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Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies on maternal diabetes and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology looks at associations between maternal diabetes and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. 

    Prof Lucilla Poston, Professor of Maternal & Fetal Health, King’s College London said:

    “The human fetus is exquisitely vulnerable to changes in its environment which may affect life-long health. In this extensive review, Ye et al have analysed data from 202 studies which investigated a potential effect of maternal diabetes on the fetal brain and mental health in childhood. A range of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were found to be strongly linked to pre-existing maternal Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and also, but less so, to gestational diabetes (diabetes developing in pregnancy). This well conducted study followed strict rules for systematic review, and benefits from a focus on studies that ruled out several factors (confounders), such as maternal obesity or socioeconomic status which could explain the association. While the conclusion is that children born to mothers with diabetes are at risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, all contributing studies were observational, (with no attempt to intervene to prevent any effect), and ‘causality’ must be treated with caution. As appreciated by the authors, interpretation may be complicated by effects of diabetes treatment, and the international non-conformity in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. However, other evidence does imply causality, including many studies in experimental animals. Also, data is emerging from MRI imaging of the brains of children exposed to maternal diabetes, showing structural and functional changes in the hypothalamus, a region of the brain intricately involved in both mental and physical health. For this and other reasons, diabetes prevention, screening and treatment remain critically important not only for the health of the mother, but also her child.”

    Association between maternal diabetes and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 202 observational studies comprising 56·1 million pregnancies’ by Wenrui Ye et al. was published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology at 23:30 UK time on Monday 7th April. 

    Declared interests

    Prof Lucilla Poston: “None commercial. I am funded by MRC to undertake a longitudinal population cohort (eLIXIR Born in South London) which has relevance to this project but no direct conflict.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pettersen, Beyer, Salinas, Tonko, Trahan Lead 29 Members Calling on Secretary Kennedy to Halt Dismantling of SAMHSA Amid Opioid and Mental Health Crises

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brittany Pettersen (Colorado 7th District)

    WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Don Beyer (VA-08), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Lori Trahan (MA-03) led 29 Members calling on Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to immediately cease the proposed reorganization that would dissolve the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

    This plan aims to merge SAMHSA into a new entity, the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA), a move that Pettersen and other lawmakers argue is both unlawful and detrimental to the nation’s efforts in combating the opioid epidemic and addressing mental health challenges. According to reports, HHS plans to lay off approximately 10,000 employees and close several agencies, including those overseeing addiction services and community health centers, consolidating their functions under the AHA.

    “My mom struggled with addiction for decades after being overprescribed opioids following a back injury,” said Pettersen. “I’ve seen firsthand how broken our system is and how hard it is for people in crisis to get the help they need. Dismantling this agency in the middle of an ongoing epidemic isn’t just reckless — it puts thousands of lives at risk. Without SAMHSA, people like my mom may never get the care they need to recover and rebuild their lives, and we will continue to lose people unnecessarily because we refused to give them the medical care they desperately need. We should be building on the progress we’ve made, not going backwards.”

    In the letter, the Members share: “Functionally eliminating this centralized expertise within HHS is incompatible with both current statute and addressing the ongoing addiction and overdose crisis. Such intent and reorganization would require Congressional authorization.”

    The Members continued: “Over the last several years, SAMHSA executed a strategic plan that focused on five priority areas: preventing substance use and overdose; enhancing access to suicide prevention and mental health services; promoting resilience and emotional health for children, youth, and families; integrating behavioral and physical health; and strengthening the behavioral healthcare workforce. Under these priorities, SAMHSA was able to make significant strides in addressing the mental health and substance use disorder crises…We cannot afford to turn back the clock on the progress that SAMHSA has made, and we are deeply concerned that the absorption of SAMHSA under the AHA not only likely violates the law, but also threatens to undo this progress.”

    Rep. Pettersen has been a leading voice in Congress on addressing the opioid crisis and expanding access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Inspired by her own mother’s struggle, Pettersen has fought for legislation to prevent the import of illicit drugs, crack down on drug traffickers and their financing operations, and prevent overdose deaths by ensuring airplanes, law enforcement, and hospitals are able to distribute naloxone when necessary.

    Find the full text of the letter HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Myanmar quake: ‘I constantly worry – what if another earthquake happens?’

    Source: United Nations 2-b

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Humanitarian Aid

    Ten days after the catastrophic quake which struck Myanmar, children remain the most vulnerable – losing their homes, their schools, and in many cases, their families.

    The 7.7 magnitude earthquake which struck shortly before 1 PM local time on 28 March, was the strongest in recent memory.

    As aftershocks continue, UN agencies are warning of a looming health emergency, with children sleeping in the open, exposed to extreme heat, unsanitary conditions and the constant fear of another disaster.

    According to the latest figures, over 3,500 people have died, nearly 5,000 have been injured and more than 200 remain missing.

    The UN relief chief, speaking from Myanmar where he is overseeing the aid effort, underscored the Organization’s commitment to help communities in need.

    “The United Nations is here – we are going to stay here and we will deliver for them. But we need the world to get behind us, but more importantly, to back this community as they rebuild their lives,” said Tom Fletcher, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, as he visited neighbourhoods levelled by the disaster in the capital Nay Pyi Taw on Saturday.

    He highlighted the need for the international community to step up support, stressing that the most vulnerable have been the most affected.

    “One thing that I have been struck by here is that you would think earthquakes hit everyone equally, but they hit the poorest hardest because they do not have the resources to respond, to move house, to live elsewhere, to start to rebuild.”

    Education in ruins

    The earthquake has dealt a severe blow to Myanmar’s already fragile education system.

    According to government reports, at least 1,824 schools have been damaged or destroyed, leaving hundreds of thousands of children without access to education.

    With schools reduced to rubble, there is growing concern that many children, especially those in poorer communities, will fall behind in their studies – or never return to school at all.

    No quick and easy fixes

    There are “no quick and easy fixes,” the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warns.

    “Many children have lost their parents, their friends and they need a place where they can get psychosocial support and begin to feel a sense of normalcy,” Eliana Drakopoulos, Chief of Communications at UNICEF Myanmar, told UN News.

    “As hard as that is to imagine…we have to respond to the immediate emergency, but we also have to be here for the long haul to help people recover from this massive tragedy.”

    Eliana Drakopoulos, Chief of Communications at UNICEF Myanmar, updates on the situation in the affected areas

    Soundcloud

    Health risks

    The destruction of homes, hospitals and sanitation facilities, combined with heavy rains over the weekend have raised fears of disease outbreaks.

    According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO)-led Health Cluster, more than 65 healthcare facilities have been damaged, further complicating the situation. The lack of medical supplies is putting the lives of injured and sick children at even greater risk.

    Beyond the physical dangers, children are also dealing with the psychological trauma of the disaster. Many are afraid to sleep indoors, fearing that another earthquake will strike.

    Heightened challenges for persons with disabilities

    The earthquake’s devastation has disproportionately impacted persons with disabilities who face increased vulnerability due to physical injuries, displacement and disruption of essential services.

    According to a UN initial rapid assessment conducted with 15 organizations of persons with disabilities and special schools in Mandalay and Sagaing, 11 of them reported direct impacts. The disaster has also led to a rise in newly acquired disabilities, further straining limited resources.

    Preliminary reports indicate families of persons with disabilities have suffered severe hardships, including the collapse of homes, destruction of critical infrastructure such as sanitation facilities and loss of livelihoods.

    “I am even afraid to use the toilet, fearing that another earthquake might strike while I am inside,” said one woman living with disability.

    “I constantly worry – what if another earthquake happens while I’m inside a damaged house? The fear and anxiety never go away.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Universal Access to High-Quality, Affordable Health Services Crucial, Speakers Tell Population and Development Commission, Warning Too Many Targets Off Track

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    In a world in which every individual has access to high-quality, affordable health services, including sexual and reproductive care, young people can shape their own futures and older persons can age with dignity, speakers at the Commission on Population and Development stressed today as it continued its fifty-eighth session.

    Health is not a privilege; it is a human right, Catharina Jannigje Lasseur (Netherlands), Chair of the Commission, underscored in the opening segment of the session.  The theme of this year’s session, which will take place from 7 to 11 April, is “Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages”.

    While acknowledging the progress made — maternal and child mortality has declined, lifespans are longer — she stressed:  “If we are honest with ourselves,” too many health-related targets are not on track.  Too many women and girls are still denied their bodily autonomy or face violence.  Too many women still die giving birth and too many young people still lack access to comprehensive sexuality education.  And too many communities, especially those in humanitarian and climate-vulnerable contexts, are still left behind.

    This inequity must be tackled, she stressed, through resilient and equitable health systems that meet people’s needs across the life course — from birth to old age.

    The opening segment also featured statements by Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General; Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Department of Economic and Social Affairs; Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka; and Abdoulaye Bio Tchané, Minister of State for Planning and Development of Benin.

    In the afternoon, the Commission held a panel discussion to consider the Secretary-General’s reports on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages (document E/CN.9/2025/2); on programmes and interventions for the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development in the context of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages (document E/CN.9/2025/3); and on the flow of financial resources for assisting in the further implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (document E/CN.9/2025/4).

    People Living Longer, Having Smaller Families

    The discussion began with Cheryl Sawyer, Chief of the Population Trends and Analysis Branch of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Population Division, who noted the diverse demographic outlook across the world.  Some countries have high levels of fertility and are growing rapidly while others have historically low levels of fertility. However, she stressed, all populations are following a similar path towards longer lives and smaller families – a process known as “demographic transition”.  The diversity “stems from the fact that countries are at different stages in this process”, she said.

    Renewed Political Commitment Key to Strengthen Health Systems

    In low-income countries where the size of the population is projected to increase over the coming decades, it will be critical to renew the political commitment to strengthen health systems and mobilize enough public resources to meet the health needs of growing populations.  The rising number of births in these countries will also require substantial investments to meet the growing demand for public health interventions, including childhood immunizations, she added.

    Over the next 25 years, she said, the global population aged 60 years or older is expected to increase by 72 per cent, from 1.22 billion in 2025 to 2.11 billion by 2050.  This will require changes in health and social protection systems as the number of older persons needing long-term care is projected to more than double.  In lower-middle-income countries, the population of older persons is growing faster than the capacity of long-term care systems, “necessitating an increased reliance on unpaid care, which is often performed by women who are themselves aging”, she said.  “Expanding long-term care systems and promoting norms of gender equality and caregiving are critical steps towards achieving healthy aging,” she stressed.

    She also highlighted the need for “data-driven decision-making” to identify and prioritize critical needs.  Despite the uncertainty, she pointed out, compared to other trends such as economic growth or technological advances, the pace and direction of population change “is far more predictable, at least in the short and medium terms”.  Leveraging the foresight that can be gained from a robust understanding of population trends is critical for accelerating progress, she said.

    Calls to Address Maternal Mortality, End Barriers to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

    Next, Alessio Cangiano, acting Chief of the Population and Development Branch of UNFPA’s Programme Division, stressed the need to address maternal mortality.  Midwifery is a proven cost-effective model for healthcare delivery in both stable and humanitarian contexts, he added, noting that community health workers also play a pivotal role in expanding healthcare to rural or underserved populations.  Their work is especially useful for ensuring prenatal and postnatal maternal and newborn care, and for increasing the rates of childhood vaccination and in-home care for older persons.  “Community health workers often operate as first responders,” he added.

    Also stressing the importance of universal access to sexual reproductive health and rights, he said that many individuals, especially women and girls, continue to encounter systemic barriers that hinder such access.  “Universal access to modern contraception, skilled attendance at birth and screening for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections are amongst the health interventions providing the highest returns on investments,” he added.

    Government Budgets Deprioritizing Health

    “Promoting universal health coverage is the best way to ensure people have access to quality health services, without financial hardships,” he added.  Such coverage has substantial benefits not only for health, but for economic growth. However, since 2000, domestic Government health expenditure as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) has remained low for most low-income and lower-middle-income countries, he said, expressing concern about the “long-standing deprioritization of health” in Government budgets.

    He also highlighted the need to use digital technology wisely, noting that mobile health platforms have allowed people in remote or underserved areas to receive critical health information and services by means of their phones.  Telemedicine is revolutionizing diagnostics, treatment and care.  He then pointed to the power of “georeferencing” — for instance, mapping the proximity of emergency services in preparation for climate disasters.

    Half of Global Population Lacks Essential Health Services 

    The panel also included Pascale Allotey, Director of the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research of the World Health Organization (WHO), who noted that half of the world’s population — some 4.5 billion people — still lack access to essential health services, while nearly 2 billion people face financial hardship due to health costs.  “These are not just numbers; they reflect the daily reality of people forced to choose between health and household survival,” she said, adding that progress towards universal health coverage has slowed.

    “But, we also have evidence that progress is not only possible, but is already happening,” she added.  Countries that have made the most headway are the ones that have tackled six critical challenges head on, she said, adding that the first of these is establishing strong primary healthcare services.  “More accessible, more responsive and more equitable” primary healthcare is a critical investment.  Secondly, financial protections and sustainable health financing are indispensable, she said, calling for the elimination of financial barriers that push families into poverty simply for seeking care.  This is especially urgent as international health aid continues to decline.

    Investment in Health and Care Workforce Crucial

    The third key challenge is to invest in the health and care workforce, she pointed out, adding that the projected global shortfall in health workers has increased from 10 million to 11.1 million.  Without well-trained and equitably distributed health workers, even the most ambitious health goals will fall short.  Fourthly, “we must better leverage digital health data and artificial intelligence,” she said, adding that these tools hold immense promise to improve health literacy and enhance service delivery.  Yet, their potential remains underutilized, “especially in settings that stand to benefit the most”, she added.

    The fifth challenge is to ensure that “the commitment to leave no one behind must be real and must be resourced”, she said, pointing out that, by 2030, 60 per cent of the world’s poorest will live in fragile conflict-affected and vulnerable settings, where access to even basic health services will be at risk.  Finally, she said, “we need focused, integrated action on critical outcomes”, such as reducing maternal mortality, advancing sexual and reproductive health and tackling noncommunicable diseases.

    Commission’s Work Programme Adopted, Bureau Set Up 

    Also today, the Commission adopted the provisional agenda (document E/CN.9/2025/1) as well as the proposed organization of its work for the session (document E/CN.9/2025/L.1/Rev.1).

    Further, it appointed Romero Veiga (Uruguay), Joselyne Kwishaka (Burundi) and Galina Nipomici (Republic of Moldova) as Vice-Chairs for its fifty-eighth session.  Ms. Kwishaka will also assume the responsibility of Rapporteur for the session.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: US Department of Labor cites Pennsylvania roofing contractor after workers again exposed to falls, safety hazards

    Source: US Department of Labor

    WILKES-BARRE, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited Wilkes-Barre roofing contractor Luis Alberto-Reyna Avila for exposing workers to dangerous falls and workplace hazards at a Lackawanna County worksite.

    The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an inspection of Avila’s business, 3 Guys Home Improvement Inc., in September 2024, after receiving an imminent danger complaint alleging worker exposure to fall hazards. The agency cited the company for two willful violations for lack of fall protection and failure to ensure the use of personal protection equipment and 10 serious violations for improper labeling on flammable containers, working near energized power circuits and improper use of ladders. Due to the operator’s history of violations, the company has been added to OSHA’s Severe Violators Enforcement Program.

    The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.  

    Learn more about OSHA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: How the Path to Fight Back Begins for Oregonians

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    There will be many paths to fight back against the illegal actions and dangerous incompetence of the Trump administration. Big and small actions are both important. 

    Here’s one such proven path that started from my most recent open-to-all town halls in Linn, Clackamas, Crook and Deschutes counties, along with a town hall just for current federal employees and those fired by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s gang of cronies at the self-declared “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE).

    At the federal employees town hall I hosted along with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, Maxine Dexter and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, witnesses told us specifics about the damage done to basic services that Oregonians count upon.

    Senior Social Security staff at the federal employees town hall in Portland told me that they were short-staffed even before DOGE arrived. They shared how they can’t respond on the phone, the website is crashing, and seniors are getting lost in the system due to fresh and deep cuts from the Trump administration.

    Based on those direct accounts, I grilled Trump’s nominee to lead the Social Security Administration, Frank Bisignano about these problems.

    In a national spotlight, the nominee failed to provide adequate answers for the tens of millions of Americans who have earned Social Security benefits. The nominee also lied to the committee and all Americans – I was able to call him out thanks to a whistleblower at the agency who confirmed that Bisignano personally insisted on hiring several key DOGE members.

    Whistleblowers are the unsung heroes brave enough to alert the public to violations happening behind closed doors. And I encourage anybody who wants to blow the whistle on the Trump administration’s lawbreaking and destructive buffoonery to contact me here. 

    It is only because of brave whistleblowers that I learned about the Trump administration’s shuttering Medicaid portals that so many providers rely on for payment across all 50 states in January. Trump only reversed course on this part of his disastrous blanket freeze on federal aid AFTER I called his bluff and showed what whistleblowers had confirmed. 

    Whether I get a tip from a whistleblower or hear from Oregonians directly at a town hall about the Trump corruption and devastation, it helps a lot as I work to hold the administration accountable.

    For another example from this past round of town halls, there’s Isabella Isakson, an Olympian athlete and Army veteran. She was a U.S. Forest Service employee for the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland. She worked to alert the public about wildfires, and at our meeting, she conveyed the danger to rural areas when forests are not properly managed.

    These workers serve on the front lines of the fight against the climate crisis by maintaining our beautiful forests and reducing the risks of wildfires. They are your neighbors who worked at the Bonneville Power Administration to help keep your lights on. They are your friends who worked at the Veterans Health Administration to deliver critical services guaranteed to Oregon’s 251,000 veterans.

    All of these Oregonians are absolutely invaluable to our state and our entire nation at large. They are incredibly brave for coming forward to tell us their stories. 

    I am dedicated to investigating these dangerous incursions by Trump and Musk into vital functions of the federal government. Protecting federal workers who provide crucial services to Oregonians is an absolute top priority for me, and I will keep pushing legislation like the Putting Veterans First Act that reinstates veterans unduly fired from their federal positions. 

    I will also continue to fight to protect whistleblowers at every level, and encourage anyone with information of wrongdoing to contact me or my office. It’s not going to be easy and there is a lot of work ahead.

    But I am committed to working nonstop to hold the Trump administration and Musk accountable for their assault on America.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World News in Brief: Syria transition update, healthcare as a human right, more than 2,000 killed and injured in Haiti this year

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, issued a statement on Monday following his latest “extensive discussions” with leader of the caretaker administration in Damascus, Ahmed al-Sharaa. 

    The envoy expressed his appreciation noting they had talked through “all aspects” of the ongoing political process, following the overthrow of the Assad regime in December last year.

    Mr. Pedersen stressed the need to ease sanctions on Syria, emphasising the importance of a stable economy.

    They also discussed the importance of a “transparent framework for the process of selecting and electing an interim people’s assembly” and next steps towards a democratic and inclusive future.

    The top UN envoy highlighted the need to prevent any renewed cycle of violence, in the light of the mass killings of Alawite community members last month in several coastal towns.

    He also reiterated his “condemnation of Israel’s repeated attacks and interventions” inside Syria.

    End ‘indefinite detention’ of detainees

    In a joint statement on Monday a group of independent UN human rights experts said the transition period provides a “valuable opportunity” to end the arbitrary, inhumane and indefinite detention of around 52,000 detainees who have been held for years in the northeast, in relation to alleged ties with the ISIL terrorist group.

    They noted the agreement of 10 March between the interim administration and the largely Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces who guard the detainees, paving the way for the armed group to integrate with new national institutions.

    Around 9,000 male ISIL suspects are detained without due process, including 5,400 Syrians, 1,600 Iraqis, and some 1,500 from 50 other countries. The vast majority of these detainees continue to be held incommunicado without information on their fate or whereabouts, the experts said.

    In addition, some 42,500 individuals are arbitrarily held in camps, including family members and ISIL associates. Many have been held without legal process for at least six years.

    “Tens of thousands of innocent children have suffered physical violence and psychological harm, when they should be assisted as victims of terrorism and serious human rights violations,” the experts added.

    Special Rapporteurs and other UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts are not UN staff, receive no salary for their work and are independent of any organisation or government.

    ‘Let us be bold’: Global leaders reaffirm health as a human right

    Progress towards the universal healthcare goal has been undeniable: barriers to health services, education and family planning have been almost completely removed, The UN says.

    But on Monday, health ministers, ambassadors and civil society experts gathered at UN Headquarters in New York amid concerns that gains are being reversed, issuing a resounding call to place human health and dignity at the heart of sustainable development.

    Convening the 58th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD58) they stressed the urgency of providing universal access to quality health care – reaffirming commitments to the Programme of Action established at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).

    ‘Health is not a privilege’

    Katja Lasseur, Chair of the 58th session, welcomed over 120 Member States, observers and nearly 50 NGOs, highlighting the momentum behind the week’s discussions. “Health is not a privilege,” she declared. “It is a human right and a prerequisite for sustainable development.”

    Real progress has been achieved since 2000. Life expectancy has increased by 10 years in Africa and nine years in South Asia. At the same time, child mortality has dropped by more than half and cases of HIV have dropped by 50 per cent.

    “These gains demonstrate what is possible with sustained political will and investment,” emphasised Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy, Warning that progress has been “uneven.”

    “Health related targets, including universal health coverage, remain within reach,” he said, but they require urgent and equitable investment, particularly in primary health care and health coverage.

    Over 1,500 people killed in Haiti since start of 2025: UN mission

    Between 1 January and 27 March in Haiti, at least 1,518 people were killed and 572 injured in attacks by armed gangs, security operations and other acts of violence perpetrated by self-defence groups.

    That’s according to a new report from the UN Mission in Haiti (BINUH) which details the “grim” impact of violence since the beginning of the year, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric briefing journalists in New York.

    The report reveals repeated attacks in the rural areas of Kenscoff and some neighbourhoods of Carrefour – two communes in the metropolitan area of the capital, Port-au-Prince – resulting in serious human rights abuses.

    According to UN partners, gang members displayed extreme brutality, with the aim of instilling fear on the population. They executed men, women and children inside their homes and shot people on roads and paths as they tried to flee the violence, including an infant.

    “At the same time, sexual violence was committed against at least seven women and young girls during the planning and execution of those attacks by gang members,” reported Mr. Dujarric.

    The gangs ransacked several homes and set fire to more than 190 of them, which coupled with the violence has now forced more than 3,000 people to flee their localities.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Protecting Albertans’ rights during emergencies

    [. During these moments of crisis, elected officials and emergency management teams must make difficult decisions to protect Albertans and their communities. In response to feedback from the Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel, Bill 49 includes updates to the Emergency Management Act to emphasize the importance of balancing Albertans’ individual rights and freedoms when exercising emergency powers.

    Alberta’s government recognizes that emergencies require swift coordination and regulations to protect people, property and the environment, and that officials must also be mindful of individual rights when responding to emergencies. If passed, Bill 49 would update the definition of “emergency” to make it clear that emergencies are sudden and temporary events, and the use of emergency powers should only be used for as long as necessary to restore public safety. This increases the threshold required to access the extraordinary powers provided under the act, ensuring emergency powers are only used when necessary.

    “These amendments are built on the principle of ‘sober second thought’ — ensuring that, even under pressure, every action is measured against our commitment to individual freedoms. Albertans value deeply the democratic rights and freedoms our society is built on, and it is incumbent on government to ensure those rights are protected.”

    Danielle Smith, Premier

    Other proposed amendments would place new requirements on the minister responsible for emergencies to consult with the Premier, cabinet or other elected officials prior to authorizing emergency orders, and to ensure orders made are communicated promptly and clearly to all Albertans so they know what actions government is taking and how they might be impacted.

    “Trust and transparency are essential, especially during an emergency. These updates would ensure the government is accountable to Albertans and that they know what actions government is taking during emergencies. These changes would also greatly improve emergency preparedness at the local level through enhanced planning measures that will protect Albertans and their communities. We all understand that emergencies require prompt and decisive action to ensure the safety of Albertans, while also safeguarding their rights.”

    Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

    Other regulatory amendments

    Alberta’s government is also planning regulatory changes that would focus on enhancing community resilience by improving preparedness, coordination and information sharing during emergencies.

    Local authorities would be required to develop evacuation plans to facilitate safe evacuations during emergencies. These plans would also be required to include mitigation strategies informed by a hazard and risk assessment to support long-term reduction of disaster costs and impacts. Local authorities would have two years to come into compliance with these changes.

    Further amendments to the Disaster Recovery Regulation would allow post-disaster mitigation funding to cover a broader range of hazards, not just floods, to align with changes to the federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements. This reflects a proactive approach to disaster management and a responsible focus on long-term planning and preparation.

    Related information

    • Improving public safety
    • Bill 49: Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2025

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference
    • Listen to the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Signs Letter to USDA Requesting Removal of Soda & Energy Drinks from SNAP Purchases

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    .powell@nebraska.gov”>jeff.powell@nebraska.gov

    Gov. Pillen Signs Letter to USDA Requesting Removal of Soda & Energy Drinks from SNAP Purchases

     

    LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen signed a letter of intent to Secretary Brooke Rollins of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), notifying her of Nebraska’s intent to pursue a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) waiver, removing soda and energy drinks from SNAP allowable purchases. Nebraska is the second state to submit such a waiver. 

    Gov. Pillen was joined by leadership from the Department of Health and Human Services; Dr. Eric Sherman, chief medical officer at the Charles Drew Health Center; Director of the Department of Agriculture Sherry Vinton; and Senator Brian Hardin, chairman of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee. 

    “We are starving in the midst of plenty,” said Gov. Pillen. “We are surrounded by an endless number of food and beverage choices that contain numerous preservatives, carbohydrates and sugars, which can lead to obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and other chronic diseases.”

    The SNAP program supports individuals and families with access to nutritious options to improve their health and well-being. However, SNAP currently allows the purchase of any food or beverage that has a nutritional label, regardless of its nutritional value. According to the USDA, soft drinks or soda are the most common SNAP purchase. Approximately 75,000 households or 152,000 individuals receive SNAP benefits in Nebraska. It is estimated 67,690 are youth. 

    Studies have shown children who drink high levels of soda are more likely to exhibit withdrawn behavior and attention problems. High levels of sugar can also lead to long-term effects such as type 2 diabetes, tooth decay, heart disease, and poor bone health. Caffeine found in energy drinks also has negative effects in children and youth, including increases in stress, anxiety, agitation, sleep disturbance, and high blood pressure, often leading to difficulties in learning and academic performance. 

    “Unfortunately, the obesity epidemic is only getting worse in the United States. The key to making health improvements is to encourage physical activity, healthy food and drink choices, and healthy eating behaviors,” said pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Eric Sherman, Chief Medical Officer of the Charles Drew Health Center in Omaha. “I appreciate Governor Pillen for his willingness to take this important step to promote health and wellness in Nebraska.” 

    “Protecting Nebraska’s children is a top priority for Governor Pillen,” said DHHS CEO Steve Corsi. “The decision to omit harmful drinks from SNAP purchases is an important step that will help children and families live healthy lives and have bright futures.”

    Once approved by the USDA, DHHS will partner with grocers and other stakeholders to implement a waiver that will ensure Nebraskans are able to maximize their SNAP dollars while accessing healthy options.

    “My team and I are ready to hit the ground running and collaborate with our partners as we develop the waiver and implementation plan that expands outreach efforts and supports participants in accessing tools and resources to make informed and healthy choices,” said Shannon Grotrian, director of the DHHS Office of Economic Assistance. 

    Speaking about soda in particular, Sen. Hardin noted that while enjoyable, it was questionable that soda could be characterized as a healthy product. 

    “We’re going to do something about that here in Nebraska and other states will be following us in that endeavor,” said Sen. Hardin. “It’s exciting to be part of something that helps people to live better and feel better.”

    (Left to right: Dr. Sherman, Director Vinton, CEO Corsi, Gov. Pillen, Sen. Hardin, Director Grotrian)

    Dr. Sherman, Charles Drew Health Center

    Senator Brian Hardin

    Gov. Pillen signs waiver letter request

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyoming National Guard Counterdrug Program combats drug threats through education and prevention

    Source: US State of Wyoming

    Wyoming National Guard

    By Sgt. Joseph Burns

    CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Since its inception in 1989, the Wyoming National Guard Counterdrug Program plays a vital part in the battle against illicit drugs and transnational criminal threats.

    Designed to harness the unique capabilities of the National Guard, the program continues to deliver measurable results through its partnerships with law enforcement, schools and community organizations.

    In the past year alone, the counterdrug program has made major strides in reducing the impact of narcotics across the state. Through close coordination with law enforcement, the program directly supported operations that led to the arrest of 207 individuals connected to drug-related crimes. These efforts also resulted in the seizure of 9.8 pounds of fentanyl and 20.27 pounds of methamphetamine—dangerous substances with the potential to devastate communities.

    “The results we’re seeing are a testament to the commitment and professionalism of our team,” said Sgt. Maj. Katherine Zwiefel, Wyoming Counterdrug coordinator. “Every pound of drugs taken off the street, every partnership we strengthen, and every student we reach—it all adds up to lives saved.”

    Beyond interdiction and law enforcement support, the Wyoming Counterdrug Program has significantly expanded its prevention and education outreach. Working closely with educators and local coalitions, Guardsmen delivered classroom presentations to more than 1,794 students, spent over 75 hours in youth mentorship and leadership development activities designed to prevent substance abuse before it begins.

    In the last year, the team dedicated over 40 hours to coalition engagement and trained 20 personnel in the administration of Narcan, enhancing Wyoming’s readiness to respond to opioid overdoses.

    “Our greatest weapon in the fight against addiction is education,” Zwiefel added. “When we connect with kids early and give them the tools to succeed, we’re building stronger communities and a healthier future.”

    The program’s holistic approach—combining military expertise, community engagement and interagency cooperation—continues to evolve in response to emerging drug threats, including the opioid epidemic.

    “The counterdrug program is an essential piece of our statewide response to the drug crisis,” said Brig. Gen. Michelle Mulberry, Cowboy Guard Director of the Joint Staff. “Their work not only helps take drugs off the streets but also builds resilience in our schools and strengthens the partnerships that protect our communities.”

    Members of the Wyoming National Guard and Colorado National Guard Counterdrug Program, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, Park County Sheriff’s Office, Powell Police Department, Cody Police Department, Healthy Park County Coalition and other partners pose for a photo and flew around the state to make neighborhoods safer by supporting the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, in Jackson, Wind-River, Riverton, Johnson County, Park County, and Sheridan, Wyoming, Oct. 28, 2024. This initiative provides a safe and anonymous way for the public to dispose of unused prescription medications, which play a significant role in prescription drug abuse. (U.S. Army National Guard photo)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: PT is Good for You and Me

    Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)

    @usarmy soldiers from Munson Army Health Center work together with senior leadership to facilitate a PT session based on the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness program, which enables soldiers to maximizing physical performance on and off the battlefield.

    For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV2-lSehagc

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement on Student Abductions and Trump Administration Attacks on Free Speech

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    The following statement is from Margaret Cook, Vice President of the Communications Workers of America Public, Healthcare and Education Workers Sector:

    Since the March 8 abduction of Mahmod Khalil—father, legal permanent resident, scholar, and union member—from the Columbia University campus for his activism and speech, the Trump Administration has seized at least seven additional international graduate students and scholars across the country. They have all participated in the peaceful protest movement against the ongoing and brutal war against Gaza and are being persecuted for their background, faith, and beliefs.

    These abductions are an assault on the freedoms we value and depend on as union members. Our movement was built by workers who fought for the freedom to speak out and to engage in peaceful protest so we could pursue a better life for our families. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared his personal power to issue arrest and deportation mandates for these individuals without due process, taking us back to the days when police, acting on behalf of robber barons, used threats and violence to silence anyone who stood in their way.

    We should make no mistake that these actions will target anyone the Administration deems to be problematic or undesirable, including workers who speak out in order to improve their working conditions. The Trump Administration has threatened to expand its extreme cuts to university research programs in retaliation for non-compliance with its repressive agenda, and too many university boards and administrators have chosen to collaborate rather than to defend our fundamental freedoms.

    These students must be released. We must demand that campuses across this country stand up for everyone’s right to speak out, protest, and assemble. And we must continue to build and mobilize our unions in defense of one another, our colleagues, and all working people.

    We must resist this authoritarian, unconstitutional attack on these students and scholars in order to uphold our democratic rights, protect speech—and stop this campaign of repression in its tracks before it spreads to every campus, including all of those at which we teach, research, study, work, and organize.

    ###

    About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields, including tens of thousands of members on university and college campuses.

    cwa-union.org @cwaunion

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Marshall and Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Access to Dairy Products and Support Dairy Farmers 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) introduced the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2025, legislation that would increase access to dairy products for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants and support dairy farmers across the country. This bill would allow SNAP participants to purchase more milk, cheese, and yogurt with their benefits, expanding access to affordable and nutritious options. Companion legislation is led in the House by U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (D-California-21) and Nick Langworthy (R-New York-23).
     “As a doctor who practiced medicine for more than 25 years, I cannot stress enough the importance of consuming dairy products, which serve as excellent sources of critical nutrients and contribute to a healthier cardiovascular system,” said Senator Marshall. “The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2025 would support dairy farmers and provide commonsense updates to increase incentives for milk, cheese, and yogurt purchases in SNAP – ensuring all American families can benefit from these nutrient-dense foods.”
    “Making sure more Americans have better access to foods like yogurt and cheese while supporting our dairy farmers is a win-win,” said Senator Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation will support healthy diets, make sure families are able to bring home more of the foods they love, and help dairy farmers feed Americans.” 
    The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York).
    The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2025 is endorsed by the International Dairy Foods Association, National Milk Producers Federation, FMI – The Food Industry Association, National Grocers Association, and Associated Milk Producers Inc.
    “A SNAP dairy incentive program is a reliable investment in improving our nation’s health and reducing hunger and chronic food insecurity among low-income Americans,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association. “Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt are nutritional powerhouses that promote healthy immune function, hydration, bone health, and lower risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. IDFA applauds U.S. Sens. Klobuchar and Marshall, and U.S. Reps. Costa and Langworthy for their leadership on the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2025, which would help our nation’s most vulnerable people afford wholesome, nutrient-dense dairy products for their families.”
    “Dairy foods provide critical nutrients for healthy lives, but nearly 90 percent of Americans don’t meet dairy intake recommendations,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “We commend Representatives Jim Costa, D-CA, and Nick Langworthy, R-NY, and Senators Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, and Roger Marshall, R-KS, for their bipartisan Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act, which would expand SNAP participant access to healthful dairy products at the grocery store. We look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors and ensuring all Americans have access to healthy dairy products.”
    “FMI – The Food Industry Association supports the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act as a way to expand access to nutrient-rich dairy products within SNAP,” said Jennifer Hatcher, chief public policy officer and senior vice president, membership of FMI – The Food Industry Association. “By building on existing milk-purchase incentives, this bill empowers retailers to help low-income households incorporate a variety of dairy options – milk, cheese, and yogurt – into a healthy eating pattern alongside fruits and vegetables.”
    “SNAP incentive programs for nutritious foods—like dairy, fruits, and vegetables—help families access healthier options while also strengthening independent grocers’ ability to promote better nutrition,” said Stephanie Johnson, group vice president for government affairs at the National Grocers Association. “NGA strongly supports the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program, which expands SNAP incentives to include more milk varieties, yogurt, and cheese. This not only provides SNAP participants with greater access to nutritious dairy products but also simplifies the process for independent grocers to offer these benefits in their communities.”
    “The Dairy Nutrition Incentives Program Act will help increase access to nutritious dairy products among SNAP participants and reinforce the essential role dairy plays in a healthy diet,” said Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) President and CEO Sheryl Meshke. “We are grateful to Senators Klobuchar and Marshall for championing this important legislation.”
    Background:
    The latest federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans report showed that more than 90% of Americans do not consume enough dairy products to meet daily nutrition requirements.
    The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act would increase access to dairy products by expanding the existing Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives program to include products like cheese and yogurt.
    Under this plan, SNAP participants would receive a coupon for additional cheese or yogurt when they purchase these items with their groceries. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Temporary U.S. program ends, cancer care waiting times improve

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    As more cancer treatments are now being delivered faster in the province, BC Cancer will be ending its temporary program that was sending some patients to the U.S. for radiation therapy.

    “Our priority has always been to ensure that cancer patients have timely access to life-saving treatment while we build and strengthen B.C.’s public health-care system for the long term,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “By hiring more specialists, upgrading our hospitals, and expanding innovative treatments, B.C.’s 10-Year Cancer Action Plan is working to improve wait times for radiation therapy and meet national benchmarks. Thanks to the progress we’ve made over the past two years, we can now safely wind down this temporary program and focus on getting patients the care they need in B.C.”

    Since May 2023, BC Cancer has offered eligible patients the option to travel for radiation therapy treatment at two clinics in Bellingham, Wash., ensuring patients received timely access to life-saving treatment in the short term while investments were made to build B.C.’s capacity for radiation therapy in the province.

    As of the end of February 2025, approximately 93% of patients in B.C. were waiting less than four weeks to start their radiation treatment – exceeding the national benchmark of 90%. This is also a 24% improvement since spring 2023, when only 69% of patients were starting treatment within four weeks.

    As in-province wait times for cancer treatment have improved over the past two years, BC Cancer has seen a steady decline in the number of patients choosing to go to the U.S. for their treatment. A total of 1,107 patients have completed radiation therapy in the U.S. through the program to date. At the peak of the program, in fall 2023, there were an average of 50 patients being treated in the U.S. each week.

    Based on current participation rates, it is estimated that approximately 104 patients would access the program over the coming year if it were to continue. This represents 0.6% of the 16,900 patients projected to need radiation treatment in 2025-26. However, these patients can be accommodated in B.C. without the need to travel out of country.

    The Province appreciates the partnership it has had with the two U.S. clinics contracted to provide care to B.C. patients. BC Cancer’s contracts are set to expire on May 11 and May 31, 2025, and will not be renewed. Nine patients are scheduled to complete their treatment in the U.S. under the program before the end of the contracts.

    The Province is expanding cancer care through B.C.’s 10-Year Cancer Action Plan to better prevent, detect and treat cancers today, and to meet growing future need for cancer care. This includes adding regional cancer centres in Nanaimo, Kamloops, Surrey and Burnaby, bringing the total number of cancer centres to 10. Existing centres are in Abbotsford, Kelowna, Prince George, Surrey, Vancouver and Victoria.

    Learn More:

    To learn more about B.C.’s cancer plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HLTH0012-000229

    A backgrounder follows.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NADLER, GILLIBRAND, SCHUMER, JEFFRIES, GARBARINO, GOLDMAN LEAD BIPARTISAN PUSH CALLING ON PRESIDENT TRUMP TO REVERSE CUTS TO WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY),  U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Representative Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Democratic Leader Jeffries (D-NY), and Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY) are leading a bipartisan letter calling on President Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reverse cuts to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) staff that provide critical support for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP).

    The WTCHP offers medical monitoring and treatment for first responders and survivors diagnosed with 9/11-related health conditions, including many types of cancers, respiratory illnesses, and more. The cuts include the dismissal of Dr. John Howard, the administrator of the WTCHP, who makes critical decisions regarding covered conditions and ensures the WTCHP complies with statutes enacted by Congress. The WTCHP also currently uses NIOSH staff to determine the awards of research grants in the amount of nearly $20 million a year, an annual requirement of the program to fund research on 9/11 conditions and care.They were joined on the letter by Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Laura Gillen (D-NY), Pat Ryan (D-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), George Latimer (D-NY), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Josh Riley (D-NY), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), John Larson (D-CT), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), and Nellie Pou (D-NJ), as well as Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

    “We were appalled at the recent announcement that the Department of Health and Human Services cut two-thirds of the staff at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), under which the WTCHP operates,” wrote the lawmakers. “We understand that your plan is to ultimately eliminate all NIOSH staff in the next few days. The WTCHP relies on NIOSH staff to fulfill many of its obligations under the law, and eliminating staff that implement it, especially as more and more responders and survivors fall ill with 9/11-related conditions, will directly interfere with program operations and undermine access to the treatment these heroes have earned and deserve. Congress has continually reaffirmed its bipartisan commitment to the responders and survivors of September 11th. We stand ready to work with you to reverse these cuts to ensure that current and future participants receive the coverage and care that Congress has continuously provided.” 

    “I am glad that the members of the NY Congressional Delegation are working together in a bipartisan manner to demand answers as to what Secretary Kennedy is doing. Why fire Dr. Howard, a Trump appointee, why fire the NIOSH staff the Doctors and epidemiologists that support the WTC Health Program, who is going to approve cancer treatments for 9/11 responders and survivors this week when they are seeking help, why fire the CDC staff that handle the programs contracts and grants, who is going to handle the contracts and grants that are the heart of this program? The Secretary needs to either answer all these questions or restore Dr .Howard and the NIOSH,  CDC staff that were doing this work who were terminated. This wasn’t a scalpel or even a chainsaw this was bulldozer that is leveling the program,” said Benjamin Chevat, Executive Director of the Citizens for Extension of the James Zadroga Act, Inc.

    In February 2025, the Trump administration drastically reduced the workforce of the World Trade Center Health Program. In response, Senator Gillibrand, Congressman Garbarino, and a number of their bipartisan colleagues in the House called on the administration to reverse the cuts, and the program’s staffing levels were ultimately restored.

    After years of efforts and calls on the federal government, Congress established the WTCHP on a bipartisan basis in 2011 with a five-year authorization to provide medical treatment and monitoring for 9/11 responders and survivors suffering from the effects of the toxins at Ground Zero. The program covers the lifespans of all exposed, including responders and survivors of the attack on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, the Shanksville crash site, children who were in schools in downtown Manhattan on 9/11 and during clean-up, and those who have since experienced, or are expected to experience, adverse health effects that are linked to the attacks in the coming years. The program was reauthorized in 2015 and extended through 2090 with bipartisan support. In 2022, lawmakers delivered $1 billion for the WTCHP in the end-of-year spending bill, and in 2023, they secured an additional $676 million for the program.


     The full text of the members’ letter to President Trump and Secretary Kennedy is available here or below:

    Dear President Trump and Secretary Kennedy,  

    The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) provides critical medical treatment, research, and monitoring to over 137,000 responders and survivors of the September 11th terrorist attacks, living in every state and nearly every Congressional district. The WTCHP serves first responders and survivors from the World Trade Center and lower Manhattan, the Pentagon, and the crash site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. This vital program provides life-saving care to the heroes who answered the call to serve in one of our nation’s darkest hours and the survivors who are forced to live with the health consequences from the attacks every single day.  

    We were appalled at the recent announcement that the Department of Health and Human Services cut two-thirds of the staff at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), under which the WTCHP operates. We understand that your plan is to ultimately eliminate all NIOSH staff in the next few days.  

    Since the establishment of the WTCHP in 2011, the number of program enrollees has more than doubled from 61,000 to 137,000. The WTCHP relies on NIOSH staff to fulfill many of its obligations under the law, and eliminating staff that implement it, especially as more and more responders and survivors fall ill with 9/11-related conditions, will directly interfere with program operations and undermine access to the treatment these heroes have earned and deserve.  

    For example, the WTCHP does not employ any staff physicians or individuals with medical degrees. Under the statute medical doctors need to approve certifications of members coming forward with new conditions that meet the requirements of the law for them to receive treatment.  The WTCHP has always used NIOSH doctors to perform this work. 

    Additionally, the WTCHP does not have a staff epidemiologist and has always used NIOSH epidemiologists to review pending petitions for considering whether to add new conditions to the list of covered conditions. The WTCHP also currently uses NIOSH staff to determine the awards of research grants in the amount of nearly $20 million dollars a year, an annual requirement of the program to fund research on 9/11 conditions and care. 

    We are extremely concerned regarding the dismissal of Dr. John Howard, the Program Administrator of WTCHP. Since the program’s inception, Dr. Howard has faithfully served as the Administrator, playing a critical role as the final decision-maker on determining which petitioned conditions should be covered and ensuring the WTCHP is adhering to the explicit statutes enacted by Congress. His institutional knowledge is unmatched and allows the program to operate effectively and efficiently. It is estimated that over 400,000 individuals were exposed to toxins or other hazards on 9/11, and we are gravely concerned that his termination will undermine the essential work the WTCHP does.

    Finally, we are concerned about the termination of the staff at the Office of Acquisition Services at NIOSH. The Office of Acquisition Services oversees all contracts for the WTCHP’s Nationwide Provider Network (NPN), which is a vast network of contracted health providers throughout the country that provide the medical monitoring and treatment for program enrollees who live outside the New York metropolitan area. This office ensures these contracts and providers meet the needs of enrollees and provides oversight and quality assurance for the NPN. Without this coordinating mechanism, current contracts could receive little oversight and that future contracts could lapse, undermining access to enrollee care. 

    We are asking that the Administration provide answers on how the WTCHP will be impacted by these massive layoffs. Please respond to the below list of questions by April 9th, 2025.  

    1. Is the Administration planning to terminate all NIOSH staff? 
    2. What was the justification for the termination of Dr. Howard?  
    3. Since there are no doctors on the staff of the WTCHP, and the statue requires doctors to sign off on certifications that allow for treatment of members, what is the administration’s plan to rectify this as all of the NIOSH medical staff that performed this function have been terminated? 
    4. Since the WTCHP used the staff of NIOSH, especially epidemiologists to review pending petitions under the law to consider covering new conditions, what provisions has HHS made to supply the necessary staff to fulfill that role for the WTCHP? 
    5. What is the status of pending petitions to add autoimmune disease and cardiac conditions to the program? The program announced in December 2024 that eligible individuals can expect an answer by March 2025. 
    6. WTCHP utilized NIOSH staff to determine the approximately $20 million of annual research awards required under the statute that are normally announced in March. What staff will be assisting WTCHP in making these decisions and when will the awards for 2025 be announced?  
    7. Has the administration consulted with advocates or career staff on the impacts these cuts may have on WTCHP service delivery?  
      1. If you have not, please explain why.  
    8. What office will oversee the contracts and contracting process if there is no staff at the Office of Acquisition Services?  

    Congress has continually reaffirmed its bipartisan commitment to the responders and survivors of the September 11th attacks. We stand ready to work with you to reverse these cuts to ensure that current and future participants receive the coverage and care that Congress has continuously provided. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ACT Budget: What’s in it for Belconnen

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Canberra’s Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) pilot program will be expanded.

    2024–25 ACT Budget snapshot – Belconnen

    • New health centre for West Belconnen
    • FOGO pilot expanded
    • More housing for Belconnen
    • New and upgraded community facilities
    • Belconnen Transitway feasibility study

    With the ACT’s population set to reach 500,000 people by the end of 2027, the 2024–25 ACT Budget is funding the services and infrastructure this growing city needs.

    Through this year’s Budget, the ACT Government is delivering more public health services, providing cost of living relief for those who need it most, and improving housing choice, access and affordability.

    Some of the projects funded in Belconnen include:

    A new health centre for West Belconnen

    The 2024–25 ACT Budget is investing in health programs and infrastructure throughout the city.

    This includes funding to design and plan a new health centre in West Belconnen. This will help provide the right services closer to where people live.

    The Government is also investing in a new North Canberra Hospital, including upgrades to existing buildings to maintain services during construction and design work to relocate some existing services.

    More housing for Belconnen

    The ACT Government’s Indicative Land Release Program for 2024–25 to 2028–29 will help cater to the ACT’s growing population.

    As part of the program, 2,012 new homes are planned for Belconnen.

    FOGO pilot expanded

    Canberra’s Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) pilot program will be expanded.

    This will generate useful information on how households in different types of multi-unit developments use the service.

    The pilot currently services 5,300 households in Belconnen, Bruce, Cook and Macquarie.

    An additional 1,150 units will be added, increasing the pilot by more than 20 per cent.

    New and upgraded community facilities

    The Budget will support new and upgraded community facilities and infrastructure across the region.

    This includes:

    • the expansion of the Belconnen Basketball Stadium
    • the replacement of the existing pavilion at Jamison Oval
    • upgrades to the Emu Bank foreshore
    • improving local shops at Charnwood Group Centre, Evatt, Kippax Group Centre, and Macquarie
    • delivering a new green waste processing facility and landscape depot in West Belconnen.

    The Government will also respond to community feedback regarding resources at ACT libraries. There will be new portable phone chargers and more power boards and charging stations, in addition to improving building security.

    More funding for mowing and horticulture

    The combination of unpredictable weather and a growing city have increased demands on those taking care of Canberra’s grass, trees, weeds and gardens.

    The Budget includes funding for 10 full-time positions and eight additional mowers to deliver an expanded baseline capacity in the ACT’s mowing teams.

    In the low season, mowing crews will assist with horticultural work across the city, including weeding, road edging and maintenance.

    Belconnen to City Transitway feasibility study

    The Government will undertake a bus transitway feasibility study to investigate potential upgrades to the transport corridor between Belconnen and the City.

    The study will focus on improving bus services to minimise congestion and delays between two of Canberra’s major population hubs.

    This initiative will be partially funded through a matching contribution from the Commonwealth Government.

    The Budget will also provide funding to finalise the duplication of William Hovell Drive and Gundaroo Drive between Ginninderra Drive and the Barton Highway.

    Support for education

    The region will benefit from a new suite of system-wide literacy and numeracy initiatives, called Strong Foundations, being rolled out across ACT public schools. The program will ensure all students have access to consistent, high-quality literacy and numeracy education.

    There will also be a range of school upgrades across Canberra as part of the ACT Government’s annual Asset Renewal Program.

    This includes roof replacement work at Charnwood Dunlop Primary School and Melba Copland Secondary School.

    The Budget also includes funding to deliver:

    • Strathnairn Primary School in the Ginninderry area, which will cater for over 600 preschool to year 6 students
    • a 130-place Early Childhood Education and Care service.

    Find out what else has been funded as part of the 2024-25 ACT Budget by clicking here.

    The ACT’s horticulture and mowing teams will receive a funding boost.

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ACT Budget: What’s in it for the Inner North, Inner South and City

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Budget will fund path improvements across the Inner North, Inner South and City.

    2024–25 ACT Budget snapshot – Inner North, Inner South and City

    • A new Inner South Health Centre
    • More housing for the region
    • Path improvements across the region
    • The electrification of Alfred Deakin High School
    • More funding for mowing and horticulture

    With the ACT’s population set to reach 500,000 people by the end of 2027, the 2024–25 ACT Budget is funding the services and infrastructure this growing city needs.

    Through this year’s Budget, the ACT Government is delivering more public health services, providing cost of living relief for those who need it most, and improving housing choice, access and affordability.

    Some of the projects funded in the Inner North, Inner South and City include:

    A new Inner South Health Centre

    The 2024–25 ACT Budget is investing in health programs and infrastructure throughout the city.

    This includes funding to build the new Inner South Health Centre in Griffith. This will help provide the right services closer to where people live.

    More housing for the region

    The ACT Government’s Indicative Land Release Program for 2024–25 to 2028–29 will help cater to the ACT’s growing population.

    As part of the program, 4,587 new homes are planned for the Inner North, Inner South and City region.

    Road and path improvements across the region

    Funding received through the 2024–25 ACT Budget will see improvements made to paths across the Inner North, Inner South and City.

    Walkers, cyclists and those riding scooters can expect to see better line marking, completed missing links and more lighting as they exercise or head to and from work.

    Other investments across the region include:

    • progressing Light Rail Stage 2A, which includes design and construction of an extension from the existing Light Rail Stage 1 terminus at Alinga Street to a new stop at Commonwealth Park
    • road improvements along Beltana Road in Pialligo
    • construction of the Garden City Cycle Route.

    The electrification of Alfred Deakin High School

    The Electrification of Gas Assets Program is a 17-year commitment by the ACT Government to replace all gas-powered assets used within Government owned and operated buildings.

    The program will abolish and electrify over 1,000 gas assets and will contribute to the goal of net zero emissions from Government operations by 2040.

    Funding in the 2024–25 ACT Budget will allow for cooling upgrades at Alfred Deakin High School as part of the program.

    New and upgraded community facilities

    The 2024–25 ACT Budget will support new and upgraded community facilities and infrastructure across the region.

    This includes responding to community feedback regarding resources at ACT libraries. There will be new portable phone chargers and more power boards and charging stations, in addition to improving building security.

    This Budget will also provide support for:

    • finalising construction of the new Acton Emergency Services Station to house ACT Ambulance Service and ACT Fire & Rescue staff
    • undertaking capital upgrades at the City Police Station and planning for future accommodation requirements
    • improving local shops at Narrabundah.

    More funding for mowing and horticulture

    The combination of unpredictable weather and a growing city have increased demands on those taking care of Canberra’s grass, trees, weeds and gardens.

    The Budget will include funding for 10 full-time positions and eight additional mowers to deliver an expanded baseline capacity in our mowing teams.

    In the low season, mowing crews will assist with horticultural work across the city, including weeding, road edging and maintenance.

    Support for education

    The region will benefit from a new suite of system-wide literacy and numeracy initiatives, called Strong Foundations, being rolled out across ACT public schools. The program will ensure all students have access to consistent, high-quality literacy and numeracy education.

    There will also be a range of school upgrades across Canberra as part of the ACT Government’s annual Asset Renewal Program.

    This includes:

    • the refurbishment of the existing Lyneham High School gymnasium
    • roof replacement work at Dickson College
    • continuing the modernisation and expansion of Majura Primary School, Telopea Park High School and Narrabundah College
    • progressing the UNSW Canberra City Campus project.

    Find out what else has been funded as part of the 2024-25 ACT Budget here.

    Canberra’s mowing teams and resources have been expanded.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Cost-of-living relief for Canberrans

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    There is a comprehensive cost-of-living package included in this year’s Budget.

    The ACT Government is offering continued support to Canberrans most impacted by cost of living pressures.

    Cost of living pressures are being felt across the country and this year’s ACT Budget does more for low-income households.

    Supporting apprentices and trainees

    One initiative is a new, one-off $250 payment to support local apprentices and trainees.

    Apprentices and trainees have a restricted earning capacity while they are obtaining their qualification.

    This payment recognises the financial pressures these Canberrans are facing.

    The ACT Government will contact eligible apprentices and trainees by the end of September. It is not necessary to apply for the payment.

    Assisting families with schooling costs

    The ACT Government is also expanding the Future of Education Equity Fund.

    The Fund has been hugely successful in supporting students and families in need, helping them with the costs of their education.

    Already in 2024, the Future of Education Equity Fund has supported more than 5000 students in Canberra.

    More families will be able to get financial assistance with things like textbooks, music lessons and sporting equipment.

    Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate

    Over 40,000 low-income households in Canberra will also benefit from an increase to the Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate.

    The payment will be increased to $800 per year, helping these households with their home energy costs.

    When combined with the $300 Federal Government energy payment, one in five Canberra households will receive $1,100 in assistance towards their energy bills.

    Targeted cost of living support

    These initiatives are part of a comprehensive cost of living package included in this year’s Budget. The package also includes:

    • expanding the Utilities Hardship Fund, including increasing vouchers from $100 to $300, to support more households to change their energy use
    • extending the Rent Relief Fund to support more Canberrans on low incomes who are experiencing rental stress or severe financial hardship
    • expanding public transport concession fares to include Canberrans with a Commonwealth Low-Income Health Care Card, to support more people accessing buses and light rail
    • additional funding to Roundabout Canberra, Scouts ACT, Fearless Women and Women’s Health Matters to support these community organisations to continue delivering essential services to vulnerable Canberrans
    • additional funding for emergency material and financial aid programs and food relief services, to support vulnerable Canberrans in need of food and other necessities
    • increasing assistance through the Taxi Subsidy Scheme, including increasing the subsidy for ride users, further reducing out-of-pocket costs for vulnerable Canberrans
    • increasing the Life Support Rebate to $150 a year, to support more Canberrans using electric life support equipment to treat a life-threatening condition.

    Find more on cost-of-living support at act.gov.au/money-and-tax/cost-of-living-support

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Expanding health services for children and young people

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Canberra families will have better access to paediatric health services where and when they need it.

    Canberra families will have access to more paediatric health services in both the hospital and the community, as part of the 2024–25 ACT Budget funding.

    The investment will expand paediatric inpatient care as well as community-based paediatric services.

    Eight inpatient paediatric beds at Canberra Hospital will be funded.

    This will ensure Canberra Health Services can continue to support unwell children and young people when they need specialist paediatric care.

    A new paediatric critical care team will also be established at Canberra Hospital.

    The team will provide leadership and specialty skills in paediatric critical care to treat and care for children and young people.

    They will also provide better coordination, support and upskilling of existing staff in this area.

    There will be additional resourcing to expand multidisciplinary rehabilitation services for children with complex and chronic conditions – where care is shared between local and interstate hospitals.

    This funding will develop a model of care to support children in a more sustainable and integrated way.

    Budget funding will also support critically unwell newborns, with additional cots added the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Nursery at Canberra Hospital.

    The ACT Government will establish a new location for community-based paediatric services.

    This will give families with children with – or at risk of – developmental delays or certain health conditions easier access to services they need, outside of a hospital setting.

    These investments will support implementation of actions in the Child and Adolescent Clinical Services Plan 2023–2030 and the opening of dedicated paediatric critical care spaces in Canberra Hospital’s new Critical Services Building.

    This Budget builds on the range of Government investments in paediatric services, as well as the expansion of the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trump has Australia’s generic medicines in his sights. And no-one’s talking about it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Gleeson, Associate Professor in Public Health, La Trobe University

    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    While Australia was busy defending the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme against threats from the United States in recent weeks, another issue related to the supply and trade of medicines was flying under the radar.

    Buried on page 19 of the Trump’s administration’s allegations of barriers to trade was a single paragraph related to Australia’s access to generic medicines. These are cheaper alternatives to branded medicines that are no longer under patent.

    The US is concerned about how much notice their drug companies have that Australia will introduce a generic version of their product. Once a single generic version of a medicine is listed on the PBS, the price drops. The US argues that lack of advance notice is a barrier to trade.

    There is pressure for Australia to emulate aspects of the US system, where drug companies can delay generic copies of their medicines by 30 months.

    If the US plays hardball on this issue, perhaps in return for other concessions, this could delay Australia’s access to cheaper generic drugs.

    It would also mean significant pressure on Australia’s drug budget, as the government could be forced to pay for the more expensive branded versions to ensure supply.

    What’s the current process?

    Drug companies use patents to protect their intellectual property and prohibit other manufacturers from copying the drug. The standard patent term in Australia is 20 years, but the time a product is protected by patents can be extended in a number of ways. When patents expire, other companies are able to bring generic versions to market.

    A generic manufacturer wanting to market its drug in Australia must apply to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for regulatory approval. Before approval is granted, the generic company must provide a certificate to the TGA that states either:

    a) that the product will not infringe a valid patent, or

    b) that it has notified the patent-holder of its intention to market the product.

    The certificate can be provided after the TGA has evaluated the generic – before it grants approval.

    If the generic company chooses option “a”, the manufacturer of the patented product may not find out the competing product is going to be launched until after the TGA has approved it.

    The patent-holder can then apply for a court order to temporarily stop the generic from coming to market, while legal battles are fought over patent-related issues.

    However, if the first generic has already launched and been added to the PBS, it triggers an automatic 25% price drop. This affects all versions of the drug, including the patented product.

    In Australia, patented drug companies that try to delay generics by taking legal action without good reason can face penalties and be required to pay compensation.

    Patented drug companies don’t like this system. They want to know as early as possible that a generic is planning to launch so they can initiate legal action and prevent or delay generic entry and the associated price reductions.

    Is Australia’s system consistent with our trade obligations?

    Australia introduced its patent notification system at the request of the US, to comply with the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA). The World Trade Organization doesn’t require patent notification.

    Australia’s system is different to that of the United States. But it’s consistent with the rules negotiated between the two countries.

    US drug companies have long argued Australia’s system is a barrier to trade. They want Australia to change it to be more like the US system.

    Why is the US arguing this is a barrier to trade?

    The Trump Administration’s 2025 report on foreign trade barriers states “US and Australian pharmaceutical companies have expressed concerns about delays” in the patent notification process.

    The report also mentions US concerns about the potential for penalties and compensation when a patent owner takes legal action against a generic company.

    This report reflects long-standing concerns of the US pharmaceutical industry. In March, its drug makers trade association wrote to the US trade representative complaining that “lack of adequate notification” is an unfair trade practice. It argued this creates uncertainty for patent-holders, prevents resolution of patent challenges before generics enter the market, and penalises patented-drug companies for trying to protect their rights.

    Medicines Australia, which represents the Australian subsidiaries of many big patented drug makers, echoes these concerns.

    What does the US want instead?

    The US patent notification system is much more favourable to the patented drug companies than Australia’s.

    In the US, the generic company must notify the patented drug company within 20 days of filing an application for approval.

    Then, within 45 days of receiving the notification, the patent-holder can ask the regulator to impose a 30-month delay on approval for the generic.

    This means there is an automatic 30-month delay on the launch of the generic, unless patents expire in the meantime or the court decides earlier that valid patents aren’t being infringed.

    What could happen if Australia bowed to pressure from the US?

    Changing Australia’s system to be more like the US would delay generics entering the market in Australia and keep the price of drugs higher for longer.

    The quicker generics can be added to the PBS, the less the government pays. When the first generic is listed on the PBS, a 25% price cut is applied to all versions of the product, including the patented version.

    Over time, as more generics get added, prices continue to fall. Having plenty of generic competition can eventually result in prices lower than the PBS co-payment, resulting in savings for consumers.

    In the longer term, lost savings from timely listing of generics on the PBS would reduce value for money and add cost pressure.

    In time, it could also delay savings for consumers from drugs priced below the PBS co-payment.

    Both major parties are saying they won’t use the PBS as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the US over tariffs. They also need to resist pressure to slow down access to generic drugs.

    Deborah Gleeson has received funding in the past from the Australian Research Council. She has received funding from various national and international non-government organisations to attend speaking engagements related to trade agreements and health, including access to medicines. She has represented the Public Health Association of Australia on matters related to trade agreements and public health.

    – ref. Trump has Australia’s generic medicines in his sights. And no-one’s talking about it – https://theconversation.com/trump-has-australias-generic-medicines-in-his-sights-and-no-ones-talking-about-it-253836

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s innovative new policies are designed to cut smoking rates – here are 6 ideas NZ could borrow

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janet Hoek, Professor in Public Health, University of Otago

    Shutterstock/chayanuphol

    At the start of this month, when denicotinisation would have been due to come into effect in Aotearoa New Zealand (had the government not repealed smokefree laws), Australia introduced innovative smokefree policies to change the look, ingredients and packaging of tobacco products.

    New Zealand’s current goal is to reduce smoking prevalence to no more than 5% (and as close to zero as possible) among all population groups. However, realising this goal now seems very unlikely.

    Latest figures show 6.9% of the general population smoke daily, but smoking places a much heavier burden on Māori and Pacific peoples, where 14.7% and 12.3% smoke, respectively.

    New Zealand could borrow measures from Australia’s new regulations, or even go beyond, to begin salvaging its reputation as a country that develops progressive, evidence-based smokefree policy. Here are six ideas New Zealand should consider implementing.

    1. Refresh and diversify on-pack warnings

    New Zealand introduced plain packaging in 2018. This policy replaced vibrant on-pack branding with dissuasive colours and much larger health warnings. However, despite annual warning rotation, recent work suggests on-pack warnings have “worn out”.

    Our work with people who smoke suggests we need two responses: refresh existing health warnings and create more diverse warnings that illustrate other risks, such as the financial burden smoking imposes and its inter-generational harms.

    2. Offer hope that quitting is possible

    On-pack warnings aim to ensure people who smoke understand the many health risks smoking causes.

    However, few countries (with the exception of Canada) also provide advice to increase people’s confidence they can quit or promote the benefits of becoming smokefree. Australia has now followed Canada’s lead and will introduce “health promotion inserts that encourage and empower people to quit smoking”.

    The ASPIRE Aotearoa Centre’s recent work shows that by promoting positive outcomes and offering practical advice, health promotion inserts foster hope and help motivate people who smoke to think about quitting.

    New Zealand should complement external pack warnings with inserts that increase people’s agency and support smoking cessation.

    Cigarette filters mislead people into believing they are reducing the risks smoking presents.
    Shutterstock/Gudman

    3. Change the experience of smoking

    Tobacco companies use cigarette stick design to shape how people experience smoking. It is no coincidence that cigarette sticks are white. The colour has connotations of cleanliness and deflects attention from the harms smoking causes.

    Until Canada introduced on-stick warnings in 2023, no country had changed the design of cigarette sticks.

    Australia has now followed suit and will require health warnings on cigarette filters. New Zealand could both adopt and go beyond this measure.

    Our earlier work examined the effects of dissuasive colours and designs on cigarette sticks. People who smoke found colours such as murky green and mustard yellow aversive. They also reacted strongly against graphics, such as a chart showing the minutes of life lost with each cigarette, which could be printed on sticks.

    4. Eliminate additives

    Tobacco companies use several ingredients to make smoking more palatable and enhance nicotine delivery. For example, many cigarettes contain menthol, even those without a characterising menthol flavour. These ingredients ease harshness and make the initial, sometimes disagreeable, experience of smoking much smoother.

    Other additives enhance nicotine delivery. For example, tobacco companies may add sugars to tobacco that, once combusted, create acetaldehyde, which may increase the addictiveness of nicotine.

    Disallowing these additives could further reduce smoking uptake. By making smoking a harsher experience, this measure could also encourage people who smoke to quit.

    5. Get rid of gimmicks that appeal to young people

    Tobacco companies have developed product features that enable people who smoke to experience different flavours. Brands such as Dunhill Switch contain a flavour capsule within the filter. When squeezed, the capsule releases a flavouring agent, thus creating a more varied and novel smoking experience.

    Our study of young people’s responses to capsule cigarettes found these appealed more to those who did not smoke than to those who did. New Zealand should follow Australia by closing loopholes and disallowing products likely to increase interest in smoking among young people who do not smoke.

    6. Disallow filters

    There is one measure New Zealand could implement to go beyond Australia’s new policies.

    The draft Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 action plan proposed disallowing filters in cigarettes, but this measure was not part of the final action plan. Described by renowned Stanford University historian Robert Proctor as “the deadliest fraud in the history of human civilization”, filters may mislead people who smoke into believing they have reduced the risks smoking presents.

    In addition, filters do not biodegrade and studies report they cause considerable harm to the environment and impose substantial clean-up costs on local authorities.

    Australia has made important changes that will increase knowledge of smoking’s risks, reduce tobacco companies’ ability to develop cigarette features likely to appeal to young people, and support smoking cessation.

    Meanwhile New Zealand, once a leader in tobacco control policy, is very unlikely to reach the government’s smokefree 2025 goal. Adopting Australia’s policies could support smoking cessation. But there are opportunities to go beyond Australia’s approach; disallowing filters could bring comprehensive health as well as environmental benefits.

    Janet Hoek receives (or has received) funding from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, Royal Society Marsden Fund, NZ Cancer Society and NZ Heart Foundation. She is a member of the Health Coalition Aotearoa’s smokefree expert advisory group and of the Ministry of Health’s smokefree advisory group, a senior editor at Tobacco Control (honorarium paid), and she serves on several other government, NGO and community advisory groups.

    – ref. Australia’s innovative new policies are designed to cut smoking rates – here are 6 ideas NZ could borrow – https://theconversation.com/australias-innovative-new-policies-are-designed-to-cut-smoking-rates-here-are-6-ideas-nz-could-borrow-253717

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Join Colleagues in Letter Emphasizing Immense Harm Shuttering Department of Education will have on Students with Disabilities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, (both D-VA) joined 19 of their senate colleagues in writing to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to emphasize the detrimental effect shuttering the Department of Education will have on approximately 9.5 million students with disabilities and their families. Programs at risk include those authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which conducts vital oversight of federal civil rights laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  
    “We write with deep concern regarding the Trump administration’s recent actions to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) and the impact this will have on students with disabilities and their families,” the senators wrote. “Shuttering the Department will cause immense harm to all students, and especially students with disabilities and their families who rely on federal funding for key special education services and support.” 
    “Over the years, the Department has developed specific expertise to deliver on the promise that children with disabilities will have equal and fair access to educational opportunity in the United States. Congress has promised to families that students with disabilities will have a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment and has specifically charged the Department of Education with making that promise real in the lives of students with disabilities,” the senators continued. “…Yet, on March 20th, President Trump signed an executive order directing the closure of the Department.” 
    “We are alarmed by the potential consequences your proposed reassignment will have on the larger framework of education for students with disabilities,” the senators wrote. “Prior to the passage of IDEA, only one in five children with disabilities were educated in schools, and more than 1.8 million children were systemically excluded from public school in the United States. Disabilities were seen as medical conditions to be treated and as a result, many children with disabilities were institutionalized rather than educated. We cannot risk regression to an outdated and dehumanizing perspective on disability, which prevented millions of children from accessing the inclusive public education they deserve. Our entire nation benefits when disabled people have equal access to a high-quality education that enables them to use their gifts and talents.”
    Warner and Kaine have long supported equitable access to education for students with disabilities. Earlier this month, they joined their colleagues in cosponsoring the IDEA Full Funding Act, legislation that would ensure Congress fulfills its commitment to fully fund the IDEA.
    The letter was led by U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and cosigned by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
    Full text of the letter can be found here and below:
    Dear Secretary McMahon:
    We write with deep concern regarding the Trump administration’s recent actions to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) and the impact this will have on students with disabilities and their families. 
    Shuttering the Department will cause immense harm to all students, and especially students with disabilities and their families who rely on federal funding for key special education services and support. There are approximately 9.5 million students with disabilities in the United States. The Department administers critical programs to support these students, such as those authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and conducts vital oversight of federal civil rights laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 95 percent of students served under IDEA attend public schools, and these 7.5 million students comprise 15 percent of the public school population. 
    Over the years, the Department has developed specific expertise to deliver on the promise that children with disabilities will have equal and fair access to educational opportunity in the United States. Congress has promised to families that students with disabilities will have a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment and has specifically charged the Department of Education with making that promise real in the lives of students with disabilities. It administers programs that support employment outcomes, like the Vocational Rehabilitation Services program which supports jobseekers with disabilities in preparing for and succeeding at work, including for underserved communities such as Native Americans.  Yet, on March 20th, President Trump signed an executive order directing the closure of the Department.  This followed your decision earlier this month to move forward with a reduction in force plan that will critically damage your ability to fulfill your statutory duties to students with disabilities by eliminating nearly half of your workforce.
    It is essential to recognize the vital role the Department plays in safeguarding the rights of students with disabilities. We are concerned by President Trump’s effort to transfer implementation and oversight of special education to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a move which you indicated you support during your confirmation hearing. The Department of Education has the statutory authority to implement and enforce IDEA. Without an act of Congress giving authority to HHS, this administration’s attempts to shift IDEA responsibility to HHS will merely prevent the law from being enforced at all. The Senate report from 1979 on the creation of the Department of Education found that the “significant, but carefully restrained Federal role in education…is severely hampered by its burial in [The Department of Health, Education and Welfare]…its confusing lines of authority and administration, its fragmentation, and its obvious lack of direction.”  In other words, the Senate’s findings in 1979 indicate that this department structure was inefficient and resulted in a lack of attention to public education. The Department of Education is the only agency with an existing institutional infrastructure and a staff of subject matter experts dedicated to ensuring equal educational opportunity for children and students with disabilities. More than this, disabled students deserve to be seen as and treated as the learners and scholars they are. Students with disabilities belong in classrooms alongside their nondisabled peers, and they deserve the accommodations and supports that enable them to thrive. Because of the Department of Education’s specific expertise, it is best positioned to do the job well and efficiently. Transferring these authorities to HHS will not only overburden an agency already confronting massive workforce cuts orchestrated by this administration, but it will also stretch HHS beyond its expertise as medical, rather than educational, professionals.
    We are alarmed by the potential consequences your proposed reassignment will have on the larger framework of education for students with disabilities. Prior to the passage of IDEA, only one in five children with disabilities were educated in schools, and more than 1.8 million children were systemically excluded from public school in the United States.  Disabilities were seen as medical conditions to be treated and as a result, many children with disabilities were institutionalized rather than educated. We cannot risk regression to an outdated and dehumanizing perspective on disability, which prevented millions of children from accessing the inclusive public education they deserve. Our entire nation benefits when disabled people have equal access to a high-quality education that enables them to use their gifts and talents.
    Additionally, the Trump administration instituted a one-month freeze on investigating discrimination complaints, an unprecedented decision even during a presidential transition. The Office for Civil Rights currently faces a backlog of 12,000 investigations, half of which involve students with disabilities. While the freeze was lifted February 20th for disability discrimination claims, we are concerned that the Department will still not have the capacity to process the backlog of 6,000 disability claims, as well as any incoming additional claims—especially considering the unjustified termination of dedicated public servants across the 12 regional divisions of the Office for Civil Rights.
    While all disabled students are harmed when supports are taken away and barriers left unchecked, disabled students of color are harmed disproportionately relative to disabled white students and nondisabled students of color. Students of color are misidentified for special education – both improperly identified and improperly excluded from identification, overrepresented in restrictive placements (segregated from their nondisabled peers) and disciplined in school.  Because of cuts to the Office for Civil Rights, as well as undermining the administration of education programs such as Title I that serve low-income students (who are disproportionately of color), disabled students of color stand to suffer the greatest harms of your policy actions. The Department of Education’s irreplaceable role providing guardrails and enforcing laws has allowed progress towards the goal of equal opportunity in education. While the work is unfinished, we must move forward not backwards.
    In a speech on March 3rd, you called for the elimination of “unnecessary bureaucracy” at the Department.  Yet, the Department has the smallest staff of any Cabinet-level agency while administering the third-largest discretionary budget. Prior to the recent firings, this number stood at 4,245 employees, including over 700 employees dedicated to addressing the needs of students with disabilities.  More than 1,300 employees have since been fired, in addition to over 500 employees who have opted for separation packages. Indiscriminate firings of workers who are stewards of federal dollars appropriated by Congress with the mandate of ensuring equal access to education for all students does not eliminate “bureaucracy;” it merely impedes the Department’s ability to carry out its work on behalf of children. Indeed, following the recent reduction in force, a coalition of 20 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit arguing the layoffs are so severe the Department “can no longer function, and cannot comply with its statutory requirements.”
    We are also concerned about the combined efforts from the Department and the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) to slash $900 million in education-related research and over $600 million in educator preparation grants. These cuts will negatively impact critical research into best practices to support students with disabilities who have the shared dream of graduating high school and contributing to our economy.  The cuts also result in the suspension of highly successful programs designed to address the special education teacher shortage which has been consistent over decades and negatively impacts the educational outcomes of students with disabilities. We cannot effectively serve students with disabilities or make informed policy decisions without quality information and highly qualified teachers.
    It is critical that students, parents, teachers, and schools have clear and accurate guidance in response to these recent actions to ensure and affirm the right of all students with disabilities to a free and appropriate public education.
    We request that you respond to the following questions by no later than April 11, 2025.
    Please provide a complete list of all terminated grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements that impact students with disabilities.
    Please provide the guidance developed by the Department and DOGE to determine which grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to cancel.
    How many Department employees have been affected by the reduction in force who conduct essential functions pertaining to serving students with disabilities?
    How many employees impacted by the reduction in force are involved in investigating civil rights complaints? Of those employees, how many were investigating disability discrimination cases? 
    How many employees impacted by the reduction in force are responsible for ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)? How many employees in the Office of the General Counsel who focused on oversight of IDEA were impacted? What provisions have been made to ensure that oversight of that law continues?
    As of January 20th, 2025, how many Department staff were employed in the Institute of Education Sciences’ National Center for Special Education Research, and how many staff have been impacted by the Department’s Reduction in Force (RIF) announced on March 11th, 2025?
    Given the recent RIF and media reported cancellations of Institute of Education Sciences’ routine activities, what is the Department’s plan to carry out special education research, including the statutorily required scientific peer-review for research grants awarded by National Center for Special Education Research?
    What, if any, criteria are the Department of Education using to determine which employees and divisions to cut or eliminate?
    What is your plan to ensure that all statutory obligations to students with disabilities are properly delivered in light of recent executive actions?
    Do you commit to the timely investigation of all disability-based discrimination complaints received by the Office for Civil Rights?
    What evidence do you have that indicates transferring existing programs to other agencies will be more efficient and improve outcomes for students with disabilities?
    How will the Department continue to monitor compliance with the significant disproportionality requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its implementing regulation? How will cuts to OCR, OSERS, and OESE affect the Department’s ability to ensure students are protected from discrimination based on disability and race?
    This letter has been endorsed by the following organizations: Access Ready Inc., American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), The Arc of Delaware, The Arc of the United States, Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE), Association of University Centers On Disabilities (AUCD), Autism Society of America, Center for Learner Equity, CommunicationFIRST, Council of Administrators of Special Education, Inc. (CASE), Council for Exceptional Children, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Delaware State Education Association (DSEA), Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF), Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC),Division for Learning Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children, Michigan Alliance for Special Education, MomsRising, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), National Down Syndrome Society, National Education Association (NEA), New America’s Early & Elementary Education Policy Team, School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA).
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Office of Congressman Donald Norcross Releases Statement on Recent Medical Event

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Donald Norcross (1st District of New Jersey)

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the office of Congressman Donald Norcross released a statement on the Congressman’s recent medical event.

    “Congressman Donald Norcross was traveling over the weekend and suffered an emergency medical event likely related to his gallbladder. He was admitted to UNC Rex Hospital in North Carolina on Sunday and is in stable condition, where he is receiving exceptional medical treatment. He is currently in good spirits and wants to thank the doctors, nurses, and support staff at UNC Rex Hospital for all their work on his behalf during his stay. When the Congressman is medically cleared to fly, he will be transferred back home to Cooper University Health Care in the coming days to complete his recovery. “   

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CMS Finalizes 2026 Payment Policy Updates for Medicare Advantage and Part D Programs

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services

    Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Rate Announcement for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Programs that finalizes the payment policies for these programs. This release — combined with the CY 2026 MA and Part D final rule that was released on April 4 — makes annual routine and technical updates to the MA and Part D programs. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: US Department of Labor, Missouri roofing contractor reach agreement after teen worker’s fatal fall in 2023

    Source: US Department of Labor

    JAMESPORT, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor reached an agreement with Jamesport roofing contractor John Troyer after a federal investigation determined he violated federal laws, resulting in a teen worker’s fatal fall in March 2023.

    The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that Troyer, owner of Troyer Construction LLP which operates as Troyer Roofing & Coatings, failed to provide workers with required fall protection. A separate investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division found he violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by employing minors illegally in roofing work from May 2022 to June 2023.

    Under the agreement, Troyer must pay $290,000, which includes $156,259 in OSHA penalties, $15,000 in child labor penalties, and $118,741 in criminal fines to the U.S. Department of Justice. The company will also enroll in Missouri’s On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program.

    To learn more about OSHA’s fall protection requirements and how to protect workers from fall hazards, visit OSHA’s stop falls website. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: US Department of Labor removes Morton Salt Inc., Weeks Island Mine and Mill from MSHA’s pattern of violations list

    Source: US Department of Labor

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration has released Morton Salt Inc.’s Weeks Island Mine and Mill from the agency’s pattern of violations designation after demonstrating significant and sustained improvements in safety and compliance.

    The New Iberia, Louisiana, operator of the Weeks Island Mine and Mill worked closely with MSHA to improve safety practices, reduce significant and substantial violations, and create a safe working environment for miners after MSHA issued the mine its POV designation in December 2022. One of the agency’s toughest enforcement actions, POV designations are assigned to mines when a high number of significant and substantial violations and other safety and health compliance problems are found. 

    “MSHA’s top priority is the health and safety of America’s miners, and we recognize the efforts made by Weeks Island Mine and Mill to take the corrective actions needed,” said MSHA’s Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations Melanie Calhoun. “By taking proactive steps to address safety concerns and maintain compliance, they have created a safer working environment for their miners.”

    Since 2022, Weeks Island implemented enhanced safety training, hazard mitigation measures, and stricter monitoring protocols. These actions led measurable improvements in workplace conditions and allowed the mine to meet the requirement for release from the POV designation. In February 2025, MSHA completed an inspection of the mine and did not issue a citation or order designated as significant and substantial. 

    MSHA will continue to monitor the mine for compliance and provide support to ensure safety remains a top priority. The agency encourages all mining operations to be proactive in taking steps to protect their workers and prevent future violations by using MSHA’s Pattern of Violations Calculator, which allows mine operators to monitor performance under the POV screening criteria and alerts mine operators that corrective actions are needed, and the Significant and Substantial Calculator, which enables mine operators to monitor their violations. Mine operators are responsible for tracking their violation and injury histories to determine if they must take action to avoid triggering a POV notice.

    Learn more about MSHA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: US Department of Labor cites Bio-Lab Inc. after chemical fire in Conyers

    Source: US Department of Labor

    ATLANTA – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that improperly stored hazardous chemicals were the cause of a fire at a Bio-Lab Inc. facility in Conyers. 

    The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation learned that the incident originated at a company warehouse that stored various chemicals. OSHA cited Bio-Lab for four serious and two other-than-serious violations and proposed $61,473 in penalties.

    Bio-Lab has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

    OSHA’s Chemical Hazards and Toxic Substances webpage includes information on standard requirements, hazard recognition, controlling worker exposure. Employers can contact the agency for information about OSHA’s compliance assistance resources and for free help on complying with OSHA standards.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: From FIRST Robotics to NASA Rockets: Angel Saenz’s Journey to White Sands

    Source: NASA

    Long before joining NASA’s Test and Evaluation Support Team contract in October 2024, Angel Saenz was already an engineer at heart.
    A STEM education program at his high school helped unlock that passion, setting him on a path that would eventually lead to NASA’s White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

    The program – FIRST Robotics Competition – is run by global nonprofit, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). It was the brainchild of prolific inventor Dean Kamen, best known for creating the Segway.
    In what the organization calls “the ultimate sport for the mind,” teams of students spend six weeks working under adult mentors—and strict rules—to design, program, and build industrial-sized robots before facing off in a themed tournament. Teams earn points for accomplishing various engineering feats, launching, grappling, and climbing their way through the obstacles of a game that’s less football and more American Ninja Warrior.
    Competing during the 2013 and 2014 seasons with the White Sands-sponsored Deming Thundercats, Saenz said FIRST was a link between abstract mathematical ideas and real-world applications.
    “Before joining FIRST, equations were just something I was told to solve for a grade, but now I was applying them and seeing how they were actually useful,” he said.
    By turning education into an extracurricular activity as compelling as video games and as competitive as any varsity sport, FIRST completely reshaped Saenz’s approach to learning.
    “There are lots of other things kids can choose to do outside of school, but engineering was always that thing for me,” he said. “I associate it with being a fun activity, I see it more as a hobby.”
    That kind of energy—as any engineer knows—cannot be destroyed. Today Saenz channels it into his work, tackling challenges with White Sand’s Composite Pressure group where he tests and analyzes pressure vessel systems, enabling their safe use in space programs.
    “Having that foundation really helps ground me,” he said. “When I see a problem, I can look back and say, ‘That’s like what happened in FIRST Robotics and here’s how we solved it.’”
    Deming High School teacher and robotics mentor David Wertz recognized Saenz’s aptitude for engineering, even when Saenz could not yet see it in himself.
    “He wasn’t aware that we were using the engineering process as we built our robot,” Wertz said, “but he was always looking for ways to iterate and improve our designs.”
    Saenz credits those early hands-on experiences for giving him a head start.
    “It taught me a lot of concepts that weren’t supposed to be learned until college,” he said.
    Armed with that knowledge, Saenz graduated from New Mexico State University in 2019 with a dual degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering.
    Now 28 years old, Saenz is already an accomplished professional. He adds White Sands to an impressive resume that includes past experiences with Albuquerque-based global manufacturing company Jabil and Kirtland Airforce Base.
    Though only five months into the job, Saenz’s future at White Sands was set into motion more than a decade ago when he took a field trip to the site with Wertz in 2013.
    “The kind invitations to present at White Sands or to take a tour of the facility has inspired many of the students to pursue degrees in engineering and STEM,” Wertz said. “The partnership continues to allow students to see the opportunities that are available for them if they are willing to put in the work.”
    In a full-circle moment, Saenz and Mr. Wertz recently found themselves together at White Sands once again for the 2024 Environmental, Innovation, Safety, and Health Day event. This time not as student and teacher, but as industry colleagues in a reunion that could not have been better engineered.

    The 2025 FIRST Robotics World Competition will take place in Houston at the George R. Brown Convention Center from April 16 to April 19. NASA will host an exciting robotics exhibit at the event, showcasing the future of technology and spaceflight. As many as 60,000 energetic fans, students, and industry leaders are expected to attend. Read more about NASA’s involvement with FIRST Robotics here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: It’s not just about hearing: Why getting help for hearing loss is also a psychological journey

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Bill Hodgetts, Audiology Professor, Dept of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine., University of Alberta

    What most people don’t realize is that hearing loss taxes your brain. (Shutterstock)

    When people think about hearing loss, they picture someone turning up the TV too loud or saying “what?” a lot. But what I’ve learned in more than 20 years as an audiologist is that hearing loss is rarely just about the ears.

    It’s also about identity, emotion and effort. And for many people, that’s the harder part.

    As a clinician and university professor, I’ve worked with hundreds of people who hesitated to seek help — not because they couldn’t afford it, or didn’t have access to care, but because doing so meant admitting something they weren’t ready to accept: that something fundamental had changed.

    They were afraid of what that change said about them. About aging. About control. About being “that person” with hearing aids.

    I’ve come to believe that hearing loss is as much a psychological journey as a medical one. And maybe if more people understood that, they’d feel less alone and more willing to take the first step.

    The brain has to work harder when hearing declines

    Hearing loss doesn’t flip a switch from “normal” to “not hearing.” It’s slow, creeping. You start asking people to repeat themselves. You feel exhausted after social events. You laugh along with jokes you didn’t quite catch. You start withdrawing from the edges of conversations, and eventually from the conversations themselves.

    What most people don’t realize is that hearing loss taxes your brain. Imagine trying to read a book in a dim room. You can do it, but it takes more concentration. That’s what listening is like for people with hearing loss, especially in noisy environments. The brain works overtime to fill in the blanks.

    People with hearing loss start withdrawing from the edges of conversations, and eventually from the conversations themselves.
    (Shutterstock)

    Over time, this constant strain leads to mental fatigue and reduced cognitive capacity for other things, like memory and decision-making.

    It’s not just a guess — neuroimaging and longitudinal studies show it. In fact, large-scale research like the ACHIEVE study, a randomized controlled trial led by Johns Hopkins researchers, found that treating hearing loss in older adults at risk for cognitive decline reduced global cognitive deterioration by nearly 50 per cent over three years.

    The effect was strongest among participants with increased risk due to lower cognitive reserve and higher social vulnerability.

    This isn’t because hearing loss causes dementia directly. Rather, the constant cognitive strain, combined with the social withdrawal that often accompanies hearing loss, creates conditions where the brain is less stimulated, less resilient and more vulnerable over time.

    Psychology plays a bigger role than most people realize

    So if hearing loss affects the brain and well-being, why don’t more people get help? This is where psychology enters the room.

    Humans are emotional decision-makers. We think we’re rational, but in reality, we rely heavily on feelings, assumptions and mental short-cuts. In fact, behavioural research has shown that even trained clinicians can make inconsistent choices when emotions or personal beliefs come into play.

    One of the strongest forces I see in clinic is cognitive dissonance. That’s the uncomfortable feeling when our beliefs don’t match our actions. For example, someone might believe they’re independent and capable, but needing hearing aids makes them feel dependent or “old.” That internal conflict can lead to denial, resistance and even anger.

    Another common obstacle is self-efficacy — our belief in our ability to do something. I’ve met people who are successful in business or leadership but feel completely overwhelmed by the idea of managing hearing technology. Their fear isn’t the device — it’s failing at something unfamiliar.

    Even the way people think about memory and aging can be distorted. If you forget a word in your 40s, you joke about being busy. If it happens in your 60s or 70s, you fear it’s a sign of decline. Add hearing loss to the mix, and that fear amplifies.

    That’s why the stories we tell ourselves — and the ones society tells us — matter.

    Being truly heard

    The first audiology appointment isn’t just about a hearing test. It’s a conversation. We talk about how hearing loss is affecting your life: your relationships, your work, your confidence. We explore goals, concerns and what matters most to you.

    If you’re struggling to hear, get your hearing checked — even if it’s just to get a baseline.
    (Shutterstock)

    Sometimes, people expect to leave with a hearing aid and a fix. But managing hearing loss is a process, not a transaction. It takes time to adjust. Your brain has to relearn sounds it hasn’t heard clearly in a long time. That can be jarring, but also profoundly empowering.

    This is why the relationship between clinician and client matters so much. Research consistently shows the most important factor in successful counselling — whether it’s for hearing or anything else — is trust. When people feel safe, valued and understood, they’re more open to trying, adapting and growing.

    Not weakness, but wisdom.

    I often say that hearing aids are like umbrellas. They don’t stop the rain, but they help you stay dry. Similarly, hearing aids won’t reverse hearing loss or prevent aging. But they can reduce the strain of listening. They can help you stay socially connected. They can improve quality of life.

    And as the ACHIEVE study reinforces, the cognitive benefits of intervention, especially those that are at a greater risk for cognitive decline, are not hypothetical — they’re real. When we help people hear better, we’re not just improving their social lives. We’re reducing their risk of accelerated brain decline.

    Even if hearing aids didn’t offer cognitive protection, they’d still be worth it: for the joy of conversation, the ability to be present and the chance to fully participate in life.

    I know it can be hard to ask for help. But getting help doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you value connection. It means you want to stay involved. It means you’re taking control.

    So here’s what I hope people take away: if you’re struggling to hear, get your hearing checked — even if it’s just to get a baseline.

    If you’re offered treatment, give yourself time to adjust. It’s not about perfection; it’s about progress.

    If you know someone who’s pulling away socially, talk to them. Hearing loss is invisible, but its effects are not.

    And if you’re wearing hearing aids already, congratulations — you’re doing something incredibly proactive for your brain, your relationships and your future.

    As audiologists, we don’t just fix ears — we help people reconnect with their world. And that’s something worth hearing.

    Bill Hodgetts has received funding from various government agencies and foundations for his work including Mitacs, Western Economic Partnership Agreement, Oticon Foundation and others.

    – ref. It’s not just about hearing: Why getting help for hearing loss is also a psychological journey – https://theconversation.com/its-not-just-about-hearing-why-getting-help-for-hearing-loss-is-also-a-psychological-journey-253730

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Rwanda, Palestine, Lebanon & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    -Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda
    -Security Council
    -Occupied Palestinian Territory
    -Lebanon
    -Syria
    -Yemen
    -Ukraine
    -Special Envoy on Myanmar
    -Myanmar
    -Afghanistan
    -Sudan
    -Democratic Republic of the Congo
    -Haiti
    -World Health Day

    DAY OF REFLECTION ON THE 1994 GENOCIDE AGAINST THE TUTSI IN RWANDA
    Today, this is the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. At this morning’s event in the General Assembly to mark the Day, the Secretary-General said that this terrible period of Rwanda’s history reminds us that no society is immune from hate and horror. And as we reflect on how these crimes came about, we must also reflect on resonance in our own times.
    The Secretary-General added that we must stem the tide of hate speech and stop division and discontent that is mutating into violence.
    And he also issued a message on the day in which he urged all States to deliver on their commitments made in the Global Digital Compact to tackle online falsehoods and hate, to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, and to become parties to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

    SECURITY COUNCIL
    This morning the Security Council heard a briefing on the Heads of Military Components Conference, which is currently taking place in New York.
    Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of our peace operations department, said this annual gathering is an opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to peace and security through the critical work of United Nations peacekeeping.
    He was joined by two Force Commanders, Major General Aroldo Lázaro, Head of Mission and Force Commander of our peacekeeping mission in Lebanon -UNIFIL-, as well as Lieutenant General Ulisses de Mesquita Gomes, the Force Commander of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
    General Lazaro was here in person and General Gomes was briefing via video.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=07%20April%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEWt8DHA45o

    MIL OSI Video –