Category: Health

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Opening remarks by SED at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Opening remarks by SED at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting

Chairman,

Education is the key to nurturing talent. The Government attaches great importance to education and has all been investing heavily in education. The Government’s expenditure on education is $112.4 billion in 2025-26, accounting for about 13.7 per cent of the total government expenditure. It includes $102.9 billion of recurrent education expenditure, around 17.5 per cent of the total government recurrent expenditure, taking up a significant share of the overall government expenditure. In line with the strategy of invigorating the country through science and education, we remain committed to education, striving to promote high-quality education and develop Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talents.

To enhance the quality of education, we will continue to implement new measures in 2025-26 to create new impetus for high-quality development of Hong Kong’s economy. The new measures include –

To support post-secondary, and vocational and professional education and training, we will launch a new round of the Research Matching Grant Scheme totalling $1.5 billion to attract more organisations to support research endeavours of institutions, increase the quota of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme to 400 places per year, set up the Hong Kong Future Talents Scholarship Scheme for Advanced Studies to offer scholarships to up to 1 200 local students pursuing designated taught postgraduate programmes each academic year, and endeavour to develop Hong Kong into an international post-secondary education hub and to build the “Study in Hong Kong” brand.

To support the development of the self-financing sector, we have introduced a bill to amend the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance (Cap. 320) into the Legislative Council for scrutiny, with a view to further enhancing the governance and competitiveness of self-financing post-secondary institutions. At the same time, we will gradually increase the admission quota for Mainland, Macao and Taiwan students for self-financing post-secondary institutions with the approval to admit Mainland students to degree programmes to 40 per cent, and to implement the new round of the Land Grant Scheme and the Start-up Loan Scheme, so as to promote the accelerated expansion of capacity and enhancement of quality of the self-financing post-secondary education sector.

For primary and secondary education, we will continue to enhance the quality of teaching, promote national education, national security education and patriotic education, adopting all-round, comprehensive, cross-key stage and interdisciplinary approaches to support schools to integrate national education into daily learning and teaching and strengthen students’ affection for and sense of belonging to the country. At the same time, funds are earmarked under the Language Fund for establishing two grants to enhance the effective use of English and Putonghua among students. Additionally, the “Pilot Scheme on Other Languages for Junior Secondary Students”, supported by the Quality Education Fund, will support junior secondary students to learn other languages, further harnessing the distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world. We have also launched the “AI for Science Education” Funding Programme to promote pedagogical innovation and the use of AI (Artificial Intelligence)-assisted teaching in Junior Secondary Science.

In order to foster mental health of students, teachers and parents in a more holistic manner, we have launched the 4Rs Mental Health Charter in 2024, extending the Three-Tier School‑based Emergency Mechanism and implementing enhanced measures with a view to strengthening the support of students with high risks. For special education, we will replace the Personal Care Worker Grant with the Personal Care Enhancement Grant for Boarders to provide flexibility to relevant special schools in providing personal care services for boarders.

To enhance the effective use of public resources, the Education Bureau (EDB) will optimise and consolidate the use of education resources as appropriate, without affecting the quality of education and the teaching profession, and streamline procedures to improve efficiency. The key measures to be implemented in the 2025-26 financial year include –

The recurrent funding of University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities and Vocational Training Council will be reduced by two per cent in each of the coming three academic and financial years respectively (in line with the Government’s reduction in operating expenditure). In addition, UGC-funded universities will return a total of $4 billion of its General and Development Reserve Fund balance to the Government on a one-off basis. We believe that universities will make effective use of valuable public resources to preserve the quality and standard of teaching and research, and at the same time seize the opportunity of building our nation into a leading country in education and strive to develop Hong Kong into an international post-secondary education hub.

We will also adjust the general subvention for publicly-funded schools and kindergartens by about two per cent, consolidate some grants and adjust the disbursement arrangements. We will set up a task force to revamp and consolidate various grants to schools in innovative ways, such as disbursing grants to schools in the form of a block grant, so that schools may utilise the resources more flexibly based on their development needs and priorities.

In support of the Government’s Productivity Enhancement Programme, we reduced our recurrent expenditure by one per cent (about $1 billion) and an additional $1.5 billion (totalling $2.5 billion) in 2024-25. Such savings were wholly achieved by the EDB internally, with no reduction in funding/subvention to schools and subvented organisations (including UGC-funded universities), nor subsidies for students/parents. In the 2025-26 financial year, we will continue to support the Productivity Enhancement Programme by further reducing our recurrent expenditure by two per cent and an additional $4 billion at the same time (totalling $6.2 billion). The EDB is determined to ride out the difficult times hand in hand with the education sector.

In line with the targeted poverty alleviation strategy of the current-term government and to enhance the effective use of public resources, we will adapt to evolving circumstances and abolish the non-means-tested $2,500 student grant from the 2025/26 school year. For students from families with financial difficulties, we will provide them with a safety net and appropriate assistance through various means/asset-tested financial assistance measures, including Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission Scheme, Grant for School-related Expenses for Kindergarten Students, School Textbook Assistance Scheme, Student Travel Subsidy Scheme, Subsidy Scheme for Internet Access Charges, School-based After-school Learning and Support Programmes and Free Lunch at Schools etc., to ensure that all students have equal opportunities to receive quality education without being affected by financial difficulties.

In the coming year, we will continue to adopt an innovative approach to consolidate and optimise the use of education resources, and to enhance teaching effectiveness. Building on Hong Kong’s unique status and advantages under “one country, two systems”, we will pave way for accelerated education development from a holistic and long‑term perspective, and nurture our younger generation to become virtuous and knowledgeable lifelong learners who love the country and the city and are ready for future challenges and opportunities.

This is the end of my introduction. Thank you, Chairman.
Issued at HKT 20:57

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri C R Patil inaugurates Symposium on “Dam Safety Act, 2021: Towards Integrated Dam Safety Management” in New Delhi
Source: Government of India

Union Minister Shri C R Patil inaugurates Symposium on “Dam Safety Act, 2021: Towards Integrated Dam Safety Management” in New Delhi

Shri C R Patil lauds the role of NDSA in Dam safety Management

Union Minister highlights how the Act has created a structured safety framework and institutional set up in ensuring compliances of the provisions of the Dam Safety Act

Three Years of NDSA’s Journey marked with Key Releases and Discussions on Implementation Challenges

Posted On: 07 APR 2025 9:43PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister Shri C R Patil inaugurated Symposium on “Dam Safety Act, 2021”: Towards Integrated Dam Safety Management”organised by National Dam Safety Authority” (NDSA) ,DoWR, RD & GR, Govt. of India in the presence of Minister of State for Jal Shakti Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary in SCOPE Convention Centre, New Delhi today.This event highlighted the progress made in improving dam safety, and it emphasized the need for integrated dam safety management through involvement of all Stakeholders.

Shri C. R. Patil,outlined the efforts in implementation of the Dam Safety Act. Union minister highlighted how the Act has created a structured safety framework and institutional set up in ensuring compliances of the provisions of the Dam Safety Act. While lauding the role of NDSA in Dam safety Management, HMoJS encouraged stakeholders to view dam safety not merely as compliance; but, as a commitment to human safety, ecosystem preservation, and national resilience. HMoJS emphasized that every specified dam owner must earmark sufficient funds as mandated; and uphold global best practices and advanced technology for a secure water future. He highlighted that dams are getting old and more efforts are needed to take preventive measures for Dam Safety.

Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary, Minister of State for Jal Shakti urged states to adopt risk-based prioritization tools and integrate startups and private sector innovation into dam safety practices. Also emphasised on the importance of Dam Health and Rehabilitation Monitoring Application, i.e. DHARMA Portal as a repository of data of all th.e specified dams of the country.

Key releases during the Symposium:
- The National Register of Specified Dams-2025 was released, providing a comprehensive database of all the 6628 Specified dams in the country.
- Guidelines for Preparing Operation & Maintenance Manual for Ungated Dams was released, aimed at improving safety protocols of dams.
- A Compendium on regulations published under the Dam Safety Act, 2021
- The National Strategy for Developing Dams as Sustainable and Responsible Tourism Destinations was introduced to explore eco-friendly tourism opportunities.
Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR elucidated the efforts made by NDSA in implementation of provisions of Dam Safety Act, 2021 in close association with all other stakeholders. She outlined that India is one of the leading countries in Dam Safety management. However, she cautioned the dam fraternity that any complacency in dam safety efforts could derail the process. She stressed upon the need for integrated Dam Safety Management, by taking care of each & every aspect related to Dam Safety in a holistic manner and need to have plans in place for ground implementation of various measures required to improve the safety performance of the dams. She also pointed out that dam safety is becoming increasingly difficult with climate change.

Shri Anil Jain, Chairman, NDSA highlighted the achievements during the Authority’s three-year journey and reiterated that dams are not just engineering marvels, but lifelines critical for irrigation, power generation, and flood protection. He stressed that ensuring dam safety is a shared national responsibility.

Shri R.K. Choudhary. CMD, NHPC presented a perspective on dam safety compliance and risk mitigation strategies. He elaborated on best practices in structural health monitoring and adaptive management strategies adopted by NHPC to enhance dam resilience. He shared about the best practices being followed by them for all the Dams of NHPC. He emphasised that NHPC is maintaining their Dam Safety Dam Management data through their In-house portal of NHPC, which is called “SAHAJ SEWA”.

Dr. Sanjay Belsare, Secretary CAD & WM, Maharashtra highlighted on-ground progress, particularly in enhancing inspection protocols and capacity building, while also pointing out challenges like funding constraints and manpower shortages.

The technical sessions by NDSA focused on the evolution and key regulatory provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, emphasizing the significance of a structured legal framework in ensuring the long-term safety and maintenance of dams. Further, the role of NDSA in implementing the Act and the challenges ahead was discussed. The need for capacity building among dam owners and state agencies, particularly in monitoring, inspection, and emergency action planning was highlighted.

State representatives from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Meghalaya shared their experiences and challenges in implementing the Act. They highlighted key issues such as fund constraints, trained manpower.

Senior officials from the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR), and key stakeholders from states and public sector organizations were also present at the event. More than 250 delegates from 18 states attended the event, representing various sectors involved in dam safety management.

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Dhanya Sanal K

Director

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: New magnetic nanoparticles may help treat Cancer

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 07 APR 2025 5:33PM by PIB Delhi

An efficient magnetic system has been developed with newly systhesised nanocrystalline cobalt chromite magnetic nanoparticles that can treat cancer by increasing temperature of tumour cells through a procedure called magnetic hyperthermia for treating cancer.

Cancer has been considered as one of the most threatening diseases for humanity. Of several available treatment methods, the most effective treatments for cancerous cells are radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and stem cell transplant. All of the cancer treatment methods have demonstrated multiple side effects.

Chemotherapy and radiation treatments can lead to nausea, exhaustion, hair loss, and an elevated risk of infection. Although targeted medicines have demonstrated efficacy, they may not be appropriate for all cancer forms and may require following specific conditions. Most cancer treatments are costly and hence may be inaccessible to many.

Nanomagnets have opened up a targeted heat generation process (hyperthermia) that can be used in treating cancer cells with comparatively less side effects and is controlled by the magnetic field from outside. Tuning the physical properties of nanomagnets is essential to make them usable for hyperthermia applications. Due to the direct impact of various physical parameters of nanomagnets on the self-heating efficacy, it is challenging to create and control biofriendly coated magnetic nanoparticles with an effective heat generation efficiency.

A team of scientists from Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India led by Prof. Devasish Chowdhury in collaboration with NIT Nagaland synthesized nanocrystalline cobalt chromite magnetic nanoparticles with varying rare-earth Gd dopant contents using the conventional chemical co-precipitation route.

These magnetic nanoparticles’ inhomogeneous in fluid form was used further to generate heat under the applied alternating magnetic field subjection. The heat generation method of magnetic nanoparticles can be used in treating cancer cells by elevating the cell temperature up to 46^oC for a specific duration, causing necrosis in the injured cells when applied to particular cancer locations. Thus, superparamagnetic nanoparticles act as nano-heaters and can potentially be utilized in magnetic hyperthermia applications for treating cancer and offering alternative cancer therapy.

This research by the team consisting of Dr. Mritunjoy Prasad Ghosh, National Post-Doctoral Fellow (N-PDF) and Mr. Rahul Sonkar research scholar from IASST Guwahati was recently published in Nanoscale Advances, a peer-reviewed journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK.

[Gd doped cobalt chromite magnetic nanoparticles]

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NKR/PSM

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Indigenous Wireless charger for electrical vehicles with ability to charge 90% battery in 3 hours to become a reality; CDAC & VNIT Nagpur’s technology passed on to an Indian firm to commercially develop it

Source: Government of India

Indigenous Wireless charger for electrical vehicles with ability to charge 90% battery in 3 hours to become a reality; CDAC & VNIT Nagpur’s technology passed on to an Indian firm to commercially develop it

Meity join hands with Railways to make an indigenous propulsion system of locomotives boosting railway electrification and industry adoption; Uses high power converters & advanced controlling management systems

Using CDAC green technology Kerala’s K-DISC marks a milestone in sustainable power innovation making its building energy efficient through Low Voltage Direct Current.

Research must lead to real-world applications with industry Collaboration: Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY

MeitY secretary stresses indigenization in power electronics to boost ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ goals

Posted On: 07 APR 2025 7:29PM by PIB Delhi

Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Shri S. Krishnan announced the signing of ToT/MoA/MoU among industries for commercialization of technologies developed under the National Mission on Power Electronics Technology (NaMPET) at Electronics Niketan, New Delhi. During the meeting, the Secretary, MeitY, addressed the need for indigenous technology in the areas of Power Electronics.

The highlights of the event showcased the development of MeitY-supported technologies under the NaMPET programme. These technologies have been developed, deployed, tested, and certified for commercialization. The details of the transfer of technology (ToT), Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed, in the presence of the Secretary, MeitY are as follows:

Wireless Charger for Electric Vehicle

Transfer of technology for the indigenous 1.5 kW Wireless Charger technology, developed by C-DAC (T) and VNIT Nagpur, to M/s Global Business Solution Pvt. Ltd: It is capable of operating on a 230V, 50Hz AC single-phase supply and charges a 4.8kWh onboard battery pack at 48V with 30A current in approximately 3 hours, achieving a maximum efficiency of 89.4% within a coil separation of 7.5–12.5 cm. The charger incorporates Silicon Carbide-based MOSFETs operating at 88kHz and includes safety features such as short-circuit and open-circuit protection.

MoA for the development of an Indigenous Propulsion System for Electric Locomotives

Collaboration through MoA signed between C-DAC, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) and industry partners for the indigenization of Indian Railway propulsion system: The collaboration marks a transformative step in India’s rail electrification efforts by developing an indigenous propulsion system for 3-phase electric locomotives with the Indian Railways aiming for full electrification by 2030. The proposed propulsion system integrates two high-power 2.5 MVA Traction Converters, three 130 kVA Auxiliary Converters, and an advanced Train Control and Management System (TCMS), providing enhanced performance, reliability, and operational flexibility for modern locomotives. The industries undertaking the MoA are M/s Daulat Ram Engineering Services Pvt Ltd (Bhopal), M/s JMV LPS Ltd (Noida), and M/s Electro-waves Electronics Pvt Ltd (HP) which demonstrates the strong industry-academia-government synergy driving this initiative. These partners will play a crucial role in testing, product engineering, and prototype deployment, ensuring successful field validation by Indian Railways, ensuring structured industry adoption and commercial rollout.

MoU with K-DISC for LVDC Systems

Collaboration through MoU signed between C-DAC and Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) for the deployment of green and sustainable grid solutions: The 48V Low Voltage Direct Current (LVDC) system, developed by C-DAC under the NaMPET programme with the support of MeitY, has emerged as a game-changing technology for energy conservation, green energy integration, and cost-effective power distribution. Recognizing its potential, the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) has implemented this system at its headquarters, making it the first administrative building in Kerala to be powered by 48V DC that could lead to 20–30% energy savings, contributing to Kerala’s Carbon Neutrality Roadmap 2050 and India’s broader Net Zero 2070 vision.

The ToT/MoU/MoA signing of the above technologies was done at MeitY, New Delhi, in the presence of the Secretary, MeitY, with dignitaries from the Ministry of Power, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), NITI Aayog, Ministry of Railway and industry representatives in the areas of EV chargers, Smart Metering, Rail Propulsion and Renewable Energy

About NaMPET

The NaMPET is a unique mission-mode programme of MeitY involving research, development, deployment, demonstration, and commercialization of technologies in the Power Electronics (PE) domain. The programme is being implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Thiruvananthapuram, as the nodal agency with participating agencies from academia, R&D organizations, and Industries. The main focus areas of the programme include Microgrid for powering remote Villages, Green Energy for Community buildings, Empowerment of e-mobility ecosystem, Smart Power Quality Centre in the Distribution Grid, High Voltage Power Electronics for Food processing, Agriculture, Industry, and Health, Technology marketing, and Promotion of Start-ups with the platform for technology outreach.

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Poshan Pakhwada 2025 (8th April to 23rd April)
Source: Government of India

Posted On: 07 APR 2025 5:24PM by PIB Delhi

Summary:
- 7th edition of Poshan Pakhwada is being organised from 8th April to 22nd April 2025.
- Poshan Abhiyan aims to promote a healthy and nutritious diet among children and women with the blend of technology and tradition.
- Poshan Pakhwada 2025 focuess on the first 1,000 Days of child’s life as it is a critical period for child development.
- Use of technology – Poshan Tracker enables real-time monitoring of nutrition services at Anganwadi Centers.
- Beneficiaries can now self-register via the Poshan Tracker Web App for improved access.
- Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Protocol helps in early detection and community-based management of malnutrition.
- Poshan Pakhwada also focuses on childhood obesity by promoting healthier food choices.
Introduction

Every child deserves a healthy start, every mother deserves proper nourishment, and every family deserves access to nutritious food. Yet, for millions in India, malnutrition remains a silent crisis—one that affects not just individuals but the very future of the nation. Recognizing the need for transformative action, the government launched Poshan Abhiyaan on March 8, 2018—a flagship program aimed at improving nutritional outcomes for women and children through a holistic approach. One of its key initiatives, Poshan Pakhwada, has emerged as a powerful platform to raise awareness and promote community participation in addressing malnutrition.

7th edition of Poshan Pakhwada

Poshan Pakhwada, an annual nutrition awareness drive, is not just another campaign—it is a clarion call for action. In 2025, the seventh edition of Poshan Pakhwada will be observed from April 8 to April 23. With themes centered on maternal and infant nutrition, digital accessibility for beneficiaries, and combating childhood obesity, the 7th Edition of Poshan Pakhwada focuses on outcome-based interventions to enhance nutritional well-being.

Poshan Pakhwada 2025 Activities

Poshan Pakhwada 2025 is a step towards building a nutritious Bharat with the main focus on women and children. All the ministries and departments of the Government of India along with Anganwadi Centers across the country are organising various activities to sensitize the community to:
- Prioritize antenatal care, proper nutrition, and regular health checkups.
- Pledge for a healthier future – eat healthy, stay active, and spread awareness.
- Eat a balanced and healthy diet.
- Drink 8 glasses of water daily.
- Register on the Poshan Tracker App.
Why the First 1,000 Days Matter?

Imagine a mother, newly expecting, eager to give her child the best start in life. The food she eats, the healthcare she receives, and the guidance she gets in these crucial early months shape not just her baby’s physical health but also shape their mental and emotional health. The first 1,000 days—from conception to a child’s second birthday—are the most critical for physical growth and brain development. During this time, a baby’s body and mind grow at an incredible speed, laying the foundation for their future learning, immunity, and overall health. Good nutrition, love, care, and early learning experiences during this time can help them grow into a healthy, smart, and happy individual.

Therefore, Poshan Abhiyan has given a special emphasis on the first 1000 days of life, which is actually the magic window for any child. Through this year’s themes, Poshan Pakhwada 2025 aims to educate families about the importance of maternal nutrition, proper breastfeeding practices, and the role of a balanced diet in preventing childhood stunting and anemia. The emphasis is also on local solutions—promoting traditional nutritious foods, especially in tribal areas where indigenous diets hold the key to better health.

Technology Meets Tradition

What if every child’s growth, every mother’s health, and every meal served at an Anganwadi Center could be tracked in real time? What if technology could ensure that no child is left behind in the fight against malnutrition? This is no longer a ‘what if’, it is the reality with Poshan Tracker.

Launched on March 1, 2021, this AI-enabled platform has replaced bulky registers with real-time tracking via smartphones, empowering Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) to efficiently manage attendance, growth monitoring, meal distribution, and early childhood education—all at their fingertips. The success of the application can be traced from the fact that as on 28 February 2025, all Anganwadi Centres in India are registered on the Poshan Tracker application. For the first time, the eligible beneficiaries—pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls, and children (0-6 years)—can self-register via the Poshan Tracker Web Application.

Through Poshan Pakhwada 2025, the government is encouraging greater participation from families as well, ensuring that beneficiaries have access to the app to monitor their own nutritional progress.

Tackling Malnutrition at the Grassroots with CMAM

Technology has made the lives of Anganwadi Workers easy by providing them with a standardized guide in the form of the Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Protocol. Launched in October 2023 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), with inputs from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the CMAM protocol is a game-changer. For the first time, Anganwadi workers have a structured approach to detect, refer, and treat malnourished children in their own communities.

During Poshan Pakhwada 2025, this protocol takes center stage. The goal is to turn every Anganwadi into a frontline nutrition clinic—where appetite tests are routine, referrals are timely, and every child gets a chance to grow stronger. Communities will be sensitized, families will be informed, and data will be fed into the Poshan Tracker to guide policy with precision.

Fighting Childhood Obesity Through Healthy Lifestyles

Malnutrition isn’t just about underweight children—it’s also about overweight children. While India continues its fight against undernutrition, there’s a growing challenge—childhood obesity. In today’s world, children are increasingly exposed to high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, energy-dense, and micronutrient-poor foods.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019-21), the percentage of children under 5 years who are overweight has increased from 2.1% in 2015-16 (NFHS-4) to 3.4% in 2019-21 at the national level.

To address the consumption of foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) and promotion of healthy snacks in schools of India, the Ministry of Women and Child Development constituted a working group in 2015. The recommendations of the group were:
- Ban the sale of all HFSS foods in school canteens and restrict their sale by private vendors within 200 meters of schools during school hours.
- School canteens should always offer green category foods like fruits and vegetables.
- Orange category foods such as confectionary and fried items are not recommended in school canteens.
- Use of hydrogenated oils should be totally banned in school canteens.
- Physical activity should be mandatory in schools.
In a circular dated 12^th April 2012, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) also issued and directed affiliated schools to ensure that junk/fast food is replaced completely with healthy snacks. The circular also directed schools to replace carbonated and aerated beverages by juices and dairy products (Lassi, Chach, Flavoured Milk etc.).

Conclusion

Poshan Pakhwada 2025 is more than just an awareness campaign—it’s a movement to transform nutrition, one mother, one child, and one meal at a time. By combining tradition with technology, empowering Anganwadi workers, and involving communities, India is taking bold steps towards a healthier, stronger generation.

But real change begins with you. Whether it’s adopting healthier eating habits, educating those around you, or ensuring every eligible beneficiary is registered on the Poshan Tracker, every action counts. This Poshan Pakhwada, let’s pledge to be a part of the solution—because a nourished India is a stronger India!

References:

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Public urged to show concern for maternal and child health to echo World Health Day

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Department of Health (DH) today (April 7) called on the public to echo World Health Day and work together to safeguard maternal and newborn health and reduce the number of preventable maternal and newborn deaths, by supporting breastfeeding, receiving timely immunisations as well as maternal and child health services.

April 7 each year marks the celebration of World Health Day by the World Health Organization. The theme this year is “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures”, with a focus on maternal and child health. Hong Kong has the longest life expectancy and one of the lowest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world. In 2023, the infant mortality rate was 1.6 per 1 000 live births, and the maternal mortality rate was three per 100 000 live births. These impressive statistics hinge on a public healthcare system that provides comprehensive health and medical services, including quality maternal and child health services, comprehensive obstetric and woman health services, and efforts in promoting breastfeeding.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CHP investigates case of severe paediatric COVID-19 infection

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

CHP investigates case of severe paediatric COVID-19 infection
The case involves a 5-year-old boy with underlying illness, who developed a fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath and wheezing since April 4. He attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Tseung Kwan O Hospital on the following day and was hospitalised. The patient was transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of United Christian Hospital on the same day due to deterioration in his condition. His respiratory specimen tested positive for COVID-19 virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was COVID-19 infection complicated with croup. He remains hospitalised in critical condition.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the patient had not completed the initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. He had no travel history during the incubation period, and his school has not experienced any recent outbreak of COVID-19. One of his household contacts has recently developed cough and has sought medical attention.

“There has been a recent increase in the activity of COVID-19 in the local community. In the past three weeks, the load of SARS-CoV-2 virus from sewage surveillance, the percentage of specimens testing positive and the average consultation rate of COVID-19 cases in general out-patient clinics have continued to rise. As of March 29, the viral load per capita of SARS-CoV-2 virus was around 330 000 copy/litre, which was significantly higher than the previous week ending March 15, when it was 85 000 copy/litre,” said the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui.

“High-risk persons should receive COVID-19 booster doses at appropriate times to lower the risks of serious illness and death. Genetic analysis has shown that the predominant circulating strains in Hong Kong are still JN.1 and its descendant lineages, and the vaccines currently used in Hong Kong can effectively prevent the related variant. Scientific data shows that timely booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for high-risk persons help lower the risk of severe illness and death. Members of the public who have not received the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (including infants and children) should get vaccinated as soon as possible. Those at high risk (particularly the elderly and persons with underlying comorbidities) should receive a booster dose as soon as possible for effective prevention against COVID-19,” Dr Tsui added.

Apart from vaccination, in order to prevent infection of COVID-19, influenza and other respiratory illnesses as well as transmission in the community, the public should maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times and note the following:
For more information on the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and the latest recommendations on vaccine use, please refer to the CHP’s websiteIssued at HKT 19:25

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Pain Management Clinic Owners and Operators Indicted on Health Care Fraud Charges

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

PROVIDENCE – The owners and operators of a Warwick pain management clinic have been indicted by a federal grand jury on health care fraud charges for allegedly defrauding government and private health care insurers, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

Brandon Nowak, 32, and Jason Simmons, 33, both of Foster, RI, and officers and operators of Alternative Integrative Medicine, LLC, d/b/a Aim Health, are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and fourteen counts of health care fraud.

It is alleged that beginning in October 2020, Nowak and Simmons conspired to and did intentionally and repeatedly submit fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Managed Care, and four private insurers in order to collect payments for certain purportedly “medically necessary” services that were not actually provided to patients.

The indictment also alleges that patients were routinely informed that massage therapy was a service covered by their insurance, when in fact it was not. In order to receive insurance payment for massage therapy provided by a massage therapist, the defendants allegedly billed insurers for covered services such as acupuncture, physical therapy, and evaluation and management office visits, none of which the patients actually received.

Additionally, it is alleged that the defendants submitted claims for services such as infrared therapy, hot and cold therapy, therapeutic activity, and self-care/home management training that were not provided to the patients and for which AIM Health did not employ appropriate providers.

The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in U.S. District Court on April 11, 2025. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan, with the assistance of Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams.

The matter was investigated by the U.S. Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.

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MIL Security OSI –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: 7 April 2025 Departmental update The multigenerational charge for women’s health and gender equality
Source: World Health Organisation

Photo credit: WHO/WUN/Emilie Mills

During the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), held from 10–21 March 2025, countries from around the world reaffirmed their commitment to gender equality through a high-level political declaration. The declaration renewed the global commitment to women’s rights, acknowledged the setbacks and called for urgent, gender-responsive policy action, including the protection of the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health across the life course.

A major moment for this advocacy came on 10 March with the official WHO flagship side event, “No gender equality without women’s health”, co-sponsored by WHO, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Mexican States, UN Women and the World Economic Forum. The event drew a full house and highlighted a unified call for evidence-based approaches to address gaps in women’s health across the life course as a core component of advancing gender inequality and through health, particularly amid rising anti-rights rhetoric around the world.

A call for holistic, life-course approaches

The event emphasized that women’s health is not a niche concern, but a global issue that must be addressed across the life course. Without universal access to integrated care for all women, the goals associated with the key commitments of the Beijing Platform for Action will remain out of reach.

Speakers pointed out that while women often live longer than men, they experience poorer health due to systemic barriers and lifelong disadvantage. Investing in women’s health is not only critical for gender equality but could also yield major economic gains, with national health systems potentially saving billions each year.

Addressing data gaps

Several speakers at the event emphasized that limited availability, analysis and use of disaggregated sex and gender data continues to hinder progress. The lack of such data contributes to underinvestment and misdiagnosis, in conditions that specifically, differently or disproportionately affect women and particularly in conditions that remain widely underrecognized, such as endometriosis. Closing this gap and ensuring women’s inclusion in clinical trials could not only improve health outcomes but also generate significant global economic savings, estimated at up to US$ 1 trillion annually.

Young people at the forefront of change

Lucy Fagan, WHO Youth Council member representing the UN Major Group for Children and Youth, offered a vital perspective on the role of youth in advancing gender equality and women’s health. “The Beijing agenda was created before many of us were born,” she said. “Progress is slowing, but youth are now part of the conversation. And we’re here to carry it forward.”

Fagan highlighted that youth-led groups are not only active on the ground, but also resilient, continuing to drive momentum for issues such as sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender-based violence (GBV) and mental health despite political pressures and reduced funding. As well as stressing the need for more data disaggregated by age and sex, she emphasized that “we’re driving the work forward from the ground up.” Lucy’s remarks served as a reminder that young people are essential actors in safeguarding progress from CSW through to Beijing+30, and that their voices are especially critical to countering rising anti-rights narratives, especially in digital spaces.

Working towards more intersectional solutions

Panellists emphasized the need for intersectional approaches that address systemic discrimination faced by marginalized groups: older women, women in detention, women with disabilities, those living in rural or indigenous communities and many others. It was also emphasized that women make up the majority of the global health workforce as well as taking 80% of health decisions at the household level, a massive yet underleveraged influence in shaping healthier societies.

WHO at CSW69

WHO’s engagement at CSW69 extended beyond this flagship event. Other sessions included:
- Closing the gender nutrition gap: a key feminist approach to fight hunger and malnutrition, co-sponsored by Action contre la Faim, FHI360;
- Digital solutions for gender equality and SRHR, which explored tech-driven innovations for advancing women’s health, co-sponsored by Norway, Colombia, UNFPA and WHO/HRP;
- Bridging the divide: men and boys as allies and agents of change, co-sponsored by MenEngage Alliance, UN Women, OHCHR, WHO, UNFPA, Government of Sweden, Government of Rwanda, Equimundo and others; and
- From potential to progress: multisectoral approaches to empower adolescents, co-sponsored by UNICEF, WHO, FCDO, Plan International and BRAC.
These events reinforced WHO’s commitment to a rights-based and evidence-driven agenda for gender equality and women’s health. The takeaway from WHO at CSW69 is clear: investing in women’s health is not optional; it is essential to achieving the 2030 Agenda and reflects our shared values. In a time of global challenges, advancing gender-responsive health systems and policies that uphold women’s rights is more urgent than ever. And the voices of young people like Lucy Fagan, which are grounded in community action and solidarity, are joining the multigenerational charge and reminding us that there is no gender equality without women’s health and well-being.

MIL OSI United Nations News –
April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Vermont Congressional Delegation Calls on HHS to Reinstate Fired Workers and Protect Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
LIHEAP provides heating assistance for more than 26,000 Vermonters
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-At Large) called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to immediately reinstate the staff of the Division of Energy Assistance and disburse funding to states for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps more than 26,000 Vermonters and 6.2 million Americans afford heat and air conditioning.
“Your decision to close the Division of Energy Assistance (DEA) at HHS and terminate its employees is unacceptable. These arbitrary firings will threaten the continued existence of the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which is a lifeline for more than 26,000 Vermonters and 6.2 million Americans across the country. The Administration must reinstate DEA staff immediately and continue to disburse Congressionally-appropriated LIHEAP funding to states so that thousands of Vermonters and millions of Americans are not forced to make the unacceptable choice between putting food on the table, paying for prescription drugs, or heating their homes in the winter,” wrote the Vermont Delegation.
“As energy prices have increased across the country, LIHEAP has seen record utilizations in recent years. In Vermont, approximately 23% of households report that they were unable to pay their energy bills in full, with tariffs on Canadian energy products threatening to drive utility bills even higher. Vermont receives around $20 million in LIHEAP funding per year that provides energy assistance to more than 26,000 households. For children and seniors, for individuals with medical devices, and for working families, LIHEAP is a lifesaving service during the long winter heating months and hot summers,” the Delegation continued.
“The administration has a moral responsibility to disburse LIHEAP funds to states and ensure the program lives up to its promise to help families keep the heat on. Failure constitutes an illegal impoundment of bipartisan, congressionally-appropriated funds and will put millions of households across the country at risk of energy insecurity. You must immediately reinstate DEA staff so they can continue the urgent work of administering LIHEAP and providing critical assistance to American families. Being able to heat your home is not a luxury. It is a matter of life and death,” the Delegation concluded.
The Vermont Congressional Delegation’s letter was addressed to Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy.
Read and download the full letter.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Weight limit lifted on Bishopthorpe Bridge

Source: City of York

Published Monday, 7 April 2025

The weight limit on Bishopthorpe Bridge has been lifted today (Monday 7 April) following repair works.

In recent months a weight limit has been in place on the bridge after highway teams identified the need for long-term repairs to take place.

Repair work on the bridge started in January with a corrugated steel arch being installed by contractor PB construction below Bishopthorpe Bridge to strengthen the bridge and ensure its long-term future.

In the coming weeks further, more cosmetic works will take place on the bridge. This means the cycle path between Appleton Court and Brunswick Nursery will continue to be closed until 13 May, with diversions in place. The diversion route is via The Orchard, Beech Avenue, Maple Avenue, Appleton Road and Copmanthorpe Lane and will be signposted in both directions.

Councillor Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport at City of York Council said;

We appreciate everyone’s patience while we have carried out these essential repairs. We have done all we can to minimise disruption with Appleton Road and the bridge remaining open to pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. Access has been maintained to businesses at all times too.

“With the weight limit lifted over the next few weeks work will continue around the bridge. We thank people for their understanding while we finish this much needed project.”

Anyone wanting to know about upcoming works in their area can sign up for email alerts for roadworks and disruption in your area. First, you can create an account with One Network. Then sign in to select the location, type and frequency of one.network alerts you want to receive

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Refocusing acute care funding in Alberta
[. This grant has grown by $3.4 billion since 2018-19, and although Alberta performed about 20,000 more surgeries this past year than at that time, this is not good enough. Albertans deserve surgical wait times that don’t just marginally improve but meet the medically recommended wait times for every single patient.

With Acute Care Alberta now fully operational, Alberta’s government is implementing reforms to acute care funding through a patient-focused funding (PFF) model, also known as activity-based funding, which pays hospitals based on the services they provide.

“The current global budgeting model has no incentives to increase volume, no accountability and no cost predictability for taxpayers. By switching to an activity-based funding model, our health care system will have built-in incentives to increase volume with high quality, cost predictability for taxpayers and accountability for all providers. This approach will increase transparency, lower wait times and attract more surgeons – helping deliver better health care for all Albertans, when and where they need it.”

Danielle Smith, Premier

Activity-based funding is based on the number and type of patients treated and the complexity of their care, incentivizing efficiency and ensuring that funding is tied to the actual care provided to patients. This funding model improves transparency, ensuring care is delivered at the right time and place as multiple organizations begin providing health services across the province.

“Exploring innovative ways to allocate funding within our health care system will ensure that Albertans receive the care they need, when they need it most. I am excited to see how this new approach will enhance the delivery of health care in Alberta.”

Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health

Patient-focused, or activity-based, funding has been successfully implemented in Australia and many European nations, including Sweden and Norway, to address wait times and access to health care services, and is currently used in both British Columbia and Ontario in various ways.

“It is clear that we need a new approach to manage the costs of delivering health care while ensuring Albertans receive the care they expect and deserve. Patient-focused funding will bring greater accountability to how health care dollars are being spent while also providing an incentive for quality care.”

Dr. Chris Eagle, interim president and CEO, Acute Care Alberta

This transition is part of Acute Care Alberta’s mandate to oversee and arrange for the delivery of acute care services such as surgeries, a role that was historically performed by AHS. With Alberta’s government funding more surgeries than ever, setting a record with 304,595 surgeries completed in 2023-24 and with 310,000 surgeries expected to have been completed in 2024-25, it is crucial that funding models evolve to keep pace with the growing demand and complexity of services.

“With AHS transitioning to a hospital-based services provider, it’s time we are bold and begin to explore how to make our health care system more efficient and manage the cost of care on a per patient basis. The transition to a PFF model will align funding with patient care needs, based on actual service demand and patient needs, reflecting the communities they serve.”

Andre Tremblay, interim president and CEO, AHS

“Covenant Health welcomes a patient-focused approach to acute care funding that drives efficiency, accountability and performance while delivering the highest quality of care and services for all Albertans. As a trusted acute care provider, this model better aligns funding with outcomes and supports our unwavering commitment to patients.”

Patrick Dumelie, CEO, Covenant Health

“Patient-focused hospital financing ties funding to activity. Hospitals are paid for the services they deliver. Efficiency may improve and surgical wait times may decrease. Further, hospital managers may be more accountable towards hospital spending patterns. These features ensure that patients receive quality care of the highest value.”

Dr. Glen Sumner, clinical associate professor, University of Calgary

Leadership at Alberta Health and Acute Care Alberta will review relevant research and the experience of other jurisdictions, engage stakeholders and define and customize patient-focused funding in the Alberta context. This working group will also identify and run a pilot to determine where and how this approach can best be applied and implemented this fiscal year.

Final recommendations will be provided to the minister of health later this year, with implementation of patient-focused funding for select procedures across the system in 2026.

Multimedia
- Watch the news conference
- Patient-Focused Funding
MIL OSI Canada News –
April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Ninja Theory celebrates 11BAFTA Games Awards nominations for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

Source: Microsoft

Headline: Ninja Theory celebrates 11BAFTA Games Awards nominations for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

Each year, the BAFTA Games Awards celebrate the best of gaming, both inside and outside the UK, and it was a delight to see so many games available on Xbox platforms make their mark on the nominations list for this year’s awards, which take place on Tuesday, April 8. From games by our own first-party studios, like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Diablo IV, Sea of Thieves and World of Warcraft, to pioneering ID@Xbox titles like Animal Well, Balatro, Botany Manor, and more, there’s a huge range of BAFTA-nominated games available on Xbox platforms right now.

But today, we wanted to shine a light on Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, which picked up a staggering 11 nominations across a wide variety of categories, covering practically every element of the art of making games, and beyond. It’s a major moment for developer Ninja Theory (which previously picked up 9 nominations, winning in 5 categories, for Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice), a testament to the hard work and care that went into creating this singular experience.

To celebrate this moment, we spoke to developers across the studio about the work that went into their nominated category, and what it means to see this recognition.

[embedded content]

Animation

“The whole animation team was thrilled to be specifically recognised in the Animation category. We’re glad that all the hard work, love and specific vision for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II has been received so well.

“Our aim was to bring Senua, her cohort and adversaries to life as vividly as possible , whether it was the up-close nuance of an intimate moment between friends or life and death struggle against her deepest fears.”

Guy Midgley, Ninja Animation Director

Photo Credit: Gareth Dutton

Artistic Achievement

“The team at Ninja Theory has always had such a passion for taking the art to new places in our games, but to have the recognition from BAFTA is incredible and means so much to everyone here.

“For Senua’s Saga we learnt so much on the journey, whether it was getting to grips with new features of UE5 and understanding how they could allow us to present our vision like never before, working with costume designers to build the real-life outfits for us to scan and understand their movements, or training how to fly professional drones so that we could capture meaningful data from the beauty of the Iceland landscape.”

Mark Slater-Tunstill, Ninja VFX Director

Audio Achievement

“To bring to life the world, the reality of Senua through sound is a privilege, a journey that requires a strong vision and a certain bravery that leads to finding a unique voice.

“Receiving this nomination brings a lot of joy to the whole Ninja audio team, who have worked tirelessly and with such craftsmanship to deliver an experience like no other.”

David García Díaz, Ninja Audio Director

Photo Credit: Gareth Dutton

British Game

“We’re very proud to receive a nomination for Best British Game and have Hellblade II sit alongside such a diverse and creative group of nominees in the category. Best British Game is a particularly special category for me, as I see it as a vehicle for inspiring the next generation of developers in my home country.

“I like to think that there will be a kid out there somewhere that will see the wonderful games being created in the UK and it will spark in them a dream to one day feel the same pride that I do in receiving a BAFTA nomination of their own.”

Dom Matthews, Ninja Studio Head

Photo Credit: Gareth Dutton

[embedded content]

Game Beyond Entertainment

“In Senua’s Saga, Ninja Theory have represented one of the most misunderstood of conditions with incredible skill, respect and sensitivity. Their depiction of psychosis was crafted with unerring attention to the underlying clinical neuroscience and, more importantly, to the personal experiences of those who have themselves carried the burden of psychosis.

“Ninja Theory have told the story, and amplified the voice, of people who are frequently unheard or dismissed. It has been an enormous privilege to play a small part in their work and to observe the depth and range of its impact in challenging stigma.”

Paul Fletcher, Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience, University of Cambridge

Photo Credit: Gareth Dutton

Music

“To tell a story without words that connects the emotions with the listener, that is the quest of all the musicians involved in the creation of the soundtrack for the game.

“At the core of it is the word ‘collaboration’: From Heilung, Ren and Arunka, the fantastic voices and talent of Helen and Abbi, plus our own composers here at Ninja. It’s an honour for us to receive this nomination for a work that is done with great passion and care.”

David García Díaz, Ninja Audio Director

Photo Credit: Gareth Dutton

Narrative

“Our heroine Senua faces down both inner and outer conflicts with persistence and strength of heart, and I feel fortunate to be part of the team sharing her unique perspective with the world.

“Storytelling is always foremost in our minds with all of Ninja Theory’s games, and I’m deeply honoured and grateful that the team’s work in this area has been recognised by BAFTA with a nomination in the Narrative category.”

Lara Derham, Writer and Stage Director

Photo Credit: Gareth Dutton

Performer in a Leading Role – Melina Juergens as Senua

“I am deeply honored to be nominated at this year’s BAFTA Games Awards as ‘Performer in a Leading Role’ for my portrayal of Senua for the second time. It means the world to have my work as a performer recognized in such a meaningful way.

“BAFTA Games Awards play a vital role in elevating gaming as an art form, putting it on the same cultural stage as film and television. Their commitment to celebrating creativity, storytelling, and innovation in games is incredible, and their charity work, supporting new talent and making the industry more accessible is truly inspiring.

“In Senua’s Saga, we managed to push the performance tech further than ever before, which gave me the freedom to pour everything into my performance, knowing that every emotion and every little nuance would come through on screen. It was an incredible and rewarding experience.”

Melina Juergens

Photo Credit: Gareth Dutton

[embedded content]

Performer in a Supporting Role – Aldís Amah Hamilton as Ástríðr

“It’s hard to put into words how much this nomination means to me and how grateful I am to everyone involved in creating this beautiful game, and for allowing me to be a part of that creation. Every step of the process has been an unforgettable experience. I’ve made dear friends, learned new skills, worked abroad for the first time, and taken part in making something meaningful. As a gamer from the age of 5, I couldn’t have imagined what my future would hold. And to receive this recognition for our work goes beyond what I could ever have dreamed of. Thank you dearly dear Ninjas and Xbox for giving me the honor of working with you.”

Aldís Amah Hamilton

Photo Credit: Thelma Arngrims

Performer in a Supporting Role – Abbi Greenland and Helen Goalen as The Furies

“We are delighted to be jointly nominated for our role as the Furies. Working on Senua’s Saga was a joy thanks to the brilliance of David García Díaz and his dream team.

“We are a theatre company who work a lot with vocal improvisation and it was really exciting to collaborate with David in this way. It was fascinating for us to get an insight into how games are made. Everyone works so incredibly hard and it’s wonderful to see the team receiving such recognition for this.”

Helen Goalen and Abbi Greenland

Technical Achievement

“It’s a great honour to receive a Technical Achievement BAFTA nomination for Hellblade II, alongside a shortlist of excellent and varied nominees. This nomination celebrates not just the technology itself, but the vision and perseverance of the entire team; it’s a testament to the detail, artistry and technical effort we poured into crafting Senua’s world and its inhabitants, as part of our dedication to pushing the boundaries of interactive storytelling. We’re immensely grateful to BAFTA for this acknowledgement, and it fuels our passion to continue creating experiences that aim to resonate on a profound level. Thank you.”

Gavin Costello, Ninja Technical Director

Congratulations to everyone at Ninja Theory for their work on Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, and to all the recipients of BAFTA nominations this year.

You can watch the BAFTA Games Awards live on Tuesday, April 8 at 11am Pacific / 2pm Eastern / 7pm UK via YouTube and Twitch.

MIL OSI Economics –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Minister’s statement on Public Health Week

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, has released the following statement in recognition of Public Health Week, April 7-11, 2025:

“Public Health Week is a time to recognize the invaluable contributions of public health professionals throughout B.C. who work so hard to make sure people in our province are supported in achieving their best health and well-being.

“Public health professionals provide essential programs, services and guidance that keep us and our loved ones safe. Through actions such as disease and injury prevention, health promotion and health protection, our public health professionals empower people to live healthy lives.

“I want to recognize public health workers around our province, including Dr. Bonnie Henry and the team at the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, as well as the public health professionals at regional health authorities, the First Nations Health Authority, the BC Centre for Disease Control and the Ministry of Health, for their guidance and commitment in helping people take care of their mental, physical and emotional health, and for continuing to address challenges like the effects of climate emergencies, the toxic-drug crisis and anti-Indigenous racism.

“I also commend the resilience and resolve of those in public health, who, in the face of the toxic-drug crisis, continue to work toward finding supportive solutions and connecting people to care when they’re ready.

“We are committed to supporting the needs of people in British Columbia and strengthening public health care. British Columbia continues to demonstrate significant leadership and innovation with outstanding work in public health programs and services, research, epidemiology and collaboration with partners. For example, last year we released British Columbia’s Population and Public Health Framework: Strengthening Public Health, and Age Forward: BC’s 50+ Health Strategy and 3-Year Action Plan, which include commitments to health equity, anti-racism and the principles of truth, rights and reconciliation.

“On behalf of the provincial government, I want to express my deep gratitude to every public health professional for their ongoing commitment to helping keep people safe and well, for the compassion and dedication they continuously demonstrate, and for being there for people in our province. Thank you.”

MIL OSI Canada News –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Nova Scotia Welcomes Nordic Heads of Mission
Source: Government of Canada regional news

Nova Scotia is welcoming the five heads of mission representing Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in Canada, who are in Halifax together on a joint diplomatic visit beginning today, April 7.

During the three-day visit, provincial ministers and other officials will meet with the Nordic region diplomats to explore opportunities to strengthen existing trade partnerships and exchange insights on shared priorities.

For the Nordic countries, areas of special interest include the blue economy (sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth); renewable energy and green solutions; healthcare and life sciences; technology and innovation; and trans-Atlantic security and defence. For Nova Scotia, this includes opportunities to increase its self-reliance and invest in critical minerals, wind resources and the seafood sector.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the ambassadors from the Nordic region to talk about our shared goals and the mutual benefits of working together to protect citizens and strengthen trade opportunities,” said Barbara Adams, Nova Scotia’s Deputy Premier. “Nova Scotia is ready to do business, and we have a lot to offer. We’re excited to share the innovative work happening in Nova Scotia to harness our resources, promote Nova Scotia products and services and so much more.”

Deputy Premier Adams, who is also Nova Scotia’s Minister responsible for Military Relations, will join the heads of mission for a visit at Canadian Forces Base Halifax. The diplomats’ itinerary also includes stops at the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship in Dartmouth and the NATO DIANA Regional Office for North America in Halifax, as well as meetings with a half dozen provincial ministers.

The officials began their visit today with a luncheon hosted by Lt.-Gov. Mike Savage. They will later participate in a panel discussion at Dalhousie University hosted by the Halifax chapter of the Canadian International Council. The event is open to the public.

Quotes:

“Nova Scotia and the Nordic region hold much in common. Our economies and the lives of our residents are intertwined with the ocean; we are investing significantly in technology and infrastructure to power our increasingly green and digital economies; and we are hotbeds of innovation, advanced research and culture. On behalf of all five Nordic heads of mission, we very much look forward to our first joint visit to Nova Scotia and to deepening our relations as trans-Atlantic partners.”
— Hlynur Guðjónsson, Ambassador of Iceland to Canada

Quick Facts:
- the Nordic region includes five sovereign states – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden – and the self-governing territories of the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland
- visiting heads of mission include Hanna-Leena Korteniemi, Ambassador of Finland to Canada; Signe Burgstaller, Ambassador of Sweden to Canada; Hlynur Guðjónsson, Ambassador of Iceland to Canada; Nikolaj Harris, Ambassador of Denmark to Canada; Trygve Bendiksby, Head of Mission, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ottawa
- meetings are scheduled with Growth and Development Minister Colton LeBlanc, Addictions and Mental Health Minister Brian Comer, Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Kent Smith, Cyber Security and Digital Solutions Minister Jill Balser, Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton and Environment and Climate Change Minister Timothy Halman
- as declared in the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Agenda 2030, the Nordic region has a vision to become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030
- the Nordic Council of Ministers is supporting the visit
Additional Resources:

News release – Premier Promotes Nova Scotia in Denmark: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/04/04/premier-promotes-nova-scotia-denmark

More information on the public panel with the heads of mission is available at: https://events.dal.ca/event/4409-jmeucecic-public-panel-conversation-with-the-nordic-amb

Nordic Co-operation – the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Council: https://www.norden.org/en

Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way

MIL OSI Canada News –
April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Additional staff and theatre capacity to deliver more surgeries

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The ACT Government will fund a four-year elective surgery plan as part of the 2024-25 ACT Budget.

The ACT Government is resourcing a four-year elective surgery plan to deliver 60,000 elective surgeries and to expand operating theatre capacity in public health services.

Despite the challenges impacting elective surgeries in recent years, Canberra Health Services is on track to perform a record number of elective surgeries this financial year.

Additional funding in the 2024-25 ACT Budget will further support the territory-wide surgery teams to continue this work across the ACT’s hospitals.

More endoscopies will be delivered thanks to the recent expansion and upgrade of the endoscopy suites at North Canberra Hospital.

Additional theatre capacity at Canberra Hospital in the new Critical Services Building will be essential to improve timely access to emergency surgeries and increase the total capacity for elective surgeries performed at Canberra Hospital.

Increased operating theatre sessions during evenings and weekends, and more surgical inpatient beds to support growing emergency surgery demand are a critical part of this investment.

The Government has also committed to deliver an additional 300 cataract surgeries through partnerships with private facilities.

The ACT Budget will support services and initiatives across the public hospital network, including acute care for older people across our public hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation at the University of Canberra Hospital, services for critically ill newborns and expanded maternity services.

Total investment in health next year is a record $2.6 billion. This will deliver more health services, infrastructure, support for the health workforce, and $52.7 million will be allocated to support the elective surgery plan.

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MIL OSI News –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Funding boost for new Canberra Convention and Entertainment Centre

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The 2024-25 ACT Budget includes funding for the planning and development of a new Canberra Convention and Entertainment Centre.

The ACT Government will provide funding in the 2024-25 ACT Budget to continue the planning and development of a new Canberra Convention and Entertainment Centre.

The centre will form part of an events and entertainment precinct proposed for the south-east section of the CBD that includes the current convention centre site and the Canberra Olympic Pool site.

Master-planning for the new precinct will see concept designs developed for an integrated convention and entertainment centre for live music, events and performances.

The ACT Government will invest in site investigations and concept design options for the replacement of the ageing Canberra Olympic Pool to provide aquatic facilities for the city’s growing population in Commonwealth Park.

The ACT Government will continue to work with the Australian Government under the National Capital Investment Framework and through the Urban Precincts and Partnerships Program to progress infrastructure projects such as the Convention and Entertainment Centre.

As Canberra’s population nears half a million people, this project is important for the local tourism and business sector, ensuring Canberra is a more attractive tour option for live music and entertainment.

Bruce Sports, Health, and Education Precinct update

Further funding will be provided in the 2024-25 ACT Budget to progress development of the Bruce Sports, Health, and Education Precinct.

The ACT Government intends to partner with the Commonwealth Government to develop a mixed-use urban renewal precinct, which will include housing, commercial, hospitality and retail opportunities to support sport, health and education infrastructure projects.

Through the 2024-25 Budget, the Government will also progress planning for the new Northside Hospital, a renewed CIT campus and a new stadium.

This work will complement the Commonwealth Government’s AIS precinct renewal announced in the recent Federal Budget.

The Government will consider options for the development, including the optimal delivery model and the declaration of an urban renewal site.

This declaration will help coordinate ACT Government Directorates and agencies to work together on the precinct planning.

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MIL OSI News –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Community mental health services in focus in ACT Budget
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The ACT’s PACER teams provide acute mental health assessment and care services in the community.
Funding in the ACT 2024–25 Budget will help Canberrans access mental health help earlier and more easily.

The initiatives funded aim to support Canberrans to remain healthy in the community.

This will help services provide support when and where people need it and reduce demand on the ACT hospital system.

Funding has been allocated over the next four years for:
1. the continuation of the second Police, Ambulance, and Clinician Early Response (PACER) team to provide acute mental health assessment and care services in the community
2. the co-design of a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth mental health service
3. the continuation of community child and youth mental health support programs, including
  
  MindMap Online Navigation Portal
  
  WOKE
  
  Stepping Stones
  
  Youth Mental Health Promotion program
4. staged implementation of approximately 10 accommodation support packages as part of the introduction of the Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative
5. delivery of a more holistic approach in the Step-Up-Step Down at-home program, to better address the factors in someone’s life which cause distress
6. additional funding for the Detention Exit Community Outreach program to provide transitional mental health and life skills support for people with a mental illness returning to the community.
When people have early access to mental health support, they are more likely to stay healthy, engaged and connected.

This funding will help ensure the continuation of services that currently support Canberrans facing mental health challenges, allowing them to get the help they need in the community, rather than in hospital.

The investment in tailored youth mental services and culturally responsive mental health services for First Nations people will help bolster the health and wellbeing of those in crisis.

The PACER model, particularly, has proven very successful in addressing mental health crises, offering faster assessments, connecting individuals with vital community resources, and reducing the strain on emergency response teams.

This not only helps those who need it most but also helps ensure a safer, more supportive Canberra.

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MIL OSI News –
April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Artworks key to new hospital building’s identity
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Ngunnawal artist Bradley Mapiva Brown’s artwork is entitled Ngala Dhawura.
As Canberrans enter Canberra Hospital’s new Welcome Hall, they will be met by two new artworks by local Aboriginal artists.

These commissioned works acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as Traditional Custodians of Canberra and the region.

They also recognise the contributions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the ACT.

The Critical Services Building

The Welcome Hall is part of the hospital’s new Critical Services Building.

It replaces the hospital’s reception in Building 2.

The Critical Services Building will open to the public in August 2024.

Considered design

In designing the building, the ACT Government engaged closely with the Ngunnawal people and Canberra’s local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

This has helped ensure it is a welcoming, safe space for these communities.

Healing Journey

Lynnice Church is a Ngunnawal, Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi artist.

Her artwork Healing Journey is displayed at the Welcome Hall entrance.

It includes 24,073 colourful metal discs. Each is attached by hand to a metal frame that stretches across the front and back entrance of the hall.

The artwork acknowledges Canberra Hospital’s role as a place for healing.

It depicts health journeys, and the roles family, community, specialists and health staff play in supporting patients.

Ngala Dhawura

Ngunnawal artist Bradley Mapiva Brown’s artwork is entitled Ngala Dhawura.

The wooden sculpture represents the connection to sacred woodlands of Ngunnawal country, where the Critical Services Building stands.

The woodlands are a healing place for the Ngunnawal people. They hold many cultural resources, such as traditional tools and bush medicines that have long used to maintain health and well-being.

Ngala Dhawura is located above a corridor connecting the new building to the existing hospital.

A welcoming, safe space

Art is an important part of the building’s design and will feature throughout.

In addition to the artwork, design features of the Critical Services Building include:
- An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lounge: a first for Canberra Hospital with outdoor space and a yarning circle.
- Strong indoor / outdoor connection: large windows around the hospital offer views of the surrounding landscape and frame areas of cultural significance.
- New greenspace and gardens: outdoor access is easier with new gardens and courtyards, including accessible dedicated patient spaces.
^{The hospital’s new main entrance}

^{Ngala Dhawura}

^{Lynnice Church’s artwork adorns both entrances of the Welcome Hall.}

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MIL OSI News –
April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: BLAIR COUNTY – Shapiro Administration to Highlight Proposed Investments to Recruit, Retain Skilled Rural Health Care Workforce in Pennsylvania

Source: US State of Pennsylvania

April 08, 2025 – Tyrone, PA

ADVISORY – BLAIR COUNTY – Shapiro Administration to Highlight Proposed Investments to Recruit, Retain Skilled Rural Health Care Workforce in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen and Secretary of Human Services Dr. Val Arkoosh will join leaders from Penn Highlands Healthcare at Penn Highlands Tyrone to highlight Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2025-26 budget, which makes significant investments in the rural health care workforce across the state.

Pennsylvania is facing shortages of health care professionals, particularly in rural communities. Offering incentives to health care workers has proven a successful strategy for recruiting and retaining high-quality practitioners.

The Governor’s budget proposal makes targeted investments to expand the health care workforce, ensure rural communities have access to care, and help keep hospitals open. The budget proposal includes $10 million to support rural hospitals facing service cuts or closures and expands the Department of Health’s Primary Care Loan Repayment Program.

WHO:
Department of Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen
Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh
Penn Highlands Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Trina Abla

WHEN:
Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 11:30 AM

WHERE:
Penn Highlands Tyrone
187 Hospital Drive
Tyrone, PA 16686
(Main Lobby)

MEDIA RSVP: Media interested in attending must RSVP with the name of the reporter and photojournalist to ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Myanmar earthquake: Working to meet the biggest needs News Apr 04, 2025

Source: Doctors Without Borders –

We’re getting ready for what seems will be a long and intense emergency.

The health care system has been severely impacted at multiple levels, with secondary care being particularly affected. Hospitals, including operating theaters, are non-functional—not only for emergency surgeries but also for essential procedures like C-sections. MSF teams are prioritizing efforts to provide immediate relief by strengthening secondary health care services.

At the same time, primary health care remains crucial in this context, so that the patients with diabetes or hypertension can continue their care. We are also worried about the psychological toll on the affected communities, many of whom are experiencing stress and acute trauma following the earthquake and ongoing aftershocks. To help build resilience, our teams are actively providing psychological first aid training as an integral part of the emergency response.

A key priority for MSF in Myanmar is community engagement—working closely with local efforts to ensure a meaningful and lasting impact on the health and well-being of those affected. Our goal is to strengthen existing capacities, particularly through the dedication of local communities and our local staff, who have been at the forefront of MSF’s response since day one.

MIL OSI NGO –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Funding boost to tackle domestic, family and sexual violence

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Funding in the 2024-25 ACT Budget will address domestic, family and sexual violence, including coercive control.

The ACT Government is taking further steps to prevent and respond to domestic, family and sexual violence.

Funding in the 2024-25 ACT Budget will address domestic, family and sexual violence, including coercive control.

Throughout the ACT and Australia, incidents of domestic violence continue to increase. Frontline services must be well-equipped to respond.

This Budget includes a coercive control package, to increase understanding and improve responses to this type of domestic violence.

The package will provide training to frontline agencies, such as ACT Policing and the Courts, on identifying and responding to coercive control.

It will also provide for a public education campaign informed by specialist coercive control expertise.

Alongside this investment, a significant funding boost will be provided to frontline response services. These services do vital work to keep women and families safe.

The Domestic Violence Crisis Service, Canberra Rape Crisis Centre, YWCA, Beryl Women Inc, and Women’s Health Matters will all receive funding boosts.

As first points of support for many people experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence, crisis services, refuges and specialist services for men are all vital to address the immediate impact of domestic and family violence and keeping people safe.

This Budget also prioritises behaviour change for perpetrators. Funding for EveryMan will expand their violence prevention programs.

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MIL OSI News –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Castor, Buchanan, Soto and Bilirakis Aim to Protect Florida’s Coasts from Offshore Drilling

Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Darren Soto (FL-9) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) introduced critical bipartisan legislation, the Florida Coastal Protection Act, to permanently prohibit oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production off Florida’s coast.

“Florida is a special but fragile place, and our way of life depends on clean water. Dangerous offshore drilling can devastate both our environment and our economy, posing huge risks to everything that makes Florida special. Our Florida coasts are beloved by people across the globe. Tourism and fishing are the lifeblood of our coastal economy in the Sunshine State, so we must ensure our water, beaches, and wildlife in the Eastern Gulf are sustained, said Rep. Castor. “Together we can permanently protect these waters, our planet, our pocketbooks and our people from costly oil disasters and pollution.”

“While I support responsible investments in American energy, we must also recognize the unique importance of protecting Florida’s coastline,” said Rep. Buchanan. “The Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010 showed just how devastating an offshore spill can be to our economy, environment and way of life. As co-chair of the bipartisan Florida congressional delegation, I remain committed to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to safeguard our state’s beautiful beaches and coastal waters.”

“Florida’s coastline is more than a beautiful backdrop—it’s a vital part of who we are. Our beaches and marine ecosystems support hundreds of thousands of jobs, drive tourism, sustain our fishing industries, and provide a home to some of the most unique and fragile wildlife in the world,” said Rep. Darren Soto. “Offshore drilling puts all of that at risk. One spill could devastate our economy and irreparably damage ecosystems that took generations to build. This bipartisan legislation reflects a shared commitment to safeguarding our waters—not just for today, but for every generation that comes after us. Floridians deserve clean beaches, thriving marine life, and a resilient coastal economy—and that starts with keeping oil rigs off our shores for good.”

“We’ve seen the long-lasting harm that can come from oil spills including: damage to the environment, disruption to marine life, and the paralysis of local economies that depend heavily on fishing, tourism, and recreation,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “Protecting Florida’s pristine coastline from future oil spills is crucial for preserving its unique ecosystems. Ensuring the health of the coastline will safeguard not only the environment but also the livelihoods of communities that rely on its natural beauty and resources.”

Endorsing organizations of the Florida Coastal Protection Act include Oceana, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, League of Conservation Voters, Environment America, Surfrider Foundation, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Lee (MA) Greener Gateway Committee, South Shore Audubon Society (Freeport, NY), Sierra Club, and The CLEO Institute.

Read the full text of the bill.

“Oceana applauds Rep. Castor and Rep. Buchanan for advancing the bipartisan tradition of protecting Florida’s coasts,” said Oceana Campaign Director Joseph Gordon. “Oil spills can be economically devastating for communities that rely on clean oceans and healthy wildlife. This visionary bill will forever secure Florida’s treasured coastlines from the threat of offshore oil drilling, protecting an essential way of life for millions of people who call the Sunshine State home – and millions more who visit its shores every year.”

“This important legislation will protect Florida’s environment, economy, climate, and way of life from the harmful effects of offshore oil and gas development,” said Katie Bauman, Florida Policy Manager of the Surfrider Foundation. “The Surfrider Foundation urges members of Congress to support the Florida Coastal Protection Act and other bills to permanently prohibit new offshore drilling in U.S. waters.”

Yoca Arditi-Rocha, Executive Director of The CLEO Institute added, “As a state where our clean beaches are a central driver of our tourism economy, The Florida Coastal Protection Act is essential to protecting the people and places we love. We can avoid using dirty and dangerous fuels by transitioning to clean electric vehicles and investing in public transportation. This is how we guarantee clean water and air for all.

“Florida’s beaches, bottlenose dolphins and manatees are too important to risk for more oil, but we’ve seen repeatedly that when we drill, we spill,” said Lisa Frank, Executive Director of Environment America. The Florida Coastal Protection Act would conserve our waters and wildlife for generations to come by keeping offshore drilling out of Florida’s waters. Congress should pass this bill immediately and send it to President Trump’s desk.”

“The barrier islands, white sandy beaches and coastal marshes surrounding Florida’s shoreline provide necessary habitat for iconic reef fish, extensive shorebird populations, sea turtles and marine mammals like the Florida manatee,” said Ben Prater, Southeast Program Director for Defenders of Wildlife. “This legislation will protect Florida’s coasts from the known, concrete risks of offshore drilling while moving to ensure a safer future for the endangered and imperiled coastal wildlife that call the state home.”

“Permanently protecting Florida’s pristine Gulf coast from the threats of offshore drilling has had resounding support for years, regardless of political party,” said Earthjustice senior legislative representative Laura M. Esquivel. “From their robust tourism sector to their vital sustainable fishing industry, Floridians cherish the Gulf and want it free of toxic oil and gas. This bipartisan bill is proof that safeguarding a brighter future for Florida’s Gulf coast is within reach, and that Representatives Castor, Soto, Buchanan, and Bilirakis can make it happen.”

“For decades, Floridians—Democrats and Republicans alike—have stood united against offshore drilling, knowing it threatens the state’s tourism-driven economy, coastal communities, and way of life. The Florida Coastal Protection Act reflects this long-standing bipartisan opposition by ensuring that our beaches, fisheries, and marine ecosystems are not put at risk for the sake of short-term fossil fuel profits. Healthy Gulf supports efforts to secure permanent protections for Florida’s waters, and we urge Congress to uphold the will of the people by passing this vital legislation,” said Martha Collins, Executive Director for Healthy Gulf.

“Protecting Florida’s waters puts coastal communities and wildlife above polluters and brings us closer to a world where our waters are free from oil spills, endangered whale populations are free from seismic blasting, and local economies can thrive,” said Taryn Kiekow Heimer, Director of Ocean Energy at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Now more than ever, we need leadership from Congress to protect our oceans from an industry that only cares about its bottom line – and a Trump administration willing to do anything to give those oil billionaires what they want.”

“Our coasts are a source of life, livelihood, and recreation for coastal communities and the millions of visitors they see every year,” said Athan Manuel, Director of Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program. “They also support untold diverse wildlife and ecosystems that are put at risk by exploitation from the oil and gas industry. This bill provides much-needed critical protections for the health of our coastal communities and to ensure that future generations will get to enjoy the wonders of our oceans and beaches.”

###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Colorado Disability Opportunity Office to Award 23 Organizations $2 Million in Funding for Disability Application Assistance
Source: US State of Colorado

DENVER — The Colorado Disability Funding Committee (CDFC), now housed in the recently established Colorado Disability Opportunity Office (CDOO) within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), will be awarding $2 million in grant funding for disability application assistance. Grantees across the state were selected for their work in helping individuals and families complete their applications for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), long-term Medicaid, appeals, tax filing assistance, property tax rebates, rent and heat assistance, earned income, state tax credits, and other benefit applications. T

he committee received requests for over $8.4 million in grant funding from a widely diverse group of 61 organizations that specialize in services for individuals with specific disabilities, underserved demographic communities, and diverse geographical areas across Colorado. The Governor-appointed members of the CDFC report that this assessment and award-granting process was the most competitive and difficult one to date.

“Every Coloradan deserves access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive and are eligible to receive, but applying for these benefits can be challenging. The overwhelming response to this grant program shows just how critical these services are for individuals with disabilities across our state,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. “Through this funding, we are empowering organizations that are helping individuals and families with disabilities navigate complex application processes and access essential benefits. I am grateful for the work of the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office and the Colorado Disability Funding Committee in advancing equity and opportunity for the disability community.”

“With more than 61 applications for this round of funding, and requests for well over the available $2 million, the CDFC had difficult decisions to make,” said CDOO Director, Danny Combs. “It’s clear there is a huge need to offer further support to individuals with disabilities, and CDOO is committed to doing all we can to provide more pathways to opportunity for all Colorado’s disability community. ”

23 Non-profit organizations and county human services agencies from all corners of the state have been selected to receive funds. The grantees CDOO intends to award are listed below.

In the Denver metro area and along the Front Range:
- Atlantis Community, Inc.
- The Denver Indian Center Inc.
- El Grupo Vida, Inc.
- Work Options for Women
- Easter Seals Colorado La Raza Services, Inc.
- The Center for People with Disabilities
- The Arc of Larimer County Disabled Resource Services
- The Mental Health Care Center of Denver
- Deaf Overcoming Violence through Empowerment (DOVE)
- The Rocky Mountain MS Center
- The Aurora Comprehensive Community Mental Health Center, Inc.
- The Ensight Skills Center, Inc.
- The Center for Legal Advocacy
In Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and some of Southeast Colorado:
- The Resource Exchange, Inc.
In rural and underserved areas:
- Community Connections, Inc.
- The Northwest Colorado Center for Independence Connections for Independent Living
- The Center for Independence, Inc.
- Archuleta County Department of Human Services
- Montrose County Department of Human Services
- Morgan County Department of Human Services
CDOO’s most recent New and Innovative grant application recently closed after receiving 191 applications and more than $15 million in grant requests for ideas that will improve the independence and quality of life for Coloradans experiencing a disability. The CDFC has just begun analysis and hopes to make recommendations and award decisions by the end of April. CDOO expects to open a third round of grant funding later this summer.

About The Colorado Disability Funding Committee (CDFC)

The Colorado Disability Funding Committee is made up of 13 Governor-appointed members, with the requirement that at least seven members must identify as living with a disability or have first-hand experience working with someone who does. Members oversee the distribution of grant funds which are used to invest in new and innovative initiatives working to increase the quality of life and independence of Coloradans with disabilities, and to assist Coloradans with disabilities apply for programs such as Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicaid.

About The Colorado Disability Opportunity Office (CDOO)

Established by HB24-1360 in 2024, the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office (CDOO) is the point of contact for state agencies, private sector organizations, and the public to advance the integration and inclusion of the disability community. CDOO sits at the intersection of policy development and implementation, and HB 24-1360 ensures that CDOO leadership continues to advise the Governor and his team on disability policy, ensure cross-agency collaboration, and provide funding through the CDFC to disability organizations and businesses. ###

MIL OSI USA News –
April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Scientists should try to repeat more studies, but not those looking for a link between vaccines with autism

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Simon Kolstoe, Associate Professor of Bioethics, University of Portsmouth

SamaraHeisz5/Shutterstock

Scientists, professors, engineers, teachers and doctors are routinely ranked among the most trustworthy people in society. This is because these professions rely heavily on research, and good research is viewed as the most reliable source of knowledge.

But how trustworthy is research? Recent news from the US suggests that the Trump administration wants to fund more “reproducibility studies”.

These are studies that check to see if previous results can be repeated and are reliable. The administration’s focus seems to be specifically on studies that revisit the debunked claim of a link between vaccines and autism.

This is a worrying waste of effort, given the extensive evidence showing that there is no link between vaccines and autism, and the harm that suggesting this link can cause. However, the broader idea of funding studies that attempt to repeat earlier research is a good one.

Take research on Alzheimer’s disease as an example. In June 2024, Nature retracted a highly cited paper reporting an important theory relating to the mechanism of the disease. Unfortunately, it took 18 years to spot the errors and retract the paper.

If influential studies like this were regularly repeated by others, it wouldn’t have taken so long to spot the errors in the original research.

Alzheimer’s is proving a particularly tricky problem to solve despite the large amounts of money spent researching the disease. Being unable to reproduce key results contributes to this problem because new research relies on the trustworthiness of earlier research.

More broadly, it has been known for almost ten years that 70% of researchers have problems reproducing experiments conducted by other scientists. The problem is particularly acute in cancer research and psychology.

The Trump administration wants to fund more ‘reproducibility studies’.
Joshua Sukoff/Shutterstock

Research is difficult to get right

Research is complicated and there may be legitimate reasons research findings cannot be reproduced. Mistakes or dishonesty are not necessarily the cause.

In psychology or the social sciences, failure to reproduce results – despite using identical methods – could be due to using different populations, for instance, across different countries or cultures. In physical or medical sciences problems reproducing results could be down to using different equipment, chemicals or measurement techniques.

A lot of research may also not be reproducible simply because the researchers do not fully understand all the complexities of what they are studying. If all the relevant variables (such as genetics and environmental factors) are not understood or even identified, it is unsurprising that very similar experiments can yield different results.

In these cases, sometimes as much can be learned from a negative result as from a positive one, as this helps inform the design of future work.

Here, it is helpful to distinguish between reproducing another researcher’s exact results and being given enough information by the original researchers to replicate their experiments.

Science advances by comparing notes and discussing differences, so researchers must always give enough information in their reports to allow someone else to repeat (replicate) the experiment. This ensures the results can be trusted even if they may not be reproduced exactly.

Transparency is therefore central to research integrity, both in terms of trusting the research and trusting the people doing the research.

Unfortunately, the incentive structure within research doesn’t always encourage such transparency. The “publish or perish” culture and aggressive practices by journals often lead to excessive competition rather than collaboration and open research practices.

One solution, as new priorities from the US have suggested, is to directly fund researchers to replicate each other’s studies.

This is a promising development because most other funding, alongside opportunities to publish in the top journals, is instead linked to novelty. Unfortunately, this encourages researchers to act quickly to produce something unique rather than take their time to conduct thorough and transparent experiments.

We need to move to a system that rewards reliable research rather than just novel research. And part of this comes through rewarding people who focus on replication studies.

Industry also plays a part. Companies conducting research and development can sometimes be guilty of throwing a lot of money at a project and then pulling the plug quickly if a product (such as a new medicine) seems not to work. The reason for such failures is often unclear, but the reliability of earlier research is a contributing factor.

To avoid this problem, companies should be encouraged to replicate some of the original findings (perhaps significant experiments conducted by academics) before proceeding with development. In the long run, this strategy may turn out to be quicker and more efficient than the rapid chopping and changing that occurs now.

The scale of the reproducibility, or replicability, problem in research comes as a surprise to the public who have been told to “trust the science”. But over recent years there has been increasing recognition that the culture of research is as important as the experiments themselves.

If we want to be able to “trust the science”, science must be transparent and robustly conducted.

This is exactly what has happened with research looking at the link between vaccines and autism. The topic was so important that in this case the replication studies were done and found that there is, in fact, no link between vaccines and autism.

Simon Kolstoe works for the University of Portsmouth, and is a trustee of the UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO). He receives research and consultancy funding from charities, universities and government. He chairs research ethics committees for the UK Health Research Authority, Ministry of Defence and Health Security Agency.

– ref. Scientists should try to repeat more studies, but not those looking for a link between vaccines with autism – https://theconversation.com/scientists-should-try-to-repeat-more-studies-but-not-those-looking-for-a-link-between-vaccines-with-autism-253696

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: More than 100 projects in the healthcare sector are being implemented under the Construction program

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

As part of the comprehensive state program “Construction”, supervised by the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services, in 2025, construction, renovation and implementation of 109 facilities and activities in the healthcare sector are underway. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

“Today marks World Health Day. This is a reason to pay attention to the work on developing healthcare infrastructure. In recent years, a number of significant projects in the healthcare sector have been implemented in Russia. Among them are modern multidisciplinary hospitals equipped with advanced medical equipment, renovated outpatient clinics that meet all the requirements for patient comfort and safety, as well as specialized medical centers where innovative diagnostic and treatment methods are being implemented. As part of the comprehensive state program “Construction”, we are building, updating and implementing 109 facilities and events in the healthcare sector. Among them are the construction of federal children’s rehabilitation centers in Yevpatoria and Novosibirsk Oblast, a new multidisciplinary medical center of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia in Yalta and many other institutions,” said Marat Khusnullin.

Thus, the Federal Children’s Rehabilitation Center, which is being built in Yevpatoriya by specialists from the PPC “Unified Customer in the Sphere of Construction”, is intended for children with diseases of the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, somatic and other diseases. An administrative building with an area of about 2 thousand square meters has already been put into operation after a complete restoration. In addition, a consultative and diagnostic building and a hospital building with 300 beds have been erected, which are now being equipped. Also under construction is a boarding house for children and parents, a hostel for medical personnel for 225 places and a building with a dining hall.

“The Federal Children’s Rehabilitation Center in Crimea is being built on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In Podolsk, Moscow Region, such a facility has already been operating since 2023. Another large facility is the Federal Children’s Rehabilitation Center in Novosibirsk Region. On the territory of the medical institution, a hospital building with 300 beds and the main building are being built. Recently, specialists began to build a boarding house building, where young patients will live with their parents. Its area will exceed 8 thousand square meters,” said Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and Public Utilities Yuri Gordeyev.

Also in St. Petersburg, a clinical building of the N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center is being built. The new building will include an admissions department, a 204-bed hospital, bone marrow transplant, resuscitation and intensive care departments. An operating block with 8 operating rooms is planned to provide high-tech care to cancer patients. This will allow the center to expand scientific research and training of specialists.

Another landmark building in the Northern capital is the new building of the Research Institute of Children’s Oncology, Hematology and Transplantology named after R.M. Gorbacheva, which is a division of the First Saint Petersburg State Medical University named after Academician I.P. Pavlov. The building, with an area of 17 thousand square meters, includes a hospital with 110 beds, bone marrow transplant departments, resuscitation and intensive care, 5 operating rooms and a blood transfusion department.

A treatment and diagnostic building for the Center for Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology is being built in Moscow. The building will include admission departments for adults and children, a radiation diagnostics department, a 40-bed hospital, 2 operating rooms, a 6-bed intensive care unit, and a sterilization department. The center will provide assistance to patients with lymphomas, skin tumors, and severe dermatosis.

In addition, a multidisciplinary medical center of the FMBA is being built on the Crimean peninsula, in the resort city of Yalta, which will provide emergency, planned and high-tech care in key areas: surgery, cardiology, oncology, pediatrics and resuscitation. The center will include a clinic, a diagnostic department, classrooms and housing for employees.

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Twins grow more slowly in early pregnancy than previously thought

Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

Media Advisory
Monday, April 7, 2025

NIH findings could lead to more efficient monitoring of twin pregnancies.
What
Twins—smaller at birth, on average, than singletons—start out smaller in pregnancy than was previously known, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The ultrasound study revealed that twins have less fat tissue and less muscle mass than singletons beginning at 15 weeks of pregnancy. If results are confirmed by additional research, the findings could provide information to guide physicians in monitoring and managing twin pregnancies.
Researchers analyzed data from previous ultrasound studies of fetal development in the uterus. Included in the analysis were 3D ultrasound scans of 2,604 singleton pregnancies and 315 twins. All twin pairs had individual placentas. Twin pairs who shared a placenta were not included in the analysis.r
Beginning at 15 weeks, thigh volumes were significantly smaller for twins than singletons. Twins had smaller fat and lean thigh volumes than singletons. They also had a lower thigh fat to lean ratio than singletons, having proportionately 2.7 to 4.2% less fat from 15 to 37 weeks. Previous studies of twin growth in the womb involved 2D ultrasound scans and had documented decreased twin growth relative to singletons only in the early 3rd trimester (28 to 40 weeks).
Scientists do not think the twins early small size resulted from increased competition for nutrients as their placentas should have been developed enough to supply needed resources until the third trimester. Rather, they hypothesize that twins’ small size early in pregnancy could be an adaptation to accommodate the need for increased resources of two fetuses later in pregnancy.
The study was conducted by Jessica Gleason, Ph.D. and Katherine Grantz, M.D., of NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and their colleagues. It appears in JAMA Pediatrics.
Who
Jessica Gleason, Ph.D., a perinatal epidemiologist, is available for comment.
Article
Gleason JL, et al. Fetal body composition in twins and singletons. JAMA Pediatrics. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.0116 (2025)
About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): NICHD leads research and training to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all. For more information, visit https://www.nichd.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®
###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces Council On Student Safety & Well-Being
Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Governor Stein Announces Council On Student Safety & Well-Being

Governor Stein Announces Council On Student Safety & Well-Being
lsaito
Mon, 04/07/2025 – 11:37

Raleigh, NC
Today at Moore Square Magnet Middle School, Governor Josh Stein announced his Advisory Council on Student Safety and Well-Being, co-chaired by Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch, Deputy Secretary William “Billy” Lassiter of the Department of Public Safety, and 2024 North Carolina Teacher of the Year Heather Smith.

“North Carolina’s children are our future, and it is crucial that they grow and learn in a safe environment that sets them on the right trajectory to thrive,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I am proud to establish this council of educators, mental health professionals, and law enforcement to identify ways to better keep our classrooms safe and our children healthy.”

“Ensuring the safety of our students is not up for debate — it’s a fundamental responsibility of our state government,” said Democratic Leader Sydney Batch. “Every child in North Carolina deserves the freedom to learn in a secure, supportive environment. I’m proud to co-chair this council and committed to advancing real, enforceable policies that keep our kids safe and our schools strong — and I’m ready to work with anyone willing to get that important work done.”

“Student and school staff security and wellbeing is an essential part of public safety,” said Deputy Secretary of Public Safety William L. Lassiter, who oversees the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. “We must use the tools at our disposal to upgrade the physical infrastructure of our schools and train our school staff how to recognize and respond to the early warning signs that can lead to public safety threats. We know our students must feel safe and have a healthy mental well-being to achieve academically. Working together, we can keep our students and our schools safe.”

“What I’ve seen in my classroom is that if students don’t feel safe, if they are not supported, it’s so much harder for them to learn,” said Teacher of the Year Heather Smith. “Our commitment to giving students the best starts with looking out for their safety and well-being, and I am eager to jump into this work.”

Governor Stein’s advisory council will work across state agencies and with both state and local leaders to propose and implement policies and solutions that will improve student safety and wellbeing. It will advance recommendations, provide guidance to state agencies, work with local communities, and share best practices. The council’s first priority will be working with the General Assembly to support school systems in implementing policies that will make classrooms cell phone-free.

Click here to read Governor Stein’s executive order establishing the Council on Student Safety & Well-Being.

The members of the Advisory Council are as follows:
- Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch (co-chair)
- William L. Lassiter, Deputy Secretary for the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Public Safety (co-chair)
- Heather Smith, 2024 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year (co-chair)
- Senator David W. Craven, Jr.
- Representative Brian Biggs
- Representative Lindsey Prather
- Alan Duncan, Vice-Chair of the State Board of Education
- Bettina Umstead, Board of Education Member, Durham Public Schools
- Sharon Bell, Deputy Director, Division of Child and Family Wellbeing, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
- Natalia Botella, Director, Public Protection Section, North Carolina Department of Justice
- Dr. Ellen Essick, Section Chief for NC Healthy Schools, Department of Public Instruction
- Karen Fairley, Executive Director of Center for Safer Schools, A Division of the State Bureau of Investigation
- Anne Goldberg, School Counselor, Alamance-Burlington School System
- Tara Hardy, School Social Worker, Craven County Schools
- Roger “Chip” Hawley, Director of The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
- Emma Hodson, In-House Counsel, Pitt County Schools
- Kristie Howell, Chief Court Counselor-District 8, Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, North Carolina Department of Public Safety
- Melissa Lassen, BSN, RN, NCSN, Lead School Nurse, Chatham County Schools
- Mark McHugh, Director of Safety, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
- Dr. Shaneeka Moore-Brown, President, North Carolina Parent Teacher Association
- Asia Prince, Director of Court Programs, North Carolina Administrative Offices of the Courts
- Deputy Rhyne Rankins, School Resource Officer, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office
- Dr. Paul Smokowski, Executive Director, North Carolina Youth Violence Prevention Center
- Beckie Spears, Principal, Wilkesboro Elementary School & 2024 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year
- Mary Katherine Stiles, M.A./S.S.P., School Psychologist, Cumberland County Schools
- Justice Warren, Assistant Legal Counsel, North Carolina School Boards Association
- Julie Cecelia Werry, Scholar Advisor, Morehead-Cain Foundation
- Dr. Freddie Williamson, Superintendent of Public Schools of Robeson County
Apr 7, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –
April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint statement at the 58th Session of the UN Commission on Population and Development
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Joint statement at the 58th Session of the UN Commission on Population and Development

Joint statement on the 58th Session of the UN Commission on Population and Development delivered by Sierra Leone on Monday 7 April 2025, on behalf of Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay, Zambia and the United Kingdom.
We are making this collective statement to emphasise the urgent need for action to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3. Health is a human right and a foundation of sustainable development, driving economic growth, social cohesion, and individual dignity.

Over the past decades, significant progress has been made in many areas of health. We have seen a reduction in maternal and child mortality, expanded access to modern contraceptive methods as well as maternal and newborn medicines and commodities, improvements in adolescent health and education, addressing sexually transmitted diseases including HIV, and a decline in child and early forced marriages. These achievements give us hope for a healthier future.

However, significant challenges persist, and the urgent need for equal access to health services and opportunities for healthy lives remains out of reach for many.

Health inequalities stemming from complex, interrelated factors such as economic disparities, social exclusion, significant financial hardship, discrimination, and unequal access to resources, has a profound impact on individuals and communities. These inequalities manifest in poor health outcomes, lower life expectancy, reduced household income, and weaker national economic growth potential. Income inequality exacerbates vulnerabilities, limiting access to health services in low-income countries and disadvantaged communities. Social disparities rooted in gender, race, age, class, religion, and ethnicity perpetuate stigma, violence, and adverse health determinants.

Economic disparities within and among countries remain significant, impacting the lives of many individuals. Far too many people are unable to access essential health services or are forced to forgo care due to unaffordability. Rising out-of-pocket health costs are pushing millions into poverty, hindering the realisation of Universal Health Coverage. Conflicts and climate change are straining health systems and the health workforce, contributing to stagnating maternal mortality rates, growing mental health challenges, and the inability of health systems to cope with the rise of non-communicable diseases.

Equitable, inclusive, and resilient health systems are essential to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being. It is imperative to prioritize universally accessible, quality, and comprehensive primary healthcare services. Sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights must enable individuals to make free and informed decisions about their health and their lives. Addressing the social determinants of health – such as poverty, malnutrition, education, water and sanitation, and gender inequality – is critical for achieving inclusive economic growth that strengthens and benefits all of society.

The health and well-being of adolescents and youth also demands greater attention – they require better access to health services, education, and information that enable them to make informed decisions about their lives.

Investing in health, particularly sexual and reproductive health, is not just a matter of well-being, but also a powerful driver of economic growth. UNFPA estimates that allocating an additional $79 billion by 2030 to expand maternal health and family planning services could yield $660 billion in economic benefits by 2050—preventing 400 million unplanned pregnancies, 1 million maternal deaths, 6 million stillbirths, and 4 million newborn deaths, while also enhancing workforce participation and economic productivity (UNFPA, 2022). Similarly, closing the women’s health gap more broadly could further accelerate economic progress, with the World Economic Forum projecting a potential boost of at least $1 trillion annually to the global economy by 2040.

Greater investments in health infrastructure, workforce capacity, and innovative solutions like digital health can improve service delivery and expand access to services. Strengthening and expanding the global health workforce is at the heart of this. We must address health workforce shortages, ensure equitable distribution, enhance training and pay attention to sustainable retention strategies.

It is vital that we, as policymakers, health organizations, and civil society, address disparities within and among countries, ensuring that people in vulnerable situations, including women, children, older persons, migrants, people with disabilities, and those in extreme poverty, have access to quality, comprehensive health services without financial hardship and discrimination. Our role in promoting responsive health systems that cater to the unique needs of at-risk individuals are key to sustainable and inclusive progress.

A healthier population is central to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The ICPD’s Programme of Action has guided countries toward inclusive, equitable policies advancing health and gender equality. By strengthening health systems and addressing inequalities, we can work toward a world where all people can live healthy, productive and fulfilling lives.

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Published 7 April 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Leads Canada In Organ And Tissue Donation

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on April 7, 2025

Awareness is Growing in the Province

Saskatchewan will promote and celebrate National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month (NOTDAM) this April with a variety of activities, as well as commemorating Green Shirt Day (GSD) on April 7 to honor Logan Boulet, who died in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash and whose legacy inspired nearly 150,000 Canadians to register as organ donors.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority’s Organ Donation Program has seen a remarkable 75 per cent increase in deceased organ donors in the 2023 calendar year compared to the previous year. According to the latest report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, for the first time ever, Saskatchewan has achieved the highest rate of deceased organ donors in the entire country, with 28.9 donors per million population.

“This is a remarkable milestone, considering that in 2014, the rate was just 7.2 donors per million,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “It is a testament to the growing awareness Saskatchewan residents have of organ and tissue donation and their commitment to saving lives. Increased participation in events like Green Shirt Day and the illumination of landmarks in green reflect the province’s dedication to this vital cause.”

The Government of Saskatchewan has committed increased funding to enhance kidney health across the province. The 2025-26 Budget has allocated an additional $319,000 to the Saskatchewan Heath Authority (SHA) Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplant program in ongoing support for staff who are essential to the program’s continued success. This budget also includes a significant investment of nearly $4.3 million to strengthen kidney health programs, with a focus on expanding and stabilizing dialysis services across the province. This funding will support the addition of nearly 30 full-time staff in Regina, Saskatoon and five rural locations. The allocation of these positions will help expand services at the Meadow Lake, North Battleford, and Fort Qu’Appelle dialysis units, while also elevating existing operations in Saskatoon, Tisdale, Moose Jaw and Regina. These enhancements help to ensure kidney patients receive timely, high-quality care, improving access to essential services throughout the province.

“We honour the incredible work of our organ transplant and donation physicians, along with our dedicated health care teams, through efforts that raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation,” Cockrill said. “Choosing to register as an organ and tissue donor, or as a living donor, is an act of great generosity. We urge everyone to have a conversation with their loved ones about their decision to become a donor and join our provincial registry.”

On Monday, April 7, Members of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly will wear green in support of organ and tissue donors (OTD) and share photos using the #GreenShirtDay #LoganBouletEffect hashtags to spread the word on social media.

The T.C. Douglas Building in Regina will be illuminated with green lighting from April 7-11, joining other landmarks across Canada in showing support for this important cause and inspiring new organ and tissue donors.

This year, Saskatchewan is once again participating in the national ‘Great Actions Leave a Mark’ campaign which showcases living organ donors, recipients and physicians from Saskatchewan who will be featured on givelifesask.ca.

View the personal stories of living organ donors and recipients as well as physicians from Saskatchewan at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/accessing-health-care-services/organ-and-tissue-donor-registry/personal-stories/great-actions-leave-a-mark.

With a clear understanding of a loved one’s wishes, it is easier for families facing tragedy to make the decision to donate if approached by a Donor Coordinator. One organ donor can save up to eight lives and one tissue donor can help 75 people.

Anyone over the age of 16 is eligible to register their decision to be an organ and tissue donor and request information about the process of becoming a living organ donor through the Saskatchewan Organ and Tissue Donor Registry, available at saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/accessing-health-care-services/organ-and-tissue-donor-registry.

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MIL OSI Canada News –

April 8, 2025