colleagues in other NHS trusts and groups including the Care Quality Commission and NHS England.

    Their investigation revealed the extent of negligence by the Trust and Aninakwa, who as ward manager, had failed in his responsibility to make sure that Alice was safe.

    Although Aninakwa knew that Alice had a history of self-harm – dating back to 2013 when she had previously been admitted, and again in 2015 – officers discovered that he repeatedly failed to report such instances and ensure other staff were aware. This was even though Alice had been, according to Aninakwa himself, his only patient who was actively trying to harm themselves.

    In records seen by investigating officers, a mere 13 instances of self-harm were reported, out of a possible 81. Only three of these, out of a possible 19, related to specific items that Alice had used to self-harm on the ward. Even during a scoping exercise by the Trust about the use of possible items, Aninakwa failed to highlight Alice’s history of self-harming behaviour.

    As part of a wide range of failings, officers also found that Aninakwa had failed to direct staff to remove specific items from the communal areas of Hepworth Ward. Nor did he ensure that patients were properly observed by staff and that sufficient steps were taken to lock communal areas that were of concern.

    Consequently, Alice was able to access one of the communal areas on the ward where she took her own life on 7 July 2015.

    Following a complex investigation in partnership with the CPS, the CPS authorised the Met to charge North East London NHS Foundation Trust and Benjamin Aninakwa with health and safety offences corporate manslaughter in September 2023. They were cleared of corporate manslaughter offences at the Old Bailey on Monday, 9 June.

    Sentencing will take place at a court and on a date that is yet to be arranged.

    Aninakwa was found guilty of an offence under section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, having failed to take reasonable care for the health and safety of others.

    The Trust was found guilty of an offence under section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, by failing to ensure that others are not exposed to risks to their health or safety.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, McCormick introduce legislation to reduce overcrowded emergency departments

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and David McCormick (R-Pa.) introduced the Addressing Boarding and Crowding in the Emergency Department (ABC-ED) Act, bipartisan legislation to help alleviate emergency department overcrowding by improving the efficiency of emergency care to deliver better health outcomes.

    When inpatient hospital beds reach capacity, patients are often required to “board” in the emergency department (ED). Although this practice is meant to be temporary, a staggering 97% of emergency doctors report caring for patients who have been boarding in the ED for more than 24-hours, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians. This gridlock delays care for new patients and puts ED nurses – who are often responsible for 10 or more patients at once – under even higher pressure and stress.

    The ABC-ED Act would alleviate these issues by allowing public health data modernization grants to be used for developing and maintaining real-time systems that track hospital bed availability to inform state and regional emergency care planning. Improving data systems for hospitals serving neighboring communities – like those on the border of Delaware and Pennsylvania – can reduce wait times, improve patient flow, and support emergency medical staff.

    “If you’ve ever had to go to an emergency room in Delaware, you know that wait times are just too long,” said Senator Coons. “Too many patients end up having to wait hours, or even days, for a bed to open up in the hospital, no matter the emergency. I’ve heard from so many Delawareans about this problem, and I’m proud to lead the federal effort to find solutions. I urge our colleagues to take up this bipartisan bill that will help hospitals modernize their systems, take stress off emergency rooms, and ensure more Americans are getting the care they need as soon as possible.”

    “Advanced technology and AI are re-shaping the way our country and economy work,” said Senator McCormick. “It’s critical to Americans’ long-term health and wellbeing that our nation’s hospitals can access technological resources to update their procedures and practices and ensure patients are receiving the care they need in a timely fashion. I’m grateful to work across the aisle with Senator Coons to help improve the quality and efficiency of our nation’s healthcare system.”

    In addition to Senators Coons and McCormick, the legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.). It is led in the House by Representatives Joyce (R-Pa.) and Dingell (D-Mich.).

    “This bipartisan legislation is a practical step towards addressing overcrowding in emergency departments across the nation,” said Senator Tillis. “By giving states the tools to better track and manage hospital capacity in real-time, we can improve patient care, reduce delays, and help save lives.”

    “Overcrowded emergency departments can mean longer wait times for patients and a lack of resources for staff,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “We need to confront this part of our health care crisis by investing in technology that can identify shortages before they become a problem. I’m glad to be introducing this bill and hope to see it brought to the Floor for a vote.”  

    “Emergency departments in Oklahoma and across the country are overwhelmed. This bill is a critical step in the right direction to address this crisis.” said Senator Mullin. “I’m proud to partner with my colleagues on this to get our hospitals and healthcare workers the resources they need to improve the patient experience in emergency departments.”

    Specifically, the ABC-ED Act would:

    1. Expand public health data grants to support hospital bed tracking systems
    2. Direct the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study to determine best practices for the development and maintenance of public health data systems for tracking hospital capacity
    3. Authorize the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center to pilot improved care programs for patients most likely to experience ED boarding, including seniors and those with acute psychiatric needs

    The bill is endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the Delaware Healthcare Association.

    “Boarding in the emergency department is a national public health crisis that puts patient lives at risk and strains emergency physicians and care teams every day,” said Alison Haddock, MD, FACEP, President of the American College of Emergency Physicians. “We are deeply grateful to Senators Coons, McCormick, Tillis, King, Mullin, and Blunt Rochester for their leadership on this critical issue for emergency medicine, and for joining our House champions, Representatives Joyce and Dingell, to ensure this legislation is a bipartisan, bicameral priority. The ABC-ED Act equips emergency physicians with resources and real-time data to inform medical decisions that can reduce dangerous delays and improve the flow of patients through the emergency care continuum.”

    “Crowded emergency departments and long wait times can put a strain on our healthcare workforce and lead to patients abandoning care. We thank Senator Coons for his leadership in introducing the ABC-ED Act and his bipartisan work on solutions to address this growing challenge. Many factors contribute to ED wait times like increased utilization during respiratory illness season and barriers that prevent individuals from being transferred to post-acute care facilities. Efforts like this legislation will reduce wait times and help enhance our system of care for both patients and our workforce,” said Brian Frazee, President & CEO of the Delaware Healthcare Association. 

    “Delaware ACEP would like to thank Senators Coons, Blunt Rochester, and their colleagues for their support of access to emergency care in Delaware and in the country.  Delaware citizens have seen some of the longest wait-times in the country for ER visits, with hundreds of patients waiting for hours for care in the ERs state-wide at busy times. With his sponsorship of the ABC-ED Act, Sen. Coons has shown his understanding and support for the emergency healthcare team.  Bottlenecks in the entire healthcare system lead to patients who are admitted to the hospital waiting for their hospital beds in the ER.  This results in worse health outcomes for those patients as well as the patients who are waiting to be seen in the space that is occupied by admitted patients.  It is with deep gratitude that the physicians of Delaware ACEP proudly support Senator Coons’ sponsorship of the ABC-ED act to address these concerns and improve health outcomes for this state and for the country,” said the Delaware ACEP Board of Directors.

    Delawareans have dealt with longer ED wait times than nearly every other state for more than a decade. The average ED visit time in Delaware was 141 minutes in 2023 – only a marginal improvement from the 156 minutes averaged in 2013. As a result of long wait times, Delawareans are also more likely to leave without treatment, putting their lives unnecessarily at risk. Long ED wait times are the result of intersecting challenges ranging from health workforce and primary care shortages to insufficient options for discharge due to a shortage of nursing home and behavioral health care options. Last year, the Delaware Healthcare Association reported that more than 300 long-stay patients were boarding in Delaware’s hospitals – using about 10% of the state’s hospital beds – despite being medically ready for discharge. Recent hospital closures in Pennsylvania will further strain hospital capacity issues in the region, making this federal initiative to complement state and local leadership more pressing than ever. 

    The text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Davids Announces New Federal Grant to Lower Energy Costs in Franklin, Anderson Counties

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced a federal grant to help two rural Kansas nursing and rehabilitation centers lower their energy costs through solar power. The investments, totaling nearly $200,000, are part of the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which helps small businesses and farms in rural areas make energy-efficient upgrades. Davids was the only member of Kansas’ Congressional Delegation to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, which supports this program. “High energy bills are one of the biggest costs for Kansas businesses, especially in rural areas,” said Davids. “This funding helps local facilities save thousands of dollars each year—money they can reinvest into their operations and community. I’ll keep working to bring down costs and make smart investments like this across our state.” Recover-Care Richmond, a nursing and rehab facility in Franklin County, received $99,995 to install new solar technology. This is expected to save the facility over $13,000 a year and cover 51 percent of its total energy use. Parkview Heights Nursing & Rehab Center in Anderson County also received $99,995 for new solar technology. This will replace nearly 95,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year — enough to power eight homes — helping the facility save money and reduce its reliance on the grid. Davids has made it a priority to lower energy costs for Kansas businesses and families. Through tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act, which she voted to pass, 3.4 million American families have already saved more than $8 billion on their utility bills. The law also caps the cost of insulin at $35 a month for seniors and finally lets Medicare negotiate for lower prescription drug prices, saving 74,000 Kansans on Medicare up to 79 percent on certain medicines. REAP provides grants and loans to rural small businesses and farms to help them install renewable energy systems or improve energy efficiency. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is part of a broader effort to invest in rural communities across the country.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. House Passes Davids’ Bipartisan Bill to Help People in Recovery Rejoin the Workforce

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Representative Sharice Davids’ bipartisan legislation to address the impact of substance use on America’s workforce. The legislation would reauthorize the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery through Effective Employment and Reentry (CAREER) Act, which supports individuals recovering from substance use disorder, ensuring they can reenter the workforce and maintain gainful employment. The bill, originally introduced alongside Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY-06), was passed as part of the bipartisan Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization (SUPPORT) Act.

    “Substance use has devastated far too many Kansas families, and we must ensure those recovering from addiction are supported and have access to good-paying jobs,” said Davids. “Today, my colleagues from both sides of the aisle joined me in helping those folks recovering from substance use find employment and live independently. There are so many local organizations who walk alongside our neighbors in recovery, and I’m proud to support them with the CAREER Act.”

    Davids’ CAREER Act would reauthorize the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Treatment, Recovery, and Workforce Support Grant Program, which helps determine workforce gaps and coordinate employment and training activities for individuals in recovery. The reauthorization would also increase funding for the program and allow the grants to be used for transportation between work, training, and recovery services. 

    “The CAREER Act has played a key role in supporting workforce development, vocational training, and skill-building in our communities,” said Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY-06). “By renewing its authorization, we can make this essential program even more effective, ensuring American workers have what they need to thrive in today’s job market. Given the ongoing battle our nation faces with substance abuse, especially the opioid crisis in Kentucky, it’s crucial that we focus on helping and providing resources to those working towards recovery.”

    To ensure a safer and healthier community, Davids has made it a priority to address the opioid and fentanyl epidemic head-on. She hosted multiple summits with law enforcement, health care workers, and education professionals on combating the fentanyl epidemic and has taken a number of legislative actions based on the specific needs of the Kansas Third District, including:

    • Securing a nearly $16 million grant to help law enforcement seize illicit drugs like fentanyl, reduce violent crime associated with drug trafficking, and improve data collection.
    • Voting to permanently place all fentanyl-related substances into a Schedule I class, labeling the drug with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use.
    • Joining a bipartisan group of lawmakers to request funding for new handheld mass spectrometry trace-level chemical detection devices at domestic ports.
    • Urging the FDA to take up expert recommendations and make Narcan, a common naloxone nasal spray, available without a prescription — which they did earlier this year.
    • Helping pass a bipartisan bill to create a public awareness campaign about synthetic opioids. This came after meeting with Libby Davis, a Johnson County resident whose son passed away after taking a counterfeit pill that was unknowingly laced with fentanyl.
    • Pushing for expanded federal grant opportunities, so law enforcement and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) can easily acquire life-saving naloxone kits.
    • Visiting the Port of Long Beach to see how the port uses state-of-the-art technologies to prevent harmful substances — like fentanyl — from entering the country illegally.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: During Pride Month, Davids Introduces Bill Supporting LGBTQI+ Youth Mental Health

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Today, during Pride Month, Representative Sharice Davids reintroduced her legislation to improve mental health support for at-risk LGBTQI+ youth. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey of American teenagers found that LGBTQI+ students report significantly worse mental health than other students. Also, nearly 40 percent of gay, lesbian, and bisexual teens said they considered committing suicide in 2023. The Pride in Mental Health Act works to improve physical and mental health in at-risk youth.

    “Children here in Kansas and across the country continue to struggle with mental health challenges, but we are failing many of our most vulnerable children on this issue,” said Davids. “My Pride in Mental Health Act takes a comprehensive and data-driven approach to tackling the mental health crisis among LGBTQI+ youth. By increasing access to mental health support for our children and teens, we can save lives.”

    Specifically, the Pride in Mental Health Act:

    • Increases mental health support for LGBTQI+ youth by updating care standards, developing training for caregivers, identifying school bullying prevention guidelines, and more.
    • Protects at-risk youth by commissioning a report on the mental health and mental health care of LGBTQI+ youth in foster care and other federal social services programs.
    • Directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to review and update resources listed on their website that pertain to LGBTQI+ communities.

    The Pride in Mental Health Act has been endorsed by the Congressional Equality Caucus, Human Rights Campaign, GLSEN, National Education Association (NEA), Advocates for Trans Equality, PFLAG National, American Psychological Association (APA), Institute for Health Research & Policy at Whitman-Walker, interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), The Trevor Project, Seattle Indian Health Board, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

    “As someone who faced firsthand the challenges of growing up LGBTQI+ while struggling with their mental health, I know how isolating and overwhelming it can be,” said Representative Ritchie Torres (NY-15). “Across the country, LGBTQI+ youth face alarmingly high rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and disproportionate representation in the foster care system. For too long, we’ve failed to meet their needs with the compassion and support they deserve. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the Pride in Mental Health Act with Rep. Sharice Davids to confront these disparities head-on and ensure every young LGBTQI+ person has access to the care and support they need to thrive.”

    “Young people across the country are struggling right now with unprecedented levels of depression and mental health challenges, and it is felt most acutely among LGBTQ+ youth,” said Congressman Sorensen (IL-17). “It’s important this Pride Month that we help our vulnerable youth access the mental health care, treatment, and resources they need to live happy and healthy lives as their full selves. I’m proud to work with my fellow Equality Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. Davids and Torres, to address this crisis head-on. With this legislation, we can improve and save lives.”

    “On behalf of PFLAGers everywhere, I thank Rep. Davids for introducing this important bill providing tools and accountability to SAMHSA,” said Brian K. Bond, CEO, PFLAG National. “Across races, places, genders, and abilities, all people — including LGBTQ+ youth — deserve to thrive as their authentic selves. This bill will ensure access to and measurement of critical behavioral health services, especially for trans youth who are facing unprecedented attacks by people who are seeking to remove the most basic access to healthcare of all kinds.”

    “The LGBTQ+ community faces significant barriers to accessing mental health care,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “Ensuring access to early intervention and comprehensive, evidence-based treatment are essential to helping LGBTQ+ individuals with mental health conditions to live well. The Pride in Mental Health Act helps ensure that all individuals affected by mental illness receive the care and support they need and deserve to lead healthy, fulfilling lives within a supportive and inclusive community. NAMI is grateful to Rep. Davids for introducing this legislation and proud to support this important bill.”

    “Passing the Pride in Mental Health Act would provide vital resources to support the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people and shine a necessary spotlight on the serious mental health crisis facing our country,” said Mark Henson, Interim Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs, The Trevor Project. “The Trevor Project’s research found that 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, yet half of those who wanted mental health care were not able to get it. It’s clear that we need more resources to end suicide among this high-risk group, and this legislation creates a critical avenue for providing the resources, data, and awareness we need to help LGBTQ+ young people across the country lead the happy, healthy lives they deserve.”

    “The reintroduction of the Pride in Mental Health Act is a critical step toward closing the persistent behavioral health gaps experienced by LGBTQ+ youth,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, CEO, American Psychological Association. “Decades of psychological research show that access to affirming, evidence-based care dramatically improves outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals. This legislation affirms a simple but powerful principle: every young person deserves the support they need to thrive — without fear, stigma, or discrimination. We commend Representative Sharice Davids for her bold leadership and steadfast commitment to the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth.”

    “LGBTQ+ youth are growing up in a moment of crisis — where their very existence is being debated in legislatures across the country,” said David Stacy, Vice President for Government Affairs, Human Rights Campaign. “They are not just facing the everyday pressures of adolescence, but also the constant drumbeat of rejection and discrimination. Mental health support from affirming, qualified professionals isn’t just helpful — it’s lifesaving. The Pride in Mental Health Act is a crucial response to this national emergency.”

    Davids has focused on improving mental health care since taking office. She visited Tyler’s House KC to help launch their summer mental wellness programming, helped secure funding for mental health programs in Wyandotte and Johnson Counties, and advocated for stronger mental health supports in schools. She also helped acquire grants for local police departments to hire more behavioral health specialists to the force, including the Overland Park Police Department’s new Crisis Action Team. Her legislation to renew federal mental health grant programs for health centers, schools, and law enforcement also passed the U.S. House.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Keep Manadon Moving: Tackling delays

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Delays at Manadon. We all know about them, we’ve all felt it.

    Some days it can be absolutely fine; others it’s bit of a gamble. It’s not reliable.

    And that’s just now. In the next few years, as the city grows with ambitious new housing targets, the growth of the hospital and the expansion of the dockyard, it’s going to get worse.

    That’s why we’re bringing forward potential changes to the roundabout, to improve things not just now but in the future.

    The graphic below has been developed from queue length data and shows how traffic queues will look in years to come in scenarios where we continue with the scheme and if we do nothing.

    “The data is clear,” explains Councillor John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Transport. “Doing nothing, sitting on our hands, is simply not a viable option. Manadon needs investment so that we can provide the infrastructure we need for the expected growth of this city.

    “I’d ask everyone who travels through Manadon to get involved in this engagement exercise. Give us your feedback and let us know what you think of the proposals.”

    Manadon is at the heart of Plymouth’s transport network and is a key part of the journey to and from some of the busiest places in the city.

    You’ve got an appointment at Derriford at 10am, but you’re still stuck queuing on the A38 at 9.40am. You thought you’d left enough time. It was fine when you came through Manadon last week but it’s just not moving today. You hope you don’t miss it.

    University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP), who runs Derriford Hospital, the largest specialist teaching hospital in the south west peninsula and the region’s major trauma centre, continues to redevelop their facilities.

    Stuart Windsor, Future Hospital Director, said: “Our Future Hospital Programme is transforming how care is delivered to improve lives across Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall through investing in our healthcare estate.

    “This includes a new purpose-built Emergency Care Building at our Derriford site, which will double the space to care for the increasing numbers of patients with urgent and emergency conditions.

    “Works that improve accessibility to Derriford Hospital will be hugely beneficial for our patients and colleagues, and are an important part of enabling our organisation to delivering its long-term goals.”

    Argyle have got a crunch late-season game to secure promotion and by some miracle, you’ve bagged yourself a ticket. You left the house in good time – enough time for a pasty before the game. But you didn’t account for Manadon. There’s been a shunt somewhere else in the city, and everyone is using Manadon instead. It’s 2.40pm. You’ve still got to find somewhere to park once you get to Home Park. It’s not the start to the afternoon you had planned.

    Meanwhile, every other week for most of the year at least 16,000 people descend on Home Park to cheer on Plymouth Argyle. Many of that crowd make their way through Manadon.

    Christian Kent, Head of Venue, Hospitality & Events at Plymouth Argyle, said: “Supporters will be aware that Plymouth Argyle have worked hard on making Home Park more accessible over the past two seasons with additional transport and parking.

    “The Manadon project ethos and aims are a step in the right direction in ensuring attending matches and events at Home Park is as efficient as possible.

    “We’d very much encourage our fans to engage with the scheme, so the needs of our fanbase are considered.”

    You can view the plans for improvements at Manadon and fill in the online survey at https://keepmanadonmoving.commonplace.is

    Manadon Key Facts
    • 60,000+ journeys pass through the interchange every day.
    • Journeys through Manadon junction regularly take significantly longer than necessary due to congestion.
    • The existing layout was designed for much lower traffic volumes and cannot cope with future demand.
    • By 2040, queues are expected to back onto the A38 daily, creating major safety risks

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sunderland shows support for Carers Week

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Sunderland is proud to support Carers Week 2025 as part of its commitment to recognising, valuing and supporting unpaid carers across the city.

    This annual national campaign, running until Sunday 15 June, shines a spotlight on the individuals who carers. Sunderland City Council is marking the week with action, awareness, and celebration.

    This year’s Carers Week theme, “Caring About Equality,” calls for greater recognition of carers’ rights and equal access to the support they deserve.

    As a visible sign of this commitment, some of Sunderland’s most iconic landmarks will be lit up blue on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 June. Penshaw Monument, Northern Spire Bridge, Hylton Castle, and Fulwell Mill will be lit up to honour the invaluable contribution of unpaid carers throughout the city.

    Carers Week also marks one year since the launch of Sunderland’s Carers Strategy. A five-year plan developed with and for carers, in partnership with the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, Sunderland Carers Centre, and Together for Children. Since its launch, the strategy has driven real improvements in how carers are identified, supported, and listened to.

    Sunderland’s unpaid adult carers can now easily carry out a self-assessment to access valuable information and support tailored to their needs.

    Any adult in Sunderland aged 18 or over who looks after someone with day-to-day tasks is entitled to a carer’s assessment. The new self-assessment tool is designed for adults who care for someone and have not yet had a formal carer’s assessment.

    The tool simplifies the process for carers to share their situation and receive the help and support they need. It offers a clear and straightforward way to identify what assistance may be available, ensuring that carers have access to the resources they deserve.

    Councillor Kelly Chequer, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Safer Communities at Sunderland City Council, said: “We would like to recognise the tremendous contributions unpaid carers make to Sunderland. We understand that alongside providing care, many carers face challenges of their own—whether it’s in terms of health, well-being, finances, or employment.

    “This new self-assessment tool is one way we are addressing those concerns and ensuring that carers receive the support they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives. In line with this year’s theme of ‘Caring for Equality,’ we are committed to creating an equitable environment where all carers can thrive.”

    For more information on the self-assessment tool and to learn more about the support available, visit: Carer’s self-assessment – Sunderland City Council

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: $HAREHOLDER ALERT: Class Action Attorney Juan Monteverde Investigates the Merger of Streamline Health Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: STRM)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Class Action Attorney Juan Monteverde with Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2024 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. The firm is headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and is investigating Streamline Health Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: STRM) relating to its sale to MDaudit for $5.34 per share.

    Click here for more info https://monteverdelaw.com/case/streamline-health-solutions-inc/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE EQUAL. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

    1. Do you file class actions and go to Court?
    2. When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders?
    3. What cases did you recover money in and how much?

    About Monteverde & Associates PC

    Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. 

    No one is above the law. If you own common stock in the above listed company and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

    Contact:
    Juan Monteverde, Esq.
    MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
    The Empire State Building
    350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
    New York, NY 10118
    United States of America
    jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
    Tel: (212) 971-1341

    Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com).  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

    The MIL Network –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ghana’s older people feel left behind and ignored: how to care for them better

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Andrew Kweku Conduah, PhD Candidate, University of Ghana

    Ghana’s national agenda often focuses on the country’s large number of young people. In fact a less noticed demographic transformation is reshaping society: the country’s older population is growing rapidly. According to Ghana Statistical Service estimates,
    people aged 60 and above are projected to make up over 12% of the total population by 2050, more than doubling the 2021 estimate of 6.8%.

    And more of these older adults are ageing alone.

    That’s because of Ghana’s transition from extended to nuclear family systems, coupled with rural–urban and international migration. Traditionally, older Ghanaians aged within multi-generational households, with care provided by children and extended family. But today, migration patterns have intensified, with over 50% of the population living in urban areas, leaving many elders behind in rural communities or isolated in city slums.

    I recently conducted a study across six Ghanaian communities (urban and rural). Drawing from 52 interviews, I explored the emotional, social and economic implications of ageing alone.

    The participants in the study echoed a common theme: the erosion of intergenerational family structures, leaving the elderly socially and emotionally isolated.

    As a 73-year-old widow participant who lives in a city put it:

    My daughter is in Canada. My son lives in Kumasi, but he rarely visits. I live alone, and if I fall sick, I just wait. Sometimes, I pray someone will notice.

    Such stories are no longer anecdotal outliers. Nationally representative data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey and WHO SAGE Ghana Wave 2 also reveal an uptick in solitary living among older adults, particularly widowed women and those without formal pensions. Over 22% of older respondents in urban Ghana reported living alone, a sharp contrast to previous decades, where co-residence with adult children was the norm. Many older Ghanaians don’t have reliable caregivers.

    As a PhD candidate in population studies at the University of Ghana, I focus on health-related quality of life among older adults. This article draws from my doctoral fieldwork in urban and rural Ghana, using qualitative interviews to uncover the lived realities of ageing alone.

    The study highlights a gap in Ghana’s ageing policies: they overlook solitary elders who live without daily family support.

    The paper calls for integrated social protection for older adults living alone. That would include subsidised healthcare, community outreach services, emergency care networks, and community-based mental health interventions.

    What old people had to say

    Focus group discussions revealed that older adults struggle with emotional loneliness, financial anxiety and health system constraints. Despite the presence of pension associations, many older adults feel forgotten. Spiritual activities and reading offer moments of solace, but limited National Health Insurance Scheme coverage, rising living costs, and declining family support deepen the hardship.

    Focus groups revealed that older women were particularly vulnerable due to widowhood, land insecurity and declining support from children. Men, while respected, felt idle and underutilised. Participants spoke of finding strength in farming, faith and fellowship, but felt forgotten in national development planning.

    Ghana’s National Ageing Policy (2010) promises integrated care, but older adults, especially women, are slipping into the cracks of urban anonymity.

    Ageing here is not just biological, it is physical, psychological and economic. My broader research affirms that the majority of older adults in Ghana worked in the informal sector. They therefore have no access to formal pensions or post-retirement income security.

    Participants in my most recent research shared how they felt:

    I was a seamstress all my life. Now my eyes are failing. No pension, no money. I survive on cassava and prayer. – 66-year-old retired woman

    Ageing in Ghana is like walking into a forest — you disappear quietly. No one sees you. — 69-year-old woman

    This statement underscores the gendered experience of ageing, where women often face greater economic and emotional vulnerability due to widowhood, longer life expectancy, and social neglect.

    We are not dying yet. We want to matter again. – 70-year-old man

    We have houses, but not homes anymore. – 75-year-old man

    What next

    The implications of this neglect are staggering. According to the World Health Organization, loneliness and social isolation among the elderly are associated with a 50% increased risk of dementia, depression and premature death. In Ghana, there are added challenges of inaccessible health facilities and cultural stigma about ageing. Yet most people aren’t talking about it.

    Ghana introduced the National Ageing Policy in 2010 to promote the health, security and participation of older people in national development. But many elderly people still live without affordable healthcare, age-friendly infrastructure or a regular income.

    What Ghana needs now is not another grand policy document. It needs practical, community-rooted and state-supported action.

    Decentralised community geriatric care: Train district-level health volunteers in geriatric care, and equip them with basic tools to support older people in their homes.

    Pension and informal sector integration: Extend Ghana’s pension framework to informal sector workers.

    Public awareness campaigns: Reframe ageing in national media not as decline but as contribution, highlighting elder wisdom, resilience, and ongoing social relevance.

    Urban planning for ageing: Incorporate age-friendly elements like ramps, benches, toilets and signage into development plans.

    None of this is charity. It is a strategic investment. In 2021, Ghana spent less than 0.5% of its national health budget on elderly-specific care. That is fiscally short-sighted. Healthier, engaged older adults reduce family burdens, boost social capital, and can even contribute economically by training and mentoring others.

    In the communities I visited, I encountered grassroots interventions worth scaling up: church youth groups providing weekly food support, pensioners’ associations checking in on members, and intergenerational community storytelling sessions that rebuild emotional bonds.

    In Ghana’s Akan tradition, elders are considered living libraries. Their absence from the communal space is not just a social loss, it is a cultural erasure.

    If the elderly are neglected, anyone may wake up on the wrong side of the demographic line one day, wondering if they too will be forgotten.

    Andrew Kweku Conduah does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Ghana’s older people feel left behind and ignored: how to care for them better – https://theconversation.com/ghanas-older-people-feel-left-behind-and-ignored-how-to-care-for-them-better-257951

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 10, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: A quarter of the world’s population are adolescents: major report sets out health and wellbeing trends

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Alex Ezeh, Dornsife Endowed Professor of Global Health, Drexel University

    The Lancet has released its second global commission report on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing. Adolescents are defined as 10- to 24-year-olds. The report builds on the first one, done in 2016. The latest report presents substantial original research that supports actions it recommends to be taken across sectors as well as at global, regional, country and local level. The co-chairs of the commission, Sarah Baird, Alex Ezeh and Russell Viner, together with the youth commissioners lead, Shakira Choonara, give a guide to the report’s findings.

    What were the key findings?

    The report noted significant improvements in some aspects of adolescent health and wellbeing since the 2016 report. These include reductions in:

    • communicable, maternal and nutritional diseases, particularly among female adolescents

    • the burden of disease from injuries

    • substance use, specifically tobacco and alcohol

    • teenage pregnancy.

    It also found that there had been an increase in age at first marriage and in education, especially for young women.

    Despite this progress, adolescent health and wellbeing is said to be at a tipping point. Continued progress is being undermined by rapidly escalating rates of
    non-communicable diseases and mental disorders, accompanied by threats from compounding and intersecting megatrends. These include climate change and environmental degradation, the growing power of commercial influences on health, rising conflict and displacement, rapid urbanisation, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    These megatrends are outpacing responses from national governments and the international community.

    What’s unique about today’s cohort of adolescents?

    Born between 2000 and 2014, this is the first cohort of humans who will live their entire life in a time when the average annual global temperature has consistently been 0.5°C or higher above pre-industrial levels.

    At roughly 2 billion adolescents, they are the largest cohort of adolescents in the history of humanity. And this number will not be surpassed as populations age and fertility rates fall in even the poorest countries.

    They are the first generation of global digital natives. They live in a world of immense resources and opportunities, with unprecedented connectedness made possible by the rapid expansion of digital technologies. This is true even in the hardest-to-reach places.

    Growing participation in secondary and tertiary education is equipping adolescents of all genders with new economic opportunities and providing pathways out of poverty.

    These opportunities, however, are not being realised for most adolescents. Increasing numbers continue to grow up in settings with limited opportunities. In addition, investments in adolescent health and wellbeing continue to lag relative to their population share or their share of the global burden of disease.

    Investments in adolescents accounted for only 2.4% of the total development assistance for health in 2016-2021. This was despite the fact that adolescents accounted for 25.2% of the global population in that period and 9.1% of the total burden of disease. We use development assistance as a measure because, while governments also invest in adolescents, it’s difficult to account for how much this is. For example, when a government supports a health facility, it serves the entire population.

    Yet, the report provides evidence to show that the return on investments in adolescent health and wellbeing is highly cost-effective and at par with investments in children.

    What’s the news for adolescents in Africa?

    The report recognises the special place of Africa in the global future of adolescents. It notes that, by the end of this century, nearly half of all adolescents will live in Africa.

    Currently, adolescents in Africa experience higher burdens of communicable, maternal and nutritional diseases, at more than double the global average for both male and female adolescents. They also have a higher prevalence of anaemia, adolescent childbearing, early marriage and HIV infection. They are much less likely to complete 12 years of schooling and more likely to not be in education, employment, or training.

    Female adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa have the highest adolescent fertility rate at 99.4 births per 1,000 female adolescents aged 15-19 (the global average is 41.8). They have also experienced the slowest decline between 2016 and 2022.

    Globally, there was progress in reducing child marriage between 2016 and 2022. But in eight countries in 2022, at least one in three female adolescents aged 15–19 years was married. All but one of these eight countries were in sub-Saharan Africa. Niger (50.2%) and Mali (40.6%) had the highest proportion of married female adolescents.

    The practice of child marriage is declining in south Asia and becoming more concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. As the report notes:

    it continues because of cultural norms, fuelled by economic hardships, insurgency, conflict, ambiguous legal provisions, and lack of political will to enforce legal provisions.

    What should be Africa’s focus areas?

    Beyond adolescent sexual and reproductive health concerns in sub-Saharan Africa, obesity is increasing fastest in the region. This illustrates the vulnerability of adolescents to the power of commercial interests.

    Since 1990, obesity and overweight has increased by 89% in prevalence among adolescents aged 15–19 years in sub-Saharan Africa. This is the largest regional increase.

    The absence of data on adolescents is a problem. Adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa are absent in many data systems. For example, data on adolescent mental health in sub-Saharan Africa is virtually absent.

    Stronger data systems are needed to understand and track progress on the complex set of determinants of adolescent health and wellbeing.

    Another area of concern is the massive inequities within countries, often gendered or by geography. While female adolescents in Kenya are experiencing substantial declines in the burden of HIV and sexually transmitted infections, adolescent males are experiencing increasing burdens. In South Africa, years of healthy life lost to maternal disorders show more than 10-fold differences between the Western Cape and North West provinces.

    Where there’s been strong political leadership, remarkable changes have been seen. Take the case of Benin Republic. The adolescent fertility rate in the country declined from 26% in 1996 to 20% in 2018 and child marriage from 39% to 31% over the same period. Strong political leadership has also led to substantial reductions in female genital mutilation or cutting. This fell from 12% of girls in Benin in 2001 to 2% in 2011–12 among 15–19-year-old girls in Benin Republic. Political leadership also facilitated the expansion, by the national parliament in 2021, of the grounds under which women, girls, and their families could access safe and legal abortion.

    But for every country that takes positive steps to protect the health and wellbeing of adolescents, several others regress.

    The last decade has witnessed regression in several countries. In 2024, The Gambia attempted to repeal a 2015 law criminalising all acts of female genital mutilation or cutting. In 2022, Nigeria’s federal government ordered the removal of sex education from the basic education curriculum.

    What are the recommended courses of action?

    The report calls for a multisectoral approach across multiple national ministries and agencies, including the office of the head of state, and within the UN system.

    Coordination and accountability mechanisms for adolescent health and wellbeing also need to be strengthened.

    Laws and policies are needed to protect the health and rights of adolescents, reduce the impact of the commercial determinants of health, and promote healthy use of digital and social media spaces and platforms.

    Strong political leadership at local, national, and global levels is essential.

    The report also calls for prioritised investments, the creation of enabling environments to transform adolescent health and wellbeing, and the development of innovative approaches to address complex and emerging health threats.

    It calls for meaningful engagement of adolescents in policy, research, interventions and accountability mechanisms that affect them.

    Without these concerted actions, we risk failing our young people and losing out on the investments being made in childhood at this second critical period in their development.

    The current adverse international aid climate is particularly affecting adolescents as much development assistance relates to gender and sexual and reproductive health. Concerted action in addressing adolescent health and wellbeing is an urgent imperative for sub-Saharan Africa.

    Alex Ezeh is a fellow at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (Stias).

    Russell Viner and Sarah Baird do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. A quarter of the world’s population are adolescents: major report sets out health and wellbeing trends – https://theconversation.com/a-quarter-of-the-worlds-population-are-adolescents-major-report-sets-out-health-and-wellbeing-trends-257282

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 10, 2025
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