NewzIntel.com

Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Charges laid over Symonds Street crash, investigation continuing

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police are continuing to investigate a crash on Symonds Steet in central Auckland on Monday afternoon.

    Auckland City Road Policing Manager acting Inspector Scott Jones says five pedestrians were injured in the crash, two of which were treated at the scene.

    “One man remains in a serious but stable condition in Auckland City Hospital, with two others recovering at home.”

    Acting Inspector Jones says the 20-year-old driver has been arrested and charged with three counts of careless driving causing injury.

    He has also been forbidden to drive.

    “The driver has been bailed to appear in the Auckland District Court on 28 March,” acting Inspector Jones says.

    “Our investigation is continuing into the circumstances of the crash, and we cannot rule out further charges being laid.”

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Development and Promotion of Tourist Sites

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 4:05PM by PIB Delhi

    Development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, is undertaken by the respective State Government/UT Administration. The Ministry of Tourism complements the efforts of States/UTs by developing and promoting various tourism products of the country, including religious and cultural tourism through various schemes and initiatives.

    The Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD)’ and ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development in the country by extending financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations.

    The Ministry of Tourism had undertaken a third party impact assessment of Swadesh Darshan (Integrated Development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits) through National Productivity Council in 2019. The study states that ‘Swadesh Darshan Scheme’ has been able to give a fillip to livelihood opportunities and create employment for the local communities in construction phase.

    The Ministry of Tourism after a comprehensive review has now revamped this scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations.

    The Swadesh and PRASHAD Schemes aim to boost local economies and create jobs by developing infrastructure, marketing destinations, and supporting community-based tourism.

    Ministry of Tourism has also been providing financial assistance to State Governments/ UT Administrations for organizing fairs/festivals and tourism related events under its Domestic Promotion & Publicity including Hospitality (DPPH) Scheme.

    Ministry launched the ‘Chalo India’ campaign during its participation in World Tourism Market held in London in November 2025 to encourage the Indian diaspora to become Incredible India ambassadors and encourage their non-Indian friends to visit India. As an incentive under this initiative gratis e-tourist visa for foreign visitors traveling to India is granted, the program is valid till 31 March 2025.

    Ministry of Home Affairs has relaxed the Protected Area Permit (PAP)/Restricted Area Permit (RAP) for a further period of 5 Years i.e. till 31.12.2027 for the identified Islands in the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

    Ministry of Home Affairs has issued relaxation of PAP/RAP for a further period of 5 years beyond 31.12.2022 in the states of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.

    This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    ***

    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com

    (Release ID: 2114405) Visitor Counter : 67

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Court of Justice of the European Union decision and the need to disclose vaccine purchase conditions – E-002641/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    As the Commission pointed out in its reply to Written Question E-000814/2023[1], in line with the EU Vaccines Strategy[2], the Commission and the Member States have taken a common EU approach to securing COVID-19 vaccine supplies and facilitating their distribution.

    An Agreement[3] was concluded between the Commission and the Member States allowing the Commission to procure COVID-19 vaccines on behalf of the Member States and related procedures.

    This Agreement established a Steering Board, where all Member States are represented, to provide guidance throughout the evaluation process, as well as a Joint Negotiation Team composed of Commission officials and Member States representatives to carry out the negotiations.

    In accordance with the Agreement, individual Commissioners, including the President of the Commission, did not have any role in negotiations.

    Agreements concluded by the Commission on behalf of the Member States have been signed by the Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, following a decision of the Commission as a college.

    • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-000814-ASW_EN.html
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0245
    • [3]  COM(2020)4192 final: https://commission.europa.eu/publications/commissions-centralised-eu-approach_en
    Last updated: 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Derogation in Directive 2009/120/EC – E-000075/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Directive 2009/120/EC[1], amending Directive 2001/83/EC[2], excludes vaccines against infectious diseases from the definition of gene therapy medicinal products.

    mRNA vaccines authorised in the EU against COVID-19 are not genetically modified organisms and do not contain genes as their active substance. They are not used with the aim to restore, correct, or modify human genes.

    mRNA vaccines are biological medicines regulated under the EU pharmaceutical legislation to ensure their quality, safety, and efficacy.

    Under the legislation, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) may also recommend additional measures, such as long-term monitoring, based on specific risks following a case-by-case assessment[3].

    The safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines authorised in the EU against COVID-19 have been rigorously assessed through clinical trials and post-authorisation monitoring.

    The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Member States continuously monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure any possible risks are detected and managed as early as possible[4]. All data confirm that COVID-19 vaccines have a favourable safety profile.

    Regarding safety concerns in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine trials in infants, these are not linked to the mRNA technology[5] but rather to challenges previously observed with other RSV vaccines in this age group.

    Currently, RSV vaccines are only authorised for use in adults[6], with trials ongoing to assess their safety and efficacy in infants and toddlers.

    The Commission remains committed to ensuring that all medicines, including vaccines, authorised in the EU meet the highest standards of safety, efficacy, and quality, in full compliance with the EU pharmaceutical legislation.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/120/oj/eng
    • [2] Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use (OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 67, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2001/83/oj
    • [3] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/committees/committee-medicinal-products-human-use-chmp
    • [4] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/public-health-threats/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-19-medicines/safety-covid-19-vaccines
    • [5] https://www.fda.gov/media/184301/download
    • [6] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/abrysvo; https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/arexvy; https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/mresvia

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF condemns Israeli strike on Nasser hospital in Gaza, calls for protection of health facilities

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    JERUSALEM  – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) strongly condemns Israel’s strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza—the largest remaining functioning hospital in the Gaza Strip, where MSF teams work. 

    On 23 March, Israeli forces targeted the hospital’s inpatient surgical department, killing two people, according to the Ministry of Health.  MSF teams confirmed there were several people injured, one of which was admitted to our trauma unit, and that severe damage was done to the building. This attack, shows a total disregard for the protection of medical facilities, endangered patients and medical staff and the very provision of healthcare. As Israeli forces escalate their operations in Gaza once again, MSF calls for the respect and protection of healthcare facilities, patients and medical staff in Gaza, where the health system has been all but destroyed. 

    “Strikes such as these are horrific for staff and patients” says Claire Nicolet, MSF head of emergencies in Gaza. “We cannot go back to repeated attacks on health care facilities when the health system in Gaza is already hanging by a thread, and no supplies have entered in weeks.”
    While Gaza’s healthcare system has collapsed, and the medical needs of people continue to skyrocket, medical workers are yet again forced to fear for their lives while providing care. At Nasser hospital, two MSF colleagues, who were working in different hospital departments, described panic among patients at the time of the attack.
     

    ” The distance between us and the explosion was so close that we could’ve been hit too,” explains an MSF nurse who works in another ward in Nasser hospital and was close by when the strike happened. “Our colleagues, medical staff, patients and their caretakers were all terrified.” 
    During Israel’s war on Gaza, MSF has witnessed relentless attacks on health facilities, a complete disregard for patients, medical workers and International Humanitarian Law (IHL), resulting in the systematic dismantling of Gaza’s health system.  Not a single hospital in the Gaza Strip is currently fully functional, and only 21 out of the enclave’s 36 hospitals are partially functioning, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

    As one of the last main hospitals in southern Gaza, Nasser hospital is providing care for people with severe burns and trauma injuries, newborns, and pregnant women. 
    Since returning in mid-May 2024, MSF teams have been supporting the emergency, pediatric, and maternity departments at Nasser hospital, as well as running a burn and trauma unit. In February 2024, MSF teams were forced to flee after the hospital was shelled by Israeli forces.
    Furthermore, Nasser Hospital as other health facilities in Gaza is facing several challenges of supplies, including hygiene items, medication and surgical items, while Israeli authorities continue their siege on the Strip for over 20 days. Due to the numerous influxes of patients from recent bombings, MSF stocks are decreasing faster than expected, and the blockade is making it impossible for our teams to restock vital items such as antibiotics, painkillers and anesthetics.
    In a separate incident on May 24, MSF teams in Al-Mawasi primary health care clinic were forced to close the emergency room, evacuate the facility and suspend activities for the day due to close-by shootings and shelling. Healthcare facilities, patients and medical staff must be protected.

    MSF calls once again for the immediate restoration of the ceasefire and for the resumption of the entry of essential aid and basic supplies, which people in Gaza desperately need. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters and Senate Committee Ranking Members Demand Immediate Review by Agency Inspectors General of Trump Administration’s Mass Dismissals of Federal Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led 16 Senate Committee Ranking Members in a letter to the Inspectors General of 23 federal agencies, pressing for details on the impact of President Trump’s sweeping and unprecedented dismissal of tens of thousands of federal employees. The senators asked the Inspectors General to review the Trump Administration’s actions, citing potential violations of federal laws and procedures, which the senators warn could harm Americans’ access to vital government services and increase waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

    “The decision to terminate thousands of employees across multiple federal agencies will impose undue hardship on millions of Americans who rely on their services,” wrote the senators. “The loss of experienced agency staff may risk causing serious disruptions to nearly 73 million Americans who rely on the Social Security Administration (SSA) to administer retiree and disability benefits and 9.1 million veterans who depend on the Department of Veteran Affairs (V.A.), many of which rely on the V.A. for life saving medical treatments and care.”  

    Highlighting the devastating consequences of these mass firings, the senators underscored the Trump Administration’s layoffs have already disrupted critical operations at agencies that millions of Americans depend on for survival. 

    “Among the 2,400 employees fired from the V.A. since Mr. Trump’s inauguration are workers who purchase medical supplies, schedule appointments and arrange rides for patients to see their doctors,” wrote the senators, citing a NY Times report. “Additionally, taxpayers seeking in-person assistance as they navigate the 2025 filing season may find the support centers they previously relied on completely relocated or shuttered. That risk is a direct consequence of the Administration’s mass dismissals and decision to terminate over 100 IRS offices with Tax Assistance Centers (TAC) – which provide free, in-person assistance for those seeking it.”

    The senators are requesting that IGs examine whether these dismissals violated agency policies and assess the damage to agency missions, public safety, and national security, calling for an initial review to be completed within 60 days, with findings made available to the public to ensure transparency and accountability.  

    In addition to Peters, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators and Ranking Members Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Special Committee on Aging, Patty Murray (D-WA), Committee on Appropriations, Jack Reed (D-RI), Committee on Armed Services, Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Committee on Environment and Public Works, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Committee on Finance, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Committee on Foreign Relations, Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Committee on the Judiciary, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Committee on the Budget and Ed Markey (D-MA), Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

    The full text of the letter can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Menstrual products: transparency and health risks – E-001083/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001083/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Saskia Bricmont (Verts/ALE), Mélissa Camara (Verts/ALE), Diana Riba i Giner (Verts/ALE), Majdouline Sbai (Verts/ALE), Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus (S&D), Jaume Asens Llodrà (Verts/ALE), Manon Aubry (The Left), Estelle Ceulemans (S&D), Nicolae Ştefănuță (Verts/ALE), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Vladimir Prebilič (Verts/ALE), Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová (Renew), Billy Kelleher (Renew), Jessika Van Leeuwen (PPE), Mounir Satouri (Verts/ALE), Merja Kyllönen (The Left), Anthony Smith (The Left), Marie Toussaint (Verts/ALE), Marit Maij (S&D), Lucia Yar (Renew), Catarina Vieira (Verts/ALE), Pierre Jouvet (S&D), Maria Walsh (PPE), Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (Renew), Emma Fourreau (The Left), Irene Montero (The Left), Irena Joveva (Renew), Emma Rafowicz (S&D), Sigrid Friis (Renew), Murielle Laurent (S&D), Martin Schirdewan (The Left), Marc Angel (S&D), Gabriela Firea (S&D), Sara Matthieu (Verts/ALE), Elisabeth Grossmann (S&D), Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE), Benedetta Scuderi (Verts/ALE), Christophe Clergeau (S&D), Leila Chaibi (The Left)

    Menstrual products in the EU are currently regulated under the General Product Safety Regulation[1], which does not establish specific standards and, in some cases, provides a lower level of requirements compared to jurisdictions outside the EU. Menstrual products are a distinct category due to their frequent and prolonged use – on average five days a month, every month, for approximately 40 years – in contact with vaginal skin, which is more permeable than general skin. Various independent studies have identified potentially hazardous substances in menstrual products. However, there is no harmonised analytical method within the EU for chemical analysis, or regulation of components used.

    • 1.How does the Commission plan to address the specificities of menstrual products, given their prolonged and repeated use in contact with highly permeable vaginal skin, and would it consider creating a specific regulatory category for menstrual products, recognising their unique usage patterns and potential risks?
    • 2.What measures will the Commission take to ensure that menstrual products include clear usage instructions to mitigate risks such as toxic shock syndrome, inflammation from added scents, and endocrine disruption?
    • 3.Would the Commission support research on the composition and safety of menstrual products through EU programmes such as EU4Health, Horizon Europe or the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme?

    Submitted: 12.3.2025

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2023/988 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 on general product safety, amending Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Directive (EU) 2020/1828 of the European Parliament and the Council, and repealing Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 87/357/EEC OJ L 135, 23.5.2023, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/988/oj.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: World Tuberculosis (TB) Day – 2025

    Source: Government of India

    World Tuberculosis (TB) Day – 2025

    Towards a TB-Free India

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 7:26PM by PIB Delhi

    “The decline in TB incidence is an outcome of India’s dedicated and innovative efforts. Through a collective spirit, we will keep working towards a TB-free India.”

    • Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi [1]

    Introduction[2]

    World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is observed every year on March 24th to raise awareness about the need to eliminate TB, the world’s deadliest infectious disease. The day marks the discovery of the TB-causing bacterium by Dr. Robert Koch in 1882. India has been observing this day since 1982, along with the global community. Despite progress, TB still impacts millions, posing serious health, social, and economic challenges.[3] This year’s theme, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver”, highlights the importance of stronger commitments and action, especially against rising drug-resistant TB.[4]

    India’s goal to eliminate TB by 2025 is one of the world’s most ambitious health missions. Under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), India has strengthened its TB response with advanced diagnostics, innovative policies, private sector partnerships, and a patient-first approach. Key drivers include record-high case reporting, better diagnostics, financial support for patients, and strong multi-sector collaboration. However, with global TB funding declining and shifting priorities, continued commitment is vital to meet India’s 2025 target and the UN’s goal of ending TB by 2030.

    Despite global efforts, TB remains a major public health challenge worldwide, with India bearing the highest burden. Understanding both the global and national estimates is key to gauging the scale of the disease and the urgency of India’s elimination mission.

     [5]                                                                                         [6]

    KEY INITIATIVES BY THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT TO ELIMINATE TB

    To tackle this significant burden, the Government of India has implemented a range of focused strategies under its National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP). These key initiatives under NTEP aim to strengthen diagnosis, treatment, and prevention efforts, accelerating progress toward a TB-free India.

    National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP)[7]

    In 2020, the Government of India renamed the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP). This reflects India’s goal to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) by 2025, five years before the global target of 2030. Here are the key targets for the Eradication of TB

    The NTEP follows the National Strategic Plan (2017-2025), focusing on four key actions:
     

     Detect – Treat – Prevent – Build (DTPB) to control and eliminate TB in India.

    Objectives [8]

    Achievements of the NTEP Programme[9]

    The NTEP is making strong strides toward eliminating TB by 2025. Here are its key achievements:

    • The programme recorded its highest-ever case notifications, reporting 25.5 lakh TB cases in 2023 and 26.07 lakh cases in 2024.
    • First-Ever Indigenious TB Burden Model: India’s own mathematical model for state-wise TB estimates.[10]
    • Incentives for ASHAs, TB Champions & Caregivers: Strengthening patient support systems.
    • 3 Lakh Additional Cases Found via House-to-House Screening: Focus on high-risk groups.
    • Medical College Task Force Active: 560 colleges supporting TB detection & research.
    • Sub-National Disease-Free Certification Implemented: Regular surveys, drug sales tracking, and under-reporting assessments.
    • Strong Multi-Sectoral Partnerships: Collaboration with ministries, industries, NGOs & technical bodies.

    According to WHO’s Global TB Report, India has made significant progress in fighting tuberculosis. Under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), the incidence rate of TB cases have dropped by nearly 17.7%, from 237 cases per 1 lakh people in 2015 to 195 in 2023. TB-related deaths have also reduced, falling from 28 to 22 per 1 lakh people during the same period.

    [11]

    One of its key achievements has been reducing the number of missing TB cases from 15 lakh in 2015 to just 2.5 lakh in 2023 with a decrease of 83%.

    Under NTEP, India has rolled out improved drug-resistant TB treatments, including a safer, shorter all-oral Bedaquiline regimen, boosting success rates from 68% (2020) to 75% (2022). The mBPaL regimen (Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid) offers 80% success for MDR-TB, cutting treatment to six months.

    Components Of the NTEP Programme

     

    Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (PMTBMBA) [12]

    The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA), one of the components of NTEP, aims to unite communities, businesses, and institutions to support TB patients and their families. It focuses on providing nutritional, diagnostic, and vocational support to improve treatment outcomes, reduce illness and deaths, and fast-track India’s goal of TB elimination. PMTBMBA is also recognized as the world’s largest crowd-sourcing initiative for nutritional support to TB patients.

    Key goals include:

    • Offering additional care and support to TB-affected individuals.
    • Promoting active community participation.
    • Mobilizing CSR contributions from businesses and institutions.

    Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY)[13]

    The NIKSHAY – TB Notification Incentive for the Private Sector, launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, incentivizes private healthcare providers to report TB cases, improving TB surveillance and treatment.

    Under the Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY), financial support for TB patients’ nutrition has been increased from ₹500 to ₹1,000 per month, providing ₹3,000 to ₹6,000 per patient throughout treatment. The patient must be registered and notified on the NIKSHAY portal.

    The government has introduced Energy Dense Nutritional Supplementation (EDNS) for underweight TB patients (BMI < 18.5). Around 12 lakh patients will receive these supplements during the first two months of treatment to improve recovery rates and overall health outcomes.

    Ni-Kshay Mitra initiative – Under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA), the Ni-Kshay Mitra initiative encourages individuals, NGOs, corporates, faith-based organizations, and others to adopt TB patients for at least six months, offering them nutritional, social, or economic support.

    The scope of this initiative has now been expanded to include food baskets for household contacts of TB patients, aiming to boost immunity, lower infection risk, and reduce families’ financial burden. Additionally, over ₹3,202 crores have been disbursed to 1.13 crore beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY), supporting better nutrition and treatment outcomes. To further strengthen these efforts, the government has committed an additional ₹1,040 crores (shared 60:40 between Centre and States), ensuring enhanced support and reduced TB-related mortality.

    Ni-kshay Portal

    Ni-kshay Portal is a web-based patient management and surveillance system under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP). Developed by the Central TB Division, MoHFW, in collaboration with NIC and WHO India, it helps health workers in both public and private sectors to register TB cases, order tests, record treatment, monitor adherence, and transfer cases. It also serves as India’s National TB Surveillance System, ensuring real-time data reporting to the government.[14]

    Source – As of 23rd March, 2025 – https://dashboards.nikshay.in/community_support/overview

    Over 1.51 crore TB patients are receiving treatment, with approximately 1.18 crore consenting to receive support. Around 1.18 crore commitments have been made by Ni-kshay Mitras, and over 2.59 lakh Mitras are registered. The initiative emphasizes public participation in TB elimination, resonating with the Prime Minister’s call for humanity. More details can be found on the Ni-kshay Dashboard[15]

    Conclusion

    India is making steady progress in its goal to eliminate TB by 2025 through focused interventions under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). Key initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA) and Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) are driving community participation and ensuring nutritional support, improving treatment adherence. The Ni-kshay Portal further strengthens surveillance and patient care. To sustain momentum, increased investments, innovation, and partnerships are crucial. With continued commitment, India is poised to become a global example in the fight against TB.

    References

    World Tuberculosis (TB) Day – 2025

    ***

    Santosh Kumar / Ritu Kataria / Vatsla Srivastava

    (Release ID: 2114549) Visitor Counter : 50

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda Inaugurates World TB Day 2025 Summit

    Source: Government of India

    Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda Inaugurates World TB Day 2025 Summit

    Our TB elimination strategy is based on ‘whole of the society’ and ‘whole of the government’ approach: Shri JP Nadda

    “Over 13.46 lakh Nikshay Shivirs, or community screening and awareness camps were organised in the districts bringing essential TB services directly to the doorsteps of crores of people”

    Under the 100-day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, 12.97 crore people were screened for TB with over 7.19 lakh TB patients notified across India

    Approximately 2.85 lakh of the notified patients were asymptomatic, who might have otherwise gone undetected without the stratified screening strategy of the campaign

    With a proven blueprint derived from the campaign’s success, Union Health Minister announces nationwide expansion of the campaign, highlighting its efficient case finding, leveraging of technology and ensuring timely treatment initiation

    State/UTs awarded for exemplary performance during the 100 Days intensified TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and in the TB Mukt Gram Panchyat Initiative

    A digital Coffee Table Book and Guidance document on ‘differentiated TB care’ launched at the event

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 7:26PM by PIB Delhi

    “Our TB elimination strategy is based on ‘whole of the society’ and ‘whole of the government’ approach”. This was stated by Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare during his address to the World TB Day 2025 summit, here today. The theme for this year’s World TB Day summit is “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver”.

    The Union Minister reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to achieving a TB-Mukt Bharat in his address. While presiding over the Summit, he lauded the 100 Days Intensified TB Elimination campaign’s strategy to deploy cutting-edge technologies, including handheld X-ray units and upfront Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT) some of which were deployed using mobile vans (Nikshay Vahans). This helped the campaign shatter geographical barriers and brought vital screening and diagnostic services to remote and underserved areas. He mentioned that over 13.46 lakh Nikshay Shivirs, or community screening and awareness camps were organised in the districts bringing essential TB services directly to the doorsteps of crores of people.

    The Union Minister noted that TB treatment coverage in India has increased from 59% to 85%. He informed that 12.97 crore people were screened for TB with 7.19 lakh new cases detected. Among the notified TB cases, approximately 2.85 lakh were asymptomatic cases who might have otherwise gone undetected without the stratified screening strategy of the campaign. More than 5,000 MLAs and 10,000 Gram Panchayats participated in the campaign. Citing these successes, he announced the Ministry’s plans to scale the campaign nationwide. Stating that TB is not over yet, he announced further scaling up of the TB elimination campaign to cover all districts in India.

    Shri Nadda highlighted that 22 line ministries supported the 100-days campaign and more than 30,000 elected representatives were mobilized for the common cause, demonstrating that the fight against TB is a collective mission. He informed that in just 100 days, over 1,05,181 new Ni-kshay Mitras have registered and distributed over 3,06,368 food baskets among TB patients and their family members.

    He noted that during the recently concluded 100-Day Intensified TB Elimination Campaign, modern technology was leveraged to improve case detection, reduce diagnostic delays, and ensure timely treatment initiation, particularly for vulnerable populations. “The campaign strategically screened vulnerable populations, including asymptomatic individuals, household contacts of TB patients, those with a history of TB, undernourished individuals, and those with chronic comorbidities such as diabetes and HIV”.

    Shri Nadda stated that India is one of the top global funders on TB research and congratulated ICMR for their significant research on TB. He highlighted some innovations like RT-PCR machines used during the Covid pandemic which is adapted for use in TB screening. Similarly, indigenous diagnostic kits developed by ICMR not only reduce the cost for TB detection but also improve efficiency by conducting 32 tests in one go. “Hand held x-ray machines with AI support have also played a huge role in detecting asymptomatic TB”, he added.

    He concluded his address by thanking the invaluable support and involvement of elected representatives and community leaders, MPs, MLAs, Gram Pradhans and local leaders which was instrumental in raising awareness and mobilizing communities against this disease. “Their dedication has fostered a sense of ownership and accountability in the community, one of the many unique strategies India has adopted to fight TB”, he stated.

    Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Health Secretary said, “World TB Day is a day where we remind ourselves that this disease still exists while we can eliminate it”. She further stated that this is a day to chart out our task ahead. “All our stakeholders have put in a lot of effort towards the goal of eliminating TB and this should continue until we achieve the goal of TB Mukt Bharat”, she added.

    A digital Coffee Table Book on TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, capturing and showcasing the implementation of the Abhiyaan through photos from the field, was unveiled on the occasion. The Union Health Minister also launched a ‘Guidance Document on Differentiated TB Care’ to ensure timely and effective care for high-risk patients. This document provides guidelines for triaging high-risk patients (for instance, those suffering from severe undernutrition or respiratory insufficiency) at diagnosis and refers to a comprehensive treatment plan for them.

    State/UTs were awarded for the exemplary performance during the 100 Days intensified TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and also for their performance in the TB Mukt Gram Panchyat Initiative.

    Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and DG, ICMR; Dr Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services (DGHS); Smt. Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission; and senior officials of the Union Health Ministry were present on the occasion. The event also witnessed participation from NTEP Staff from State and Districts, TB Champions, District Magistrates, District Collectors, MD NHMs, Medical Institutions, Civil society, WHO Consultants and development partners.

    ***

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India Achieves Milestone in TB Research: Dr. Jitendra Singh Announces completion of 10,000 Genome Sequences of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

    Source: Government of India

    India Achieves Milestone in TB Research: Dr. Jitendra Singh Announces completion of 10,000 Genome Sequences of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

    Genomic Breakthrough to Transform TB Diagnosis: Union Minister Highlights Faster, Precision Treatment

    Whole-of-Nation Approach and Public Participation Key to TB Eradication: Dr. Jitendra Singh

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 7:24PM by PIB Delhi

    NEW DELHI, March 24 : In a significant breakthrough in the fight against tuberculosis, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced the completion of genome sequencing of 10,000 isolates of “Mycobacterium tuberculosis” at a summit organised on the occasion of “World TB Day” at Vigyan Bhawan here.

    The achievement marks a major stride in India’s commitment to eradicating TB ahead of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2030 targets.

    Addressing a gathering of leading medical academicians, health scientists, researchers, and senior officials, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the government’s ambitious efforts to eliminate tuberculosis five years before the WHO’s global goal. He underscored the importance of collaborative research and the need for a whole-of-science, whole-of-government, and whole-of-mission approach to achieve this target.

    The genome sequencing initiative is part of the Dare2eraD TB program (Data Driven Research to Eradicate TB), launched on March 24, 2022, which focuses on data-driven research to eradicate TB. A key component of this initiative is the Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance (InTGS) Consortium, spearheaded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in collaboration with major clinical institutions. The program aims to sequence over 32,000 TB isolates to identify drug resistance mutations and improve treatment outcomes.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that the deep genomic dataset being developed has the potential to revolutionize TB diagnostics and drug resistance prediction. He noted that genome sequencing can significantly improve diagnostic accuracy and enable faster resistance profiling, reducing the time needed to determine effective treatments from weeks to mere hours or days. This, he said, will help in tailoring treatment regimens to individual patient needs and reduce the risk of treatment failure or relapse.

    Drawing from his own medical background, Dr. Jitendra Singh reflected on the historical challenges of TB treatment in India, from the stigma surrounding the disease to the evolution of medical advancements. He called for greater community engagement, emphasizing that TB eradication is not just a scientific or medical challenge but a societal one. “Unless we involve common people, raise their consciousness, and evoke their participation, our fight against TB will remain incomplete,” he said.

    Appreciating the pioneering scientific advancements and their instrumental role in fight against tuberculosis, Hon’ble Minister said that while phenotypic drug-susceptibility tests and M. tuberculosis culture are generally regarded as the gold standard for diagnosis, genome sequencing technologies are increasingly being applied for strain identification and drug resistance prediction, providing valuable insights for clinical decision-making and surveillance activities.

    He also added that the adoption of molecular methods for TB diagnosis and resistance testing remains uneven, significantly influenced by socioeconomic disparities across countries. To fight the incessant TB, it is important to propel these innovations to scale and embed them into real-world implementation.

    Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary DBT, hailed the completion of 10,000 genome sequences as a milestone achievement, adding that the data will be instrumental in strengthening India’s TB surveillance and diagnostic capabilities. He stressed the importance of translating this research into practical applications that can be scaled up for real-world impact.

    The event also saw the participation of senior officials including Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General CSIR; Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General ICMR; and Dr. M. Srinivas, Director AIIMS, among others.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh appreciated the proactive and visionary initiatives to support transformative innovations for a more robust pipeline of tools that can overcome the translational challenges and better prepare India to address TB than ever before.

    With India accounting for a significant portion of the global TB burden, this breakthrough in genome sequencing is expected to bolster national and global efforts to combat the disease. The government’s continued investment in cutting-edge research, coupled with policy interventions and community participation, could pave the way for a TB-free India well ahead of its 2025 target.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH actively follows up on incident of falling examination lamp at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Tsuen Wan

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Department of Health (DH) today (March 24) is actively following up and investigating an incident of a falling examination lamp in a treatment room at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Tsuen Wan (HKAH-TW). In addition, the DH has issued a special alert to inform the stakeholders in Hong Kong that if they are using the same model (i.e. Polaris® 50) of examination lamp, they should contact the local supplier.

    According to the HKAH-TW’s report, upon a doctor finished a procedure for a patient in a treatment room of the Urgent Care Centre last night, the examination lamp suddenly fell while a healthcare staff assisting the doctor was trying to adjust it, hitting both of them. Upon examination, neither suffered any major injuries and did not require hospitalisation for treatment. The patient, who was in the treatment room at the time of the incident, was not injured.

    After the incident, the hospital stopped using the room in question in the evening of the same day, and asked the supplier to immediately send staff to inspect all examination lamps of the same model in the hospital to ensure safety. As a precautionary measure, the HKAH-TW has also requested the supplier to inspect all lights manufactured by the same supplier (Draeger Hong Kong Limited) but of different models in the HKAH-TW. The DH has requested the HKAH-TW to submit an investigation report. The DH will carefully assess the findings of the investigation and the measures taken by the hospital, and take appropriate follow-up actions to ensure patient safety and prevent similar incidents.

    On the other hand, the DH has contacted the local supplier of the device to learn more about the incident. Preliminary information indicated that the medical device in question is a Class I general medical device under the Medical Device Administrative Control System. The DH will notify stakeholders of the incident, including the Hospital Authority, all private hospitals, licensed private healthcare facilities and relevant medical professional bodies, and inform them to contact the local supplier, Draeger Hong Kong Limited, as soon as possible if they are using the device concerned. The DH will also issue a special alert on the Medical Device Division’s website. The DH has requested Draeger Hong Kong Limited in writing today to proactively notify the affected customers and take follow-up action.

    The DH would continue to liaise closely with the HKAH-TW and the supplier concerned, and follow up on the case to safeguard patient safety.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LegCo to consider Courts (Remote Hearing) Bill

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LegCo to consider Courts (Remote Hearing) Bill 
         The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (March 26) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Courts (Remote Hearing) Bill will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
     
         Meanwhile, the Electoral Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2025, the Buildings Energy Efficiency (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Supplementary Medical Professions (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Merchant Shipping (Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships) Bill will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bills will be adjourned.
     
         On Government motion, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development will move a proposed resolution under the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation Ordinance to resolve that the maximum percentage prescribed for section 13(2) of the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation Ordinance is 95 per cent. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 1.
     
         On Members’ motions, Mr Dennis Leung will move a motion on accelerating the development of a smart government to better assist the public in integrating into the life in the Greater Bay Area. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Chan Siu-hung and Mr Steven Ho will move separate amendments to Mr Leung’s motion.
     
         Mr Tommy Cheung will move a motion on reviewing the effectiveness of the small class teaching mode in primary and secondary schools. The motion is set out in Appendix 3. Mr Chu Kwok-keung will move an amendment to Mr Cheung’s motion.
     
         Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
     
         The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hkIssued at HKT 19:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme Implemented in The Country, Including Odisha

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 4:34PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for welfare of minorities is implemented in the country, including Odisha, as an overarching programme. The programme covers various schemes/initiatives of the Government implemented by various Ministries/Departments, with an aim to ensure that underprivileged and weaker sections of six centrally notified minority communities have equal opportunities for availing the various Government welfare Schemes.

    The schemes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs covered under the 15 Point Programme are exclusively meant for six notified minorities. Further, 15% of the outlays and targets, to the extent possible, of schemes/ initiatives implemented by other participating Ministries/ Departments are earmarked for notified minorities. However, the Schemes are being implemented by the respective Ministries/Departments under the saturation approach of Government. Under the saturation approach of the Government many of the components have achieved mainstreaming. Furthermore, consistent efforts are being made to improve the full delivery of benefits in the various relevant schemes for minority communities.

    The schemes of Ministry of Minority Affairs and other participating Ministries included in the Programme are as under:

    i. Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme (Ministry of Minority Affairs)

    ii. Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme (Ministry of Minority Affairs)

    iii. Merit-cum- Means based Scholarship Scheme (Ministry of Minority Affairs)

    iv. National Minorities Development Finance Corporation (NMDFC) Loan Schemes

    v. Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan (M/o Education)

    vi. Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM) (M/o Rural Development)

    vii. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramin Kaushal Yojana (M/o Rural Development)

    viii. Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (M/o Rural Development)

    ix. Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana -National Urban Livelihoods Mission (M/o Housing & Urban Affairs)

    x.  Priority Sector Lending by Banks (Department of Financial Services)

    xi.  Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (Department of Financial Services)

    xii.  POSHAN Abhiyaan (Ministry of Women & Child Development)

    xiii.  National Health Mission (Department of Health & Family Welfare)

    xiv.  Ayushman Bharat (Department of Health & Family Welfare)

    xv. National Rural Drinking Water Programme (Jal Jeevan Mission), (Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation)

    This information was given by the Union Minister of Minority Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Breast cancer screening is ripe for change. We need to assess a woman’s risk – not just her age

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carolyn Nickson, Associate Professor, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne; Adjunct Associate Professor, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney

    Pablo Heimplatz/Unsplash

    Australia’s BreastScreen program offers women regular mammograms (breast X-rays) based on their age. And this screening for breast cancer saves lives.

    But much has changed since the program was introduced in the early 90s. Technology has developed, as has our knowledge of which groups of women might be at higher risk of breast cancer. So how we screen women for breast cancer needs to adapt.

    In a recent paper, we’ve proposed a fundamental shift away from an age-based approach to a screening program that takes into account women’s risk of breast cancer.

    We argue we could save more lives if screening tests and schedules were personalised based on someone’s risk.

    We don’t yet know exactly how this might work in practice. We need to consult with all parties involved, including health professionals, government and women, and we need to begin Australian trials.

    But here’s why we need to rethink how we screen for breast cancer in Australia.

    Why does breast screening need to change?

    Australia’s BreastScreen program was introduced in 1991 and offers women regular mammograms based on their age. Women aged 50–74 are targeted, but screening is available from the age of 40.

    The program is key to Australia’s efforts to reduce the burden of breast cancer, providing more than a million screens each year.

    Women who attend BreastScreen reduce their risk of dying from breast cancer by 49% on average.

    Breast screening saves lives because it makes a big difference to find breast cancers early, before they spread to other parts of the body.

    Despite this, around 75,000 Australian women are expected to die from breast cancer over the next 20 years if we continue with current approaches to breast cancer screening and management.

    Who’s at high risk, and how best to target them?

    International evidence confirms it is possible to identify groups of women at higher risk of breast cancer. These include:

    • women with denser breasts (where there’s more glandular and fibrous tissue than fatty tissue in the breasts) are more likely to develop breast cancer, and their cancers are harder to find on standard mammograms

    • women whose mother, sisters, grandmother or aunts have had breast or ovarian cancer, especially if there are multiple relatives and the cancers occurred at young ages

    • women who have been found to carry genetic mutations that lead to a higher risk of breast cancer (including women with multiple moderate risk mutations, as indicated by what’s known as a polygenic risk score).

    For some higher-risk women, could MRI be an option?
    VesnaArt/Shutterstock

    Women in these and other high-risk groups might warrant a different form of screening. This could include screening from a younger age, screening more frequently, and offering more sensitive tests such as digital breast tomosynthesis (a 3D version of mammography), MRI or contrast-enhanced mammography (a type of mammography that uses a dye to highlight cancerous lesions).

    But we don’t yet know:

    • how to best identify women at higher risk

    • which screening tests should be offered, how often and to whom

    • how to staff and run a risk-based screening program

    • how to deliver this in a cost-effective and equitable way.

    The road ahead

    This is what we have been working on, for Cancer Council Australia, as part of the ROSA Breast project.

    This federally funded project has estimated and compared the expected outcomes and costs for a range of screening scenarios.

    For each scenario we estimated the benefits (saving lives or less intense treatment) and harms (overdiagnosis and rates of investigations in women recalled for further investigation after a screening test who are found to not have breast cancer).

    Of 160 potential screening scenarios we modelled, we shortlisted 19 which produced the best outcomes for women and were the most cost effective. The shortlisted scenarios tended to involve either targeted screening technologies for higher-risk women or screening technologies other than mammography for all screened women.

    For example, in our estimates, making no change to the target age range or screening intervals but offering a more sensitive screening test to the 20% of women deemed to be at highest risk would save 113 lives over ten years.

    Alternatively, commencing targeted screening from age 40 and offering a more sensitive screening test annually to the 20% of women at highest risk, and three-yearly screening (of the current kind) to the 30% of women at lowest risk, would save 849 lives over ten years.

    However, less frequent screening of the lower risk group was expected to lead to small increases in breast cancer deaths in that group.

    How do we best assess women for their risk of breast cancer? At this stage, there’s no one answer.
    Tint Media/Shutterstock

    We also outlined 25 recommendations to put into action, and set out a five-year roadmap of how to get there. This includes:

    • a large scale trial to find out what is feasible, effective and affordable in Australia

    • making sure women at higher risk in different parts of Australia are offered suitable options regardless of where they live and who they see

    • better data collection and reporting to support risk-based screening

    • testing how we assess women for their risk of breast cancer, including whether these assessments work as intended and make sense to women from a range of backgrounds

    • clinical studies of screening technologies to determine the best delivery models and associated costs

    • ongoing engagement with groups including women, health professionals and government.

    Breast cancer screening review out soon

    Federal health minister Mark Butler said a review of the BreastScreen program would consider our recommendations. The results of this review are expected soon.

    We’re not alone in calling for a move towards risk-based breast cancer screening. This is backed by national and international submissions to government, policy briefing documents and the Breast Cancer Network Australia.

    We’ve provided an evidence-based roadmap towards better screening for breast cancer. Now is the time to commit to this journey.

    We acknowledge Louiza Velentzis from the Daffodil Centre, and Paul Grogan and Deborah Bateson from the University of Sydney, who co-authored the paper mentioned in this article.

    Carolyn Nickson led the ROSA Project for Cancer Council Australia. She receives funding from the Australian government Department of Health and Aged Care, the Medical Research Future Fund, the National Health and Medical Research Council and Melbourne Health.

    Bruce Mann works as a surgeon at Northwestern BreastScreen in Melbourne. He was a board member of the Breast Cancer Network Australia, which has improved screening as a key strategic objective. He is director of research at Breast Cancer Trials.  If trials are done in this space, Breast Cancer Trials may be involved. He was a member of the ROSA Project coordination group and jointly chaired the project advisory groups.

    Karen Canfell was executive lead for the ROSA Project discussed in this article. She has received grants from the Australian government’s Department of Health and Aged Care and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the National Health and Medical Research Council and Medical Research Future Fund, the US National Cancer Institute and CDC, Cancer Research UK, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and government agencies in several countries. She co-leads an investigator-initiated trial of cervical screening, Compass, run by the Australian Centre for Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC), which is a government-funded not-for-profit charity. Compass receives infrastructure support from the Australian government and the ACPCC has received equipment and a funding contribution from Roche Molecular Diagnostics, USA.  She also co-leads an implementation program Elimination of Cervical Cancer in the Indo-Pacific which has received support from the Australian government and the Minderoo Foundation, and equipment donations from Cepheid and Microbix.  

    – ref. Breast cancer screening is ripe for change. We need to assess a woman’s risk – not just her age – https://theconversation.com/breast-cancer-screening-is-ripe-for-change-we-need-to-assess-a-womans-risk-not-just-her-age-252182

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WESTMORELAND COUNTY – Department of Human Services, IUP to Announce Health Care Collaboration to Train Future Physicians in Clinical Setting at Torrance State Hospital

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    March 25, 2025 – Torrance, PA

    ADVISORY – WESTMORELAND COUNTY – Department of Human Services, IUP to Announce Health Care Collaboration to Train Future Physicians in Clinical Setting at Torrance State Hospital

    DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh will join leadership from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) to announce IUP’s College of Osteopathic Medicine at Torrance State Hospital.

    Torrance State Hospital is a DHS facility that provides inpatient services for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness in a supportive and restorative environment. This partnership with IUP will educate and train future osteopathic physicians in a clinical setting at Torrance State Hospital while also addressing the urgent need for health care professionals in rural and underserved communities.

    Governor Josh Shapiro is committed to maintaining rural access to quality health care and his 2025-26 budget proposal makes critical investments that support the health care workforce and address barriers to access for Pennsylvanians in rural communities.

    WHAT:
    DHS, IUP to announce partnership for IUP’s College of Osteopathic Medicine at Torrance State Hospital

    WHEN:
    Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 1:30 PM

    WHERE:
    Greizman Classroom #2, Torrance State Hospital, 121 Longview Drive Torrance, PA 15779

    MEDIA RSVP:
    Media should email ra-pwdhspressoffice@pa.gov with the name and media outlet for the reporter who will be in attendance. Attendees will require identification to enter the hospital.

    MEDIA CONTACT:
    Brandon Cwalina, DHS – ra-pwdhspressoffice@pa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MEDIA ADVISORY: Sanders to Hold Roundtable Discussion with Student Finalists of his Fifteenth Annual State of the Union Essay Contest

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    BURLINGTON, Vt., March 24 – Sen. Bernie Sanders on Saturday will hold a roundtable discussion with the student finalists of his fifteenth annual State of the Union Essay Contest at the Vermont State House. 
    This year, 475 students from 25 Vermont high schools submitted essays. A panel of nine Vermont educators served as volunteer judges, ranking the essays and selecting 12 finalists and three winners. Students wrote on critically important issues, including climate change, access to mental health care, the opioid epidemic, immigration reform, the housing crisis, political polarization, and the cost of higher education. Sanders also entered the finalists’ essays into the Congressional Record, the official archive of the U.S. Congress. 
    Read the essays of the winners and finalists here. 
    Details:
    What: State of the Union Essay Contest Roundtable with student finalists and Sen. Sanders
    When: Saturday, March 29, 2:00 p.m. 
    Where: Vermont State House, House Chamber 
    Notes: Attendance is limited to student participants, their invited guests, and members of the press. Media members must RSVP by contacting press@sanders.senate.gov. Please be in place 15 minutes prior to the event start time. All attendees are expected to follow Vermont Department of Health guidance, monitor symptoms, and are encouraged to take a rapid COVID-19 test prior to the event. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Seven Appointments to Various Boards

    Source: US State of Missouri

    MARCH 24, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced seven appointments to various boards.

    Mason Bell, of Williamsville, was appointed to the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board.

    Dr. Bell currently serves as the chief financial officer and veterinarian at Bell Veterinary Services, LLC DBA Hillcrest Animal Hospital. He is a member of several professional organizations including the American Veterinary Medical Association, Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Beef Cattle Practitioners, American Association of Equine Practitioners, and the Society for Theriogenology. Dr. Bell earned his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine.

    Mark Ellebracht, of Excelsior Springs, was appointed to the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole.

    Mr. Ellebracht is a principal partner at The Injury Council, a personal injury law firm in Clayton, Missouri. Ellebracht formerly served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023 for District 17 and later worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Clay County. He also served as a squad leader for the United States Army. Mr. Ellebracht earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from William Jewell College and his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law in Columbia.

    Marcy Hammerle, of Troy, was appointed to the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board.

    Dr. Hammerle is an associate veterinarian at Elm Point Animal Hospital. She previously served as board chair and president of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association and is an active member of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Foundation, Therapeutic Horsemanship Board, and the Greater St. Louis Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Hammerle earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine.

    Jeremy Manley, of Springfield, was appointed to the State Board of Mediation.

    Mr. Manley is the president and business representative of Teamsters Local 245. From 2017 to 2019, Manley served as a Democrat, Republican, Independent Voter Education (DRIVE) representative for International Brotherhood of Teamsters in Washington, D.C. Prior to working with Teamsters, Manley worked as a delivery driver for the United Parcel Service.

    Michael Pfander, of Clever, was reappointed to the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board.

    Dr. Pfander is a small animal veterinarian at Cottage Veterinary Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He has served on the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board since 2012. Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Pfander also worked as an adjunct professor at Drury University from 1996 to 2012. He is a member of several professional organizations including the American Veterinary Medical Association, Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, Southwest Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, and the University of Missouri-Columbia Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association. Dr. Pfander earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

    Christopher Rohlfing, of Fayette, was reappointed to the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board.

    Mr. Rohlfing is the owner and operator of Production Agriculture. He has been a public member of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board since 2014. Prior to starting his own business, Rohlfing worked as the member services manager at Boone Electric Cooperative before retiring after 33 years. He’s also worked as an independent crop insurance agent since 1983. Mr. Rohlfing is as a member of the Deans Strategic Advisory Committee for the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Veterinary Medicine and is the president of the Howard County Farm Bureau. He earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his Master of Business Administration from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri.

    Rodney Schad, of Versailles, was appointed to the State Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority.

    Mr. Schad is the owner and operator of Schad Farm where he raises cattle, corn, soybeans, and wheat. He formerly represented the 115th District in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2005 to 2012 and later as the Morgan County Commissioner from 2012 to 2020. Schad is an active member of the First Christian Church of Versailles and the Missouri Farm Bureau. He also serves as a board member for several organizations, including Quality Industries, Show Me Christian Youth Home, Highland Mutual Insurance Company, and the Missouri Public Defender Commission.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Heeding the lessons of COVID-19 in the face of avian influenza

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Matthew S Miller, Executive Director, Global Nexus and M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University

    If the H5N1 avian flu virus learns to spread efficiently from person to person, it could pose an imminent threat to humanity. (CDC and NIAID), CC BY

    Infectious disease outbreaks have a bad habit of piling on at the worst possible times.

    The 1918 flu pandemic, also known as the Spanish flu, caught the world by surprise just as the First World War was coming to an end. It was responsible for killing three to five per cent of the world’s population (50-100 million people, equivalent to about 400 million today).

    Now, as we reflect on five years since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic and face economic uncertainty imposed by the United States administration — as well as lingering conflicts in places such as the Middle East and Ukraine — it’s the steady march of avian influenza, or “bird flu,” that poses an imminent threat to humanity.

    Walter Reed hospital flu ward in Washington, D.C. during the flu epidemic of 1918-19, which killed three to five per cent of the world’s population.
    (Shutterstock)

    Bird flu has been causing a flurry of human infections, especially in U.S. cattle workers. If the virus learns to spread effectively from human to human, it could change the course of history. Even though our weary world already feels maxed out, we have to make room to avert yet another crisis.



    Read more:
    Bird flu in cattle: What are the concerns surrounding the newly emerging bovine H5N1 influenza virus?

    The good news is that we know how to minimize risk and mobilize resources quickly, before the virus starts moving from human-to-human.

    Heading off a bird flu pandemic

    Knowing what to do and actually doing it, though, are very different, as we saw all too well five years ago when COVID-19 shut down much of the world, killing more than seven million people worldwide. And it’s not through with us yet.

    The question is whether we will act in time to head off a bird flu pandemic. The Spanish Flu was the first of five influenza pandemics since the end of the First World War.

    A sixth is inevitable without co-ordinated global action. Otherwise, the only questions are when it will it come and how bad it will be.



    Read more:
    Combatting the measles threat means examining the reasons for declining vaccination rates

    Infectious diseases constitute a permanent threat to society, especially as vaccine hesitancy and misinformation grow. Fighting pandemics needs to be a full-time, ongoing priority for governments everywhere.

    After the arrival of COVID-19, there were some impressive investments in infrastructure and science to support pandemic preparedness, but many were essentially one-time projects.

    Canada needs to establish permanent capacity to prevent and respond to health emergencies. Government agencies specifically dedicated to supporting the development of medical countermeasures for pathogens that pose a pandemic risk, like the recently established Health Emergencies Readiness Canada (HERC), are a step in the right direction.

    However, we must also re-prioritize investments in the fundamental research that is the birthplace of new medical and non-medical solutions to pandemic preparedness — where we currently lag far behind essentially all of our G7 counterparts. This has never been more important than in the current global political context.

    The cost of acting to prevent or limit a pandemic is infinitesimal compared to the price of letting one happen, whether one measures the toll in human lives, or in dollars.

    The world needs to adopt a collective mentality that we are “all in” on prevention if we want to maximize our chances of avoiding the next pandemic. We cannot sit on our hands and hope we get lucky. That strategy has failed us in the past and will doom us in the future.

    H5N1 avian flu

    Today, as we stand on the brink of an avian influenza pandemic that could be significantly worse than COVID-19, too much of the world seems unaware, unprepared or largely disengaged.

    Globally, more than 900 humans are known to have been infected by H5N1 avian influenza so far. The death rate associated with these human infections is a staggering one in two, placing it on par with threats such as Ebola.

    Death rates resulting from human infections of the most prevalent currently circulating H5N1 virus in the U.S. (clade 2.3.4.4b) have been much lower — though the very narrow demographic characteristics of the individuals that have been infected leaves many questions regarding the true danger that this virus poses to the population at-large.
    Avian influenza has become more prevalent than ever in our environment. Having adapted to spread efficiently among cattle and other mammals, the virus will follow its biological imperative to adapt and survive.

    No responsible country can ignore the possibility that person-to-person spread could start anywhere and quickly wash over the planet.



    Read more:
    An ounce of prevention: Now is the time to take action on H5N1 avian flu, because the stakes are enormous

    Certainly, Canada is treating the issue seriously, as I know from my work with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, the Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee and other bodies.

    But the effort to stop or at least slow avian influenza needs to include all countries and to engage everyday people, especially those who work directly with birds, cattle and other wild and domestic animals.

    Targeted interventions

    The best tactics to stave off a pandemic, at least at this point, are relatively unintrusive, targeted interventions. It’s critical that farm workers, veterinarians and others who work with animals follow careful protocols such as wearing masks and goggles, sanitizing equipment and continuing to cull poultry flocks where exposure is identified.

    We also need to educate hunters about protective measures to lower their risk of exposure.

    Most mitigation measures are entirely non-medical — though offering vaccines to those at high risk of exposure, as Finland has done, would be prudent. It’s much easier to target vaccination programs to high-risk groups than to organize a global vaccine campaign after a pandemic has begun.

    We need to encourage these groups to take every possible action to protect themselves — and therefore the world — and to provide financial supports that enable them to comply without cost.

    If avian flu becomes established among humans, which could happen rapidly and with very little warning, COVID-19 has shown that only a swift, decisive and truly global approach can fend off disaster.

    A significant lesson from COVID-19 is that we have to support pandemic prevention and response efforts for people in every corner of the world, however remote they may be, and that we must reach vulnerable populations within wealthy countries, such as elderly, frail and marginalized people, and those affected by poverty. These are the people always impacted most by infectious diseases.

    A selective distribution of resources among the planet’s wealthiest populations will not provide the protection the world needs and will only enlarge and extend the reach of a new pandemic.

    We must remember what it was like to close down schools, workplaces and public gatherings and to have hospitals overflowing with patients as clinicians risked their lives to care for them.

    We could have saved so many people and so much money by taking the threat more seriously from the outset, including providing better public education about evidence-based measures such as masking and vaccines.

    It’s past time we made pandemic prevention and response a permanent priority, no matter what else is happening in the world.

    Matthew S Miller is co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of AeroImmune Inc. He has received compensation from Seqirus, Sanofi, GSK, Roche, Grifols, and Aramis Biotechnologies for participating on advisory boards and for supporting educational activities. He has received research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canada Research Chairs Program, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Ontario Centre of Innovation, Bay Area Health Trust, Providence Therapeutics, JN Nova Pharma, Lactiga, and Zentek. He is a member of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization COVID-19 Working Group and H5N1 Influenza Working Group. He is also a member of the Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee and the Public Health Agency of Canada Expert Panel on Avian Influenza A(H5Nx).

    – ref. Heeding the lessons of COVID-19 in the face of avian influenza – https://theconversation.com/heeding-the-lessons-of-covid-19-in-the-face-of-avian-influenza-252161

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Investments will boost child care for families

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Here are the 22 additional child care centres joining the $10 a Day ChildCareBC spaces in B.C.:

    Pumpkin Patch Nursery School, Black Creek
    Pumpkin Patch Nursery School, 24 spaces

    Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion
    Little Eagles Childcare – Centre for Excellence, 37 spaces

    Kootenay Family Place, Castlegar
    Castlegar & District Kids’ Club, 25 spaces

    Onesky Community Resources Society, Cawston
    Cawston Primary Preschool, 16 spaces

    Little Kritters Daycare, Charlie Lake
    Little Kritters Daycare, eight spaces

    Little Lakers Learning Centre Society, Christina Lake
    Little Lakers Learning Centre, eight spaces

    Serendipity Child Development Society, Madeira Park
    Serendipity Child Care Centre, 13 spaces

    Southern Cortes Community Association, Mansons Landing
    Cortes Island Playschool, 28 spaces

    Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Vancouver Island, Parksville
    Parksville Child and Family Centre, 111 spaces

    Peachland Childcare Inc.
    Peachland Childcare Inc., eight spaces

    Onesky Community Resources Society, Penticton
    Edmonton Ave. Child Care Centre, 112 spaces

    Cheeky Monkey’s Daycare, Quesnel
    Cheeky Monkey’s Daycare, seven spaces

    North & South Shuswap Community Resource Association, Sorrento
    Sorrento Preschool, 20 spaces

    Al-Mustafa Islamic Association, Surrey
    Al-Mustafa Junior Kindergarten, 20 spaces

    B.C. Family Hearing Resource Society, Surrey
    Communication Stars Specialized Childcare, 12 spaces

    City of Surrey
    Fraser Heights Recreation Centre, 72 spaces

    District of Tofino
    Community Children’s Centre, 18 spaces

    The Trail District Day Care Society
    Sunshine Children’s Centre, 26 spaces

    Ucluelet and Area Child Care Society
    Ucluelet Children’s Centre, 80 spaces

    Developmental Disabilities Association of Vancouver-Richmond, Vancouver
    Kids at G.F. Strong Child Development Centre, 40 spaces

    Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs, Vernon
    Okanagan Boys and Girls Club-Lakers Club, 36 spaces

    Evangelical Free Church of Williams Lake
    Maranatha Minis Daycare, 49 spaces

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cuban National Sentenced To Over Five Years In $7.6 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Fort Myers, FL – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Fernando Espinosa Leon (60) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for health care fraud and aggravated identity theft. Espinosa Leon was also ordered to forfeit $4,013,148.76, the proceeds of his offenses. Espinosa Leon pleaded guilty on December 6, 2024.

    According to court documents, Espinosa Leon engaged in a scheme to defraud Medicare using his company, Global Medical Supply Inc. To carry out the scheme, stole the personally identifiable information of Medicare beneficiaries and medical practitioners. Espinosa Leon fraudulently billed Medicare for durable medical equipment that he falsely claimed had been prescribed and supplied. From June 2020 through September 2020, Espinosa Leon utilized the services of a third-party biller and fraudulently submitted for billing more than $7.6 million in claims for reimbursement. As a result, over $4 million in fraudulently obtained Medicare fraud proceeds were deposited into a bank account that Espinosa Leon managed and controlled.

    This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Oxford City Council secures £450,000 of National Lottery funding to support the Leys Youth Hub

    Source: City of Oxford

    Oxford City Council is celebrating after securing £450,000 in National Lottery funding from the Reaching Communities programme to support the Leys Youth Hub. 

    This vital funding will help sustain the staffing team and activity programme over the next four years, ensuring the hub provides opportunities for young people in Blackbird Leys. 

    The Leys Youth Hub, located at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, last year received funding from the Youth Investment Fund to create a dedicated space for young people. The new facility, which will be run by Oxford City Council’s Youth Ambition service and is in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council’s Targeted Youth Support Service (TYSS), will feature a climbing wall, teaching kitchen, music and media studio and social areas, offering a diverse range of activities designed to empower and engage young people. 

    Construction contractors ODS started the building work on site in September 2024, with the Youth Hub expected to open at the end of Spring 2025. 

    The additional funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK, will be crucial in supporting the hub’s operations for its first four years, with a tapered approach in the third and fourth years to work towards a sustainable, community-led model. The Youth Investment Fund has funded the construction work and staffing programme to date. 

    Oxford City Council will continue working closely with partners, including Oxfordshire County Council’s Targeted Youth Support Service (TYSS), and young people to shape the programme and ensure it meets the needs of the local community. 

    Councillor Chewe Munkonge, Cabinet Member for a Healthy Oxford, said: 

    “We are delighted to receive this funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which will make a real difference to young people in Blackbird Leys. The Leys Youth Hub is an investment in their future, providing a safe and supportive space where they can develop new skills, build their confidence, and have their own community space to form connections and have fun. This funding ensures we can continue to deliver a high-quality programme that truly benefits the community, and I’m looking forward to seeing the newly-completed Hub open soon!” 

    Helen Bushell, Head of Regional Funding for London, the South East and East at The National Lottery Community Fund, said:  

    “Thanks to National Lottery players, we’re proud to support amazing projects like the Leys Youth Hub, which strengthens society and helps the community in Oxford come together. We know the best way for children and young people to achieve their potential is by helping them connect with others and enjoy enriching activities, empowering them to shape the decisions that affect their communities.” 

    Nick Temple, CEO for Social Investment Business, delivery partner for the Youth Investment Fund, added: 

    “Securing National Lottery Funding for the Leys Youth Hub is very welcome news for young people in Blackbird Leys. The Youth Investment Fund is all about prioritising the needs of young people and creating a more equal society for future generations. Along with funding the building and renovation of hundreds of youth centres across England, we want to make sure that they are sustainable long into the future, so young people have every opportunity to have fun, make friends and explore their passions. We are thrilled that the Leys Youth Hub has a secure future and look forward to celebrating when the new building opens its doors to young people in Spring.” 

    National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year (2023/24) The National Lottery Community Fund awarded over half a billion pounds (£686.3 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK, supporting over 13,700  projects to turn their great ideas into reality.  

    To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk    

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why wild swimming is better for your mental wellbeing than open-air pools

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lewis Elliott, Senior Lecturer in Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter

    jax10289/Shutterstock

    On Perranporth beach in Cornwall, UK, a local outdoor swimming group called the Perranporth Bluetits is out in force. This group are determined to make the most of another chilly day as they plunge into the Atlantic for a dip. They emerge smiling. Their camaraderie and collective sense of achievement is clear to see.

    Invigorating experiences like these have motivated community groups and the voluntary sector to begin to design “blue care” programmes connecting people with the water, and sometimes even more formalised prescriptions of “bluespace” activities from doctors or health professionals.

    I, admittedly, stay drier than the Perranporth Bluetits. But my interest in open water swimming and its health benefits has motivated me and a team of researchers to look into these experiences. Previous research shows that open-water swimming and similar activities can be therapeutic.

    But might certain swimming activities be particularly beneficial for mental wellbeing? With an international team of environmental psychologists, I have carried out the biggest survey of open-water swimmers to date, looking at data from across the globe. Our recent study, published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, outlines the mental wellbeing benefits of wild swimming, and suggests that satisfying psychological needs might underlie this.

    Perranporth beach, Cornwall, UK.
    Robert Harding Video/Shutterstock

    As part of the EU-funded BlueHealth project, we surveyed around 20,000 adults in 19 countries across Europe, the US, Hong Kong, Australia and Canada about their interactions with blue spaces (outdoor aquatic environments) and their health and wellbeing. One thousand two hundred of these people reported swimming on their most recent visit to a blue space – some in open-air pools, others in more natural bodies of water such as lakes, rivers and the sea.

    Any kind of outdoor swimming was associated with a wellbeing boost. However, wild swimming seemed to deliver significant benefits. Our study suggests that the key to this effect lies in experiencing feelings of autonomy and competence – freedom and mastery over the swimmer’s environment – two factors that are strongly linked to wellbeing.

    Surprisingly though, social connection did not play as big a role in these mental wellbeing effects as we had expected, despite the proliferation of community swimming groups like the Perranporth Bluetits. At least in this international sample, personal achievement seemed to be more influential than community bonding.

    There was another surprising nuance too. More skilled swimmers, drawn to adventurous and riskier locations, sometimes reported higher anxiety levels. This suggests that while wild swimming can be deeply rewarding, it may also push people into situations that challenge their comfort zones. As other research has noted, such challenging situations can be part of the appeal.

    The findings extend previous research on open-water swimming by showing wellbeing benefits across an international sample of adults, the mechanisms by which these benefits come about and the magnitude of difference between natural waters and man-made outdoor pools. So, should we all be jumping in and prescribing such experiences for a mental health lift?

    The research does not quite support that yet. We need to be realistic about some of the other challenges our oceans face in providing such experiences. Alongside ever-present risks such as drowning, polluted waters pose infection risks, something that any swimmer has to carefully negotiate to embrace their hobby.

    Nonetheless, our results support investigations into prescribing nature to improve certain health conditions. This is something that the UK government is prepared to spend millions on. Osteoarthritis, muscle pain, inflammation, stress, immune function and sleep quality are just some of the other touted benefits of cold-water immersion.

    Perhaps the main takeaway though is in how wild swimming delivers its mental wellbeing benefits – essentially through enhanced feelings of freedom. Perhaps, in a world of growing external pressures, this is the reason wild swimming is becoming so popular.

    Swimming, sailing, even just building a sandcastle – the ocean benefits our physical and mental wellbeing. Curious about how a strong coastal connection helps drive marine conservation, scientists are diving in to investigate the power of blue health.

    This article is part of a series, Vitamin Sea, exploring how the ocean can be enhanced by our interaction with it.

    Lewis Elliott received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 666773.

    – ref. Why wild swimming is better for your mental wellbeing than open-air pools – https://theconversation.com/why-wild-swimming-is-better-for-your-mental-wellbeing-than-open-air-pools-251971

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Five ways cannabis can contribute to a green future

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Julyan Levy, PhD Candidate, Social Sciences, Coventry University

    24K-Production/Shutterstock

    Cannabis legalisation could raise £1.5 billion for the UK economy, according to a recent report from the charity Transform. But aside from this plant’s economic benefits, cannabis also has many ecological advantages.

    My research into the potential role of cannabis in shaping a fairer and healthier world never fails to excite me. Cannabis flowers became legally allowed as a medicine in the UK in 2018, but its origins as a medicinal herb in Britain dates back to at least Anglo-Saxon times. Its popularity is evident in the many place names scattered across the country, from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire to Littlehempston in Devon.

    Hemp is a colloquial term for the cannabis plant, Cannabis sativa. Hemp often refers to strains of cannabis that have had its main psychoactive chemical, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), bred out of the female flowers.

    Due to the negative associations cannabis has picked up over the past 50 years of prohibition, hemp farmers have distanced themselves from using the term cannabis. In the UK, this association has resulted in strict conditions for growing hemp creating a barrier for farmers.

    In recent years, cannabidiol (CBD), the main non psychoactive chemical found in female cannabis flowers, has become popular as a wellness product. CBD is abundant in low-THC hemp flowers, so it’s easy for the lines between hemp and cannabis to become blurred.

    It’s all cannabis. This plant has some incredible environmental benefits, from improving soil health to storing carbon. Here are five ways that cannabis plants can contribute to a greener planet:

    1. Productive harvests

    Hemp stems have a woody core, known as shivs, that can be mixed with lime to make hempcrete, a carbon-neutral alternative to concrete. Concrete production is one of the major sources of global greenhouse gas emissions. Hempcrete could be used to build eco-friendly social housing across the UK.

    Hemp seeds are a nutritious food source, high in protein and omega-3. With the UK’s food system in crisis, hemp seeds and the oil they produce could be a more widespread sustainable homegrown food source if hemp could be grown on an industrial scale.

    But industrial monocultures of crops are harmful to biodiversity. One alternative is agroecology – working with nature to prioritise biodiversity through small-scale farming.

    Hemp is ideally suited to agroecology, but it’s not an easy crop to grow in the UK
    because licensing laws make it very difficult for hemp farmers to tap into a global market worth billions.

    Farmers at one community farm, Hempen in Oxfordshire, sowed their first hemp crop over an area of 30 acres. In 2019, Hempen were forced to destroy their CBD harvest as their licence wasn’t renewed.

    In California, THC strains are allowed. One farming community started producing its own CBD-based medicines on just one acre of land. Others use the plant in other interesting ways, from rehabilitating formally incarcerated people to off-grid market gardens.

    Hemp offers potential as a fast-growing crop that enriches soil health.
    MAR007/Shutterstock

    2. Healthy soils

    Soil is essential for growing 98.8% of our food. Yet, it is often contaminated with toxic chemicals from industrial processes or the legacies of war.

    A process known as phytoremediation cleans the soil of these toxic contaminants. Hemp’s deep roots have a high tolerance for absorbing dangerous heavy metals. It is also a great break crop – this is a way for farmers to rotate the types of crops they grow to keep the soil healthy.



    Read more:
    Hemp is more sustainable than timber – here’s how it could transform low-carbon construction

    3. Plastic alternatives

    Plastic is poisoning our bodies and our planet. Recent reports suggest that the human brain may contain enough microplastics to make a spoon.

    Bioplastics made from hemp are biodegradable, composting down into organic matter leaving no microplastics. Hemp bioplastics are already being used by a number of commercial companies from building cars to packaging.

    Bioplastics do not offer a complete solution, but with the right infrastructure they could help reduce the need to derive more plastics from fossil fuels.

    4. Carbon storage

    Trees and other plants remove carbon dioxide from the air through the process of photosynthesis. Hemp is great at this, storing twice as much carbon dioxide than trees.

    Hemp is easy to grow without synthetic chemical inputs. It requires virtually no pesticides and reaches maturity much more quickly than trees. Once it absorbs the carbon, it’s easily stored in hempcrete blocks that can be used in construction.

    5. Energy storage

    It’s very difficult to store excess energy from renewable sources for use at a later date when the sun might not be shining or the wind isn’t blowing. Big batteries are one solution but these require mining precious metals.

    Another solution are supercapacitors – mega-efficient energy storage solutions that can be as small as a coin. Graphene, a flat material stronger than steel, is an essential element in the production of supercapacitors but it’s expensive and energy-intensive to make.

    The whole stem biomass (unused plant waste) from cannabis could provide a low-cost way to make graphene. Research shows that supercapacitors using hemp-based graphene perform much more efficiently than current commercial models.

    Hemp has many other known uses, from textiles to paper. The UK could lead the way in hemp innovation. The previous UK government did announce some minor changes to hemp licensing. Now, further changes to legislation could help farmers to harness the potential of this wondercrop in the fight against climate change.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Julyan Levy is affiliated with The Green Party of England and Wales.

    – ref. Five ways cannabis can contribute to a green future – https://theconversation.com/five-ways-cannabis-can-contribute-to-a-green-future-251523

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Student Receives SBB Research Group Foundation STEM Scholarship

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The SBB Research Group Foundation named Lisa Young a recipient of its STEM scholarship. The $2,500 award empowers students to create value for society by pursuing higher learning through interdisciplinary combinations of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

    Lisa Young, a fourth-year medical student, studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is a Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellow. She has conducted research in a neural engineering lab to investigate the effects of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation on fine motor function in rats with cervical spinal cord injuries.

    “Lisa is working in extremely competitive areas of the medical field, and we are excited to see what she does with her experience,” said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation.

    For eligibility criteria and more information on the Foundation’s STEM scholarship, please visit http://www.sbbscholarship.org.

    About the SBB Research Group Foundation

    The SBB Research Group Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that furthers the philanthropic mission of SBB Research Group LLC (SBBRG), a Chicago-based investment management firm led by Sam Barnett, Ph.D., and Matt Aven. The Foundation sponsors the SBB Research Group Foundation STEM Scholarship, supporting students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degrees. In addition to its scholarship program, the Foundation provides grants to support ambitious organizations solving unmet needs with thoughtful, long-term strategies.

    Contact: Erin Noonan
    Organization: SBB Research Group Foundation
    Email: scholarship@sbbrg.org
    Address: 450 Skokie Blvd, Building 600, Northbrook, IL 60062 United States
    Phone: 1-847-656-1111
    Website: https://www.sbbscholarship.com/

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a3eb157a-17c0-4f39-9d3d-dcdb07edc9ef

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force Apprehend Fugitive in Belize Wanted on Charges of Possession of Child Pornography

    Source: US Marshals Service

    San Antonio, TX – The U.S. Marshals-led Lone Star Fugitive Task Force apprehended a fugitive sought by the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office on 11 charges of possession of child pornography. Gregory Roth, 67, was apprehended in Belize after fleeing the United States to evade criminal prosecution.

    The arrest followed a coordinated international operation led by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force (LSFTF), in partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service Office of International Operations (OIO), the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and law enforcement partners in Belize.

    In 2022, the Texas Attorney General’s Office (TXAGO) conducted a series of residential search warrants as part of a criminal investigation involving Dr. Gregory Scott Roth, who was suspected of possessing child pornography. At the time, Roth held multiple positions within the healthcare sector, including Regional Medical Director for Envision Healthcare, part-time physician at Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital, and Regional Health Authority and Medical Director for La Salle County.

    Roth was arrested in November 2022 and indicted in 2023 by the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office on 11 counts of possession of child pornography. He was scheduled to appear for sentencing in December 2024. However, he failed to appear before the court as ordered and a bench warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest.

    In January 2025, following Roth’s failure to appear, the TXAGO requested the assistance of the LSFTF to aid in locating and apprehending the fugitive. The investigation revealed that Roth had fled the country in a rented motorhome, traveling through areas near the southern borders of Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.

    Through a collaborative, multi-agency effort involving the LSFTF, OIO, and Belizean law enforcement, authorities confirmed Roth’s presence in Placencia, Belize. Following extensive intelligence operations and sustained surveillance, Roth was apprehended March 21, 2025, without incident.

    Roth was removed from Belize and brought back to the United States, on March 22, 2025.

    “This operation’s success is a testament to the strength and effectiveness of international cooperation between the United States and foreign law enforcement agencies,” said Susan Pamerleau, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas. “It clearly demonstrates how cross-border partnerships strengthen our ability to apprehend fugitives, no matter where they attempt to hide.”

    The LSFTF acknowledges the critical support of the USMS Office of International Operations (OIO), the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security, and the Belize Police Department in the successful apprehension and return of a fugitive to the Alamo City.

    The U.S. Marshals Service encourages the community to continue to collaborate with our deputies on tips that help find the whereabouts of a fugitive by contacting our local office at (210) 657-8500 or calling the U.S. Marshals Service Communication Center at 1 (800) 336-0102. You can also submit tips online via the USMS Tips App.

    Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force – San Antonio:

    Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO)
    Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS)
    Texas Attorney General’s Office (TXAGO)
    Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)
    New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD)
    Texas Board of Criminal Justice OIG (TBCJ)
    Bexar County District Attorney’s Office (BCDA)
    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
    U.S. Marshal Service (USMS)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Kelly Request Answers from CDC Acting Director Monarez Regarding Shutdown of Vital Maternal Health Data System

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) led colleagues in writing a letter to CDC Acting Director Susan Monarez regarding reports that suggest the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) has stopped operations, leaving states, researchers, and health care providers without access to this vital data. The CDC has not clarified why this shutdown occurred.
    “We are reaching out to inquire about the current status of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). As a vital initiative jointly operated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and several state, territorial, and local health departments, PRAMS plays a crucial role in collecting data to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, representing over 80 percent of all U.S. live births. This information is of increasing importance as the U.S. is experiencing a maternal health crisis: it has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among high-income nations, increasing rates of complications from pregnancy or childbirth, and persistent disparities in such outcomes,” the lawmakers wrote. 
    In response to the alleged shutdown, the lawmakers requested answers to the following questions:
    Why is PRAMS, this critical maternal and infant health data program, no longer collecting and reporting data? When did the program stop collecting and reporting data?
    Is there a timeline when PRAMS will be operational again? If so, when?
    Will PRAMS return to full operability? If yes, on what date is PRAMS expected to return to full operations? 
    Was there any communication to states and institutions prior to PRAMS shutting down? If so, what was communicated and when?
    Is there a plan in place to collect PRAMS data so there is not a significant gap in maternal and infant health data collection?
    If PRAMS will be operational again, were there any changes made? If so, what were they?
    Have any CDC personnel working on PRAMS been laid off?
    “PRAMS plays a crucial role in reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Preserving this program will strengthen public health efforts, reduce inequities in care, and ultimately save lives. Thank you for your attention to this important matter,” the lawmakers concluded. 
    The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), Diana DeGette (D-CO-01), Jesús García (D-IL-04), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Henry Johnson (D-GA-04), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), and Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04).
    To read the full text of the letter, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New sensory room for Little Explorers

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    The new sensory room features musical touch pads, liquid floor tiles, soft blocks and shapes, calming sensory lighting, a trampoline, a mini climbing wall, and much more. It offers an engaging environment where children can interact, explore, and enjoy sensory-rich activities.

    This latest addition complements Exploria’s original sensory room, which remains a popular attraction, offering exciting lights, sounds, and interactive touch features.

    Designed in partnership with occupational therapists from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the new sensory room has been created with accessibility in mind, ensuring it meets the needs of all Little Explorers, including those with additional needs.

    Entry to both sensory rooms is included in Exploria’s weekly SEN Play and SEN Play & Bounce sessions, as well as Play & Bounce and Weekday Play sessions for under-2s and 2-8-year-olds.

    Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said:
    “It’s great we’ve been able to provide a second sensory room at Exploria. It will give even more children access to a space designed to encourage learning, play, and social interaction in a safe and engaging environment.”

    On behalf of BH Live, Rob Cunningham, Director of Leisure and Business Development shared: “The new sensory room is a fantastic addition to Exploria’s fun-filled facilities. We hope this will encourage more young people across the city to explore what’s on offer at the centre, creating a safe space for visitors to learn and play.”

    Play & Bounce sessions are also included in selected BH Live Active Family and Junior membership packages. Sessions can be booked online at exploria.org.uk.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: COVID-19 Spring Vaccine Dose

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    People at highest risk for severe illness from COVID-19 can book a second vaccine dose – if it’s been at least three months since their last dose or known infection – starting today, March 24.

    The spring dose will be available from March 31 to June 30. The children’s COVID-19 vaccine for those aged six months to 11 years is available until June 17.

    Nova Scotia is following recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) to provide people at highest risk a spring dose. This includes:

    • people 65 years of age or older
    • people aged 18 and older living in long-term care, nursing homes, senior congregate living settings or residential care facilities
    • people six months and older who meet the criteria for being moderately to severely immunocompromised due to an underlying condition or treatment
    • people aged 50 years and older who identify as Black, African Nova Scotian or First Nations.

    “It is recommended that those with the highest risk of infection get a second dose to prevent severe illness,” said Dr. Jesse Kancir, Nova Scotia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health. “People who aren’t in that high-risk category and are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines are still well protected.”

    People who did not receive a dose in the fall or winter can continue to get the vaccine, even if they are not in the high-risk category. Anyone who has never had a COVID-19 vaccine can also do so.

    COVID-19 and influenza symptoms can include a sudden high fever, headache, general aches and pains, fatigue and weakness, a runny, stuffy nose, sneezing and sore throat.

    Appointments can be booked online at https://novascotia.ca/vaccination . Those who are unable to book online can schedule an appointment by calling 1-833-797-7772, seven days a week.

    Quick Facts:

    • the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are updated annually to protect against the latest strains of influenza and COVID-19
    • children younger than nine years old who have never had an influenza vaccine should receive two doses four weeks apart
    • Nova Scotians can access their vaccine records via the YourHealthNS app and online at https://vaxrecordns.nshealth.ca

    Additional Resources:

    More information on vaccines and bookings for both influenza and COVID-19 is available at: https://www.nshealth.ca/seasonal-vaccines

    More information on influenza: https://novascotia.ca/flu

    More information on COVID-19 and testing: https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirusvaccine

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

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Joint Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Chief Medical Officer of Public Health of Indigenous Services Canada on World Tuberculosis Day 2025

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Statement

    March 24, 2025 | Ottawa, ON | Public Health Agency of Canada

    Today, March 24, marks World Tuberculosis (TB) Day. We recognize this day to raise awareness about the health, social and economic consequences of TB and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. Despite being preventable and curable, TB disease remains a significant public health concern worldwide. This year, the theme is “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.”

    Canada has one of the lowest rates of TB disease in the world. In 2023, there were 2,217 people diagnosed with TB, marking a slight increase for the third consecutive year. Inuit, First Nations, Métis and people born outside of Canada continue to be disproportionally affected by the disease. Social and systemic factors, such as colonialism, racism, stigma, discrimination, structural inequities and inequitable access to health care, contribute to the ongoing occurrence of TB.

    In our roles, we have witnessed first hand the devastating effects of TB on communities and encourage everyone to listen to the stories of TB survivors and their communities. Their stories help portray the physical, social and emotional toll of TB, historically and today.

    As part of our renewed focus and commitment to ending TB, we have recently released the Government of Canada’s Tuberculosis Response (2025): Working Towards TB Elimination. The response lays the foundation for our ongoing collaborative work towards the goals of eliminating TB in Inuit Nunangat by 2030, and across the country by 2035. It also paves a path forward for the work of the Indigenous, federal, provincial and territorial TB Task Group in creating a TB elimination strategy for Canada.

    While many challenges remain, the great progress being made in TB-affected communities through Indigenous-led initiatives offers us hope. These include Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s leadership in developing an Inuit TB Elimination Framework, and the development and implementation of local action plans in all four Inuit Nunangat regions.

    In addition, thanks to an integrated approach incorporating local enhanced public health interventions and investing in housing and nutrition support, TB outbreaks in four Saskatchewan First Nations communities were declared over in December 2024.

    Though we still have more work to do, from improving equitable access to TB medicines to ending stigma and discrimination associated with TB, elimination IS within our reach if we work together. By committing to collective action and supporting community-led initiatives, we can end TB.

    Dr. Theresa Tam
    Chief Public Health Officer
    Public Health Agency of Canada

    Dr. Tom Wong
    Chief Medical Officer of Public Health
    Indigenous Services Canada

    Contacts

    Media Relations
    Public Health Agency of Canada
    613-957-2983
    media@hc-sc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Indigenous Services Canada
    819-953-1160
    media@sac-isc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Probe requested over falling lamp

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Department of Health has requested that the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Tsuen Wan submit an investigation report after an examination lamp fell in a treatment room at the hospital last night.

     

    The hospital reported that the lamp, in a treatment room at the hospital’s Urgent Care Centre, fell suddenly while a staff member was trying to adjust it. The lamp struck the staff member and a doctor who had just finished treating a patient.

     

    Neither of the two suffered major injuries and they did not require hospitalisation. The patient was not injured.

     

    Following the incident, the hospital suspended use of the room and asked the lamp supplier to immediately inspect all examination lamps in the hospital of the same Polaris® 50 model.

     

    As a precautionary measure, the hospital has also requested the supplier, Draeger Hong Kong, to inspect all other lights on its premises manufactured by them.

     

    The department said it will carefully assess the findings of the investigation and the measures taken by the hospital in response to the incident, and will take appropriate follow-up actions to protect patient safety and prevent similar incidents.

     

    The department has also been in contact with Draeger Hong Kong to learn more about the incident. It requested them in writing today to notify affected customers and take follow-up action.

     

    The department said it will notify stakeholders, including the Hospital Authority, all private hospitals, licensed private healthcare facilities and relevant medical professional bodies, about the incident, and request that they contact Draeger Hong Kong as soon as possible if they are using Polaris® 50 lamps.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –