NewzIntel.com

Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plans approved for UK’s ‘first of a kind’ majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care scheme

    Source: City of Manchester

    Plans have been approved for the UK’s ‘first of a kind’ purpose-built majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care social rent housing scheme in Whalley Range, south Manchester.

    Great Places Housing Group’s proposals for the site of the former Spire Hospital on Russell Road, Whalley Range were approved at Manchester City Council’s planning meeting today (26 September). The brownfield site has remained vacant since the hospital was demolished in September 2019.

    Commenting on the planning approval actor Ian McKellen, LGBT Foundation patron and committed supporter of the Pride in Ageing Programme, who visited the Russell Road site earlier this year, said:

    “It’s wonderful to see Manchester leading the way yet again. Our community deserves to be able to age in a safe and welcoming environment where we are accepted for who we are, and Russell Road will do just that. Congratulations to everyone involved in the project and I look forward to following its progress and seeing the scheme open!”

    The plans for the majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care housing scheme have been co-produced in partnership with the Russell Road Community Steering Group, Manchester City Council, and LGBT Foundation.

    The development will deliver 80 one- and two-bedroom apartments for older people within a high-quality sustainable building offering a safe and welcoming feel and inviting presence whilst designed to respect the surrounding conservation area. The low-carbon scheme will include shared communal facilities including lounges, treatment rooms and landscaped gardens and will deliver an overall net gain of trees on the site.

    Extra Care housing schemes look to increase the housing opportunities for older people to move into high-quality accommodation, with flexible care and support services available to meet changing needs and encourage independent living.

    The residents at Russell Road will be aged 55 years or over, with the majority of residents being members of the LGBTQ+ community from Manchester. Living alongside allies, the aim is to provide an open and inclusive place of psychological safety for the older LGBTQ+ community.

    The site will also include a neighbouring development of shared ownership homes; with 40 homes in a mix of one- and two-bed apartments. The shared ownership product will deliver an alternative option to access the housing ladder, helping to address affordability issues in the area. The shared ownership apartment block has private amenity space and adds to the sense of place this development offers the existing community.

    The development will be funded by Great Places, complimented by grant funding from Homes England and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Brownfield Housing Fund. The scheme is intended to be constructed by Rowlinson Constructions Limited and the wider design team includes Triangle Architects and Mosaic Town Planning.

    Work on the new site will start later this year.

    Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said:

    “This is a real celebratory moment for this development, which has been in the works for some years and is designed to meet a clear need for quality, social rent housing for LGBTQ+ older people to live in safety, dignity and as part of a welcoming and supportive community.

    “We have helped build hundreds of Extra Care homes across Manchester in recent years to meet demand for older people to live in their later lives, many with care needs provided on site, but this is the first purpose-built LGBTQ+ majority Extra Care community in the UK. It’s a landmark development in every sense and we look forward to getting on site later this year.”

    Paul Martin, CEO at LGBT Foundation, added:

    “Today’s announcement marks a significant and welcome milestone and LGBT Foundation are delighted by the news that plans for Russell Road have been approved.

    Older LGBTQ+ people are currently at greater risk of discrimination, poor health outcomes and social isolation, and many do not have the support networks of family and friends. This scheme aims to address these challenges and create a safe and affirming environment where our community can age with pride.

    We’re looking forward to transforming our vision into a reality and continuing to work alongside partners and the Community Steering Group to improve the lives of older LGBTQ+ Mancunians and ensure Manchester continues to be a place where LGBTQ+ people are free to be themselves.”

    Helen Spencer, Executive Director of Growth at Great Places, said:

    “We’re delighted to receive planning approval for this groundbreaking project. Our Russell Road development is a significant step forward in providing high-quality, inclusive housing for members of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community.

    “This low-carbon development of 80 one- and two-bedroom apartments aims to offer flexible care and support services for residents aged 55 and over. Our collaboration with the Russell Road Community Steering Group, Manchester City Council, and LGBT Foundation has been crucial in shaping a scheme that meets residents’ needs and enhances the local area.

    “Additionally, the adjacent shared ownership block will help address affordability challenges in Whalley Range.

    “We look forward to starting work on site and continuing our work with all partners to make this vision a reality.”

    Martin York and Susan Duncan-Wood, Joint Co-chairs of the Russell Road Community Steering Group (CSG), said:

    “The Community Steering Group is proud to be involved in this pioneering development which has received planning approval.

    “As representatives of the LGBTQIA+ community, future residents and the locality in which the scheme is based, we aim to ensure all voices are heard and perspectives considered to create an environment where older people can live their lives authentically and with dignity.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Horsford Introduces Bill to Make Healthcare More Affordable for Families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressmen Steven Horsford (NV-04)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) introduced the Dependent Income Exclusion Act of 2024 to make health insurance more affordable and accessible for families with dependents who are working part-time, attending school, or enrolled in job training programs. The bill would adjust the household income calculation used to determine eligibility for Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies, which would ease financial burdens and expand health coverage. 

    “While I’ve worked to lower prescription drug costs and expand healthcare tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act, families in Nevada and across the country continue to face unacceptably high health insurance costs,” said Congressman Horsford. “This bill will help parents and guardians and make healthcare more affordable and attainable by easing the unintended costs on families with working children. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and its Subcommittee on Health, I will continue to push for policies that expand access to affordable, quality healthcare to all families.”

    “Congressman Horsford is a champion of hardworking families and making health care affordable,” said Brad Woodhouse, Executive Director of Protect Our Care. “The Dependent Income Exclusion Act will ensure that families with children who pick up a part-time job or enroll in a job training program aren’t penalized by having to pay more for their health care. This bill demonstrates how Democrats are working tirelessly to give families more room to breathe and to ensure that people can afford the health care they need to thrive.”  

    The Dependent Income Exclusion Act would address the healthcare affordability gap by allowing families to exclude a portion of their dependents’ income from the modified adjusted gross income used to determine eligibility for premium tax credits. Specifically, this exclusion applies to dependents under the age of 18 or those under 24 who are part-time students, apprentices, or participants in job training programs. The excludable income is capped at 15 percent of the filer’s income. 

    By expanding the availability of premium tax credits, this legislation will allow previously ineligible families to access ACA subsidies and increase the credit for those who already qualify. The bill aims to ensure that families with young adults working toward a brighter future—whether through education, apprenticeship, or job training—aren’t penalized when it comes to affordable healthcare access. 

    The bill is supported by Protect Our Care.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Democrats Hold Hearing Highlighting Underwood Resolution Condemning Project 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

    WASHINGTON — Yesterday, House Democrats held a hearing on Project 2025’s impacts on American families, highlighting House Resolution 1386, Rep. Lauren Underwood’s (IL-14) resolution to officially condemn Project 2025 and the sweeping harm that it would do to our democracy.

    Project 2025, otherwise known as the Presidential Transition Project, is a 900+ page “playbook” for the first 180 days of an incoming Trump administration. It is a step-by-step guide for dismantling critical agencies that serve Americans, restructuring the executive branch, and installing Trump loyalists and operatives at nearly every level of government.

    If enacted, Project 2025 will radically alter the lives of every American.

    The blueprint would strip away fundamental freedoms, destroy checks and balances on presidential powers, and lead to rising costs on health care, child care, housing, groceries, and gas. 

    Project 2025 would:

    • End Social Security and Medicare as we know it, forcing hardworking Americans to work longer for less.
    • Devastate working families across America, raising costs, lowering wages, destroying our environment, and dismantling access to health care.
    • Remove protections for people with pre-existing health conditions, raise prescription drug prices, ban Medicare from negotiating lower drug costs, and put a new tax on health insurance for people who get coverage at work.
    • Criminalize abortion nationwide, restrict access to birth control, and even ban fertility services like IVF.
    • Allow government agents to monitor pregnancies to potentially prosecute parents if they miscarry.
    • Cut school meals for kids, end Head Start for preschoolers, slash public school funding, and fire teachers across the country.
    • Raise costs and slash investments for working families to give huge new tax breaks to billionaires, CEOs, and the biggest corporations.
    • Threaten America’s national security and our ability to compete across the globe.
    • Destroy fundamental checks and balances on Presidential powers.

    At the hearing, Underwood said, “As one of the only nurses in Congress, to me, Project 2025’s direct attacks on our health care are some of the most alarming parts of this 920+ page document.

    This plan is extreme in the truest sense of the word. It calls to eliminate protections for people with preexisting conditions like myself, proposes new taxes on people who get their health coverage from work, and would cause the cost of prescription drugs to skyrocket. 

    To put it simply: Donald Trump’s Project 2025 will make more Americans sick and leave them without the coverage they need to take care of themselves and their families. 

    Few people understand these threats better than our providers, and I am so pleased to be joined today by a fellow Registered Nurse, Vicki Gonzalez. Vicki has been an RN since 1986. For the past 20 years, she has worked as a wound and ostomy nurse at one of our nation’s largest hospitals, Jackson Memorial in Miami. Vicki has seen firsthand how the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid have brought high quality, affordable care to so many people who previously couldn’t afford to go to the doctor, and instead ended up deathly sick in the emergency room. And Vicki knows how dire it would be for these people to once again have to choose between putting food on the table and getting the care they need.” 

    To view Underwood’s full remarks visit this link. Full text of House Resolution 1386 can be found here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaLota Keeps Gov’t Open, Touts Bipartisan Wins

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 9747 to keep the federal government open and working for the American people.

    “Despite partisan fear-mongering, House Republicans have kept the government funded, open, and working for the American people. While others bicker and play politics, I stay focused on delivering real results for Suffolk County, including securing over $150 million in federal funding for our communities,” said LaLota. “Since taking office, I’ve been proud to rank among the most productive freshman members, passing more bills than 97% of my peers—eight bipartisan bills and 20 amendments through the House. These efforts include protecting the Long Island Sound, addressing the fentanyl and sanctuary city crises, and supporting our small businesses and veterans. My commitment is to put the American people first and improve the quality of life for everyone in Suffolk County.”

    To read the full text of the legislation, click HERE.

    Background:

    LaLota has consistently and successfully voted to keep the government open, funded, and working for the American people.

    Since being sworn into office, LaLota has passed eight of his bills through the House, each of which has earned bipartisan support:

    • H.R. 3511 – Service Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act
    • H.R. 4424 – Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act
    • H.R. 4669 – DOE & SBA Research Act
    • H.R. 5441 – Long Island Sound Restoration & Stewardship Reauthorization Act
    • H.R. 5717 – No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act
    • H.R. 7105 – Women-Owned Small Business Certification & Opportunity Expansion Act
    • H.R. 7987 – Plain Language in Contracting Act
    • H.R. 8663 – DETECT Fentanyl & Xylazine Act

    Through the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bills, LaLota secured over $150 million in federal funding that will directly benefit Suffolk County, including millions in Community Project Funding for infrastructure projects, water quality improvements, and wastewater treatment in each of the First Congressional District’s Towns.

    H.R. 9747 would extend current government funding through December 20th, 2024, extend the authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, ensure working families have access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, guarantee Veteran, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits continue, provide an additional $231 million for the Secret Service for protective operations for Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominees in the 2024 Campaign and activities related to National Special Security Events and provide the agency with flexibility to quickly obligate funds for protective operations, and allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flexibility to quickly obligate funds provided by the CR for the Disaster Relief Fund to respond to disasters.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Orders in Council

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    HONOURABLE MR. AMERY

    236/2024

    CRIMINAL CODE (CANADA) (section 672.38) – Effective October 25, 2024, reappoints Maryann Chichak as a member of the Criminal Code Review Board for a term to expire on October 24, 2027.

    HONOURABLE MR. ELLIS

    237/2024

    PROCLAMATION – Proclaiming sections 3(e), 7, 8(b) and (c), 16, 19, 45, 46(a) and 47 of the Police Amendment Act, 2022 in force on March 1, 2025.

    238/2024

    POLICE ACT (section 61(1)) as amended by Police Amendment Act, 2022 (section 46(a)) – Makes the Police Governance Regulation.

    HONOURABLE MR. GLUBISH

    239/2024

    ALBERTA RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ACT (section 7); Alberta Research and Innovation REGULATION (section 3) – Appoints James Keirstead and Rhea Solis to the board of directors of Alberta Innovates, each for a term to expire on September 24, 2026; appoints Carissa Browning, David Edmonds, Kim Moody and Janet Riopel to the board of directors of Alberta Innovates, each for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.

    HNOURABLE MR. HORNER

    240/2024

    CREDIT UNION ACT (section 8) – Reappoints Laurene Beloin as a director of the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation for a term to expire on September 24, 2026; reappoints Camille Bérubé, nominated by Credit Union Central Alberta Limited, as a director of the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; appoints Harpreet Kohli as a director of the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.

    HONOURABLE MR. JEAN

    241/2024

    MINES AND MINERALS ACT (sections 5 and 11) – Transfers the administration and control of the mines and minerals and the pore space of certain provincial Crown lands to the Crown in right of Canada to be set aside for the use and benefit of the Lubicon Lake Band #453.

    242/2024

    RESPONSIBLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ACT (section 11) – Effective October 21, 2024, appoints Andrew MacPherson to the roster of hearing commissioners of the Alberta Energy Regulator for a term to expire on October 20, 2029.

    HONOURABLE MRS. LAGRANGE

    243/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, rescinds the appointment of Louise Sharon Mosier as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Dental Hygienists.

    244/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Tammy McCorkell as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologists for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Elaine Maria Andrews, to succeed Terence Bunce, and Nickolletta Adriane Sandie, to succeed Wilma Slenders, as public members to the council of the Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologists, each for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    245/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Bob Sprague as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Optometrists for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.

    246/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Kenneth Letander and Nicola von Hoensbroech as public members to the council of the Alberta College of Pharmacy, each for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Larry Loven, to succeed Irene Elizabeth Pfeiffer, as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Pharmacy for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    247/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, rescinds the appointment of Laura Mae Delfs as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Social Workers.

    248/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Gail Hufty as a public member to the council of the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Sean Cameron Melrose, to succeed Tamara Jones, as a public member to the council of the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    249/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Wilma Slenders, to succeed Tongjie Zhang, as a public member to the council of the College of Alberta Dental Assistants for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    250/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Munira Peermohamed as a public member to the council of the College of Alberta Denturists for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    251/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Tamara Jones, to succeed Elaine Maria Andrews, as a public member to the council of the College of Alberta Psychologists for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    252/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Laura Mae Delfs, to succeed Patricia Pelton, as a public member to the council of the College of Chiropractors of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    253/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Kenneth Hawrelko as a public member to the council of the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Patricia Pelton, to succeed Nickolletta Adriane Sandie, as a public member to the council of the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    254/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Louise Sharon Mosier as a public member to the council of the College of Dietitians of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    255/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Tongjie Zhang as a public member to the council of the College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    256/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints William Gaudette as a public member to the council of the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Irene Elizabeth Pfeiffer as a public member to the council of the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    257/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Mohammad Sajid Khan and Patricia Palechuk as public members to the council of the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Alberta, each for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Alissa Harding, to succeed Jennifer Carscallen, as a public member to the council of the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    258/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Jennifer Carscallen as a public member to the council of the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    259/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Terence Bunce as a public member to the council of the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    260/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, rescinds the appointment of Munira Hanifmohamed Peermohamed as a public member to the council of the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta.

    261/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, rescinds the appointment of Larry Loven as a public member to the council of the College of Respiratory Therapists of Alberta.

    HONOURABLE MR. LOEWEN

    262/2024

    PUBLIC LANDS ACT (section 7) – Transfers the administration and control of certain public land to the Crown in right of Canada in full settlement of the Lubicon Lake Band #453 land settlement claim.

    HONOURABLE MR. MCIVER

    263/2024

    MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ACT (section 125) – Makes the Order Annexing Land from the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 to the City of Cold Lake.

    264/2024

    SAFETY CODES ACT (section 65) – Makes the Certification and Permit (Expiry Date Extension) Amendment Regulation.

    HONOURABLE MR. NALLY

    265/2024

    PROCLAMATION – Proclaiming section 5 of the Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 in force on October 20, 2024.

    266/2024

    LAND TITLES ACT (sections 213 (as amended by section 5(11) of Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024) and 214) – Makes the Tariff of Fees Amendment Regulation.

    HONOURABLE MR. NEUDORF

    267/2024

    PROCLAMATION – Proclaiming sections 1, 2(2) to (7) and (9), 4 and 6 of the Utilities Affordability Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 in force on the date of issue of the Proclamation.
     

    GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION ACT (Schedule 13.1, section 6) – Makes the Utilities Consumer Advocate Amendment Regulation.

    269/2024

    UTILITY COMMODITY REBATE ACT (section 10) – Makes the Utility Commodity Rebate Amendment Regulation.

    HONOURABLE MRS. SAWHNEY

    270/2024

    POST-SECONDARY LEARNING ACT (sections 44 and 56) – Effective September 29, 2024, reappoints Daniel Hugo as a member of The Board of Governors of NorQuest College for a term to expire on September 28, 2027.

    271/2024

    POST-SECONDARY LEARNING ACT (sections 44 and 56) – Appoints Rana Atta as a member of The Board of Governors of Olds College for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.

    HONOURABLE MR. SCHOW

    272/2024

    TRAVEL ALBERTA ACT (section 4) – Reappoints Juanita Marois as a director of the board of Travel Alberta for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.

    HONOURABLE MR. SIGURDSON

    273/2024

    LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY DIVERSIFICATION ACT (section 33) – Makes the Domestic Cervid Industry (Expiry Date Extension) Amendment Regulation.

    HONOURABLE MS SMITH

    274/2024

    ALBERTA INVESTMENT ATTRACTION ACT (section 5) – Appoints Ian Gunn as a member of the board of directors of Invest Alberta Corporation for a term to expire on January 30, 2027.

    HONOURABLE MS SMITH

    HONOURABLE MR. LOEWEN

    HONOURABLE MR. AMERY

    275/2024

    PROCLAMATION – Proclaims certain provisions of the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 in force on the date of issue of the Proclamation and October 15, 2024.

    Orders in Council can now be viewed on the King’s Printer website at: https://kings-printer.alberta.ca/507.cfm

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada launches Framework for Autism in Canada, Canada’s Autism Strategy, and National Autism Network call for applications

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the needs of all persons with disabilities in Canada, including people with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism, and those who care for them.

    September 26, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Public Health Agency of Canada

    The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the needs of all persons with disabilities in Canada, including people with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and those who care for them.

    The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, tabled the Framework for Autism in Canada (Framework) in Parliament today. The Framework outlines principles and best practices to guide national autism policy, programs and activities in Canada. It leverages the Government of Canada’s leadership role to advance best practices that support Autistic people of all ages, their families and caregivers.

    The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) also launched Canada’s Autism Strategy (Strategy). The Strategy is a multi-year action plan that supports federal implementation of the Framework. It outlines federal-specific short- and medium-term initiatives and builds on existing programs and measures to address key priority areas. The Strategy is intended to be updated on a regular basis, as the needs and priorities of Autistic people of all ages living in Canada evolve over time.

    Through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial working group, these were developed collaboratively with Autistic people, their families, caregivers, provinces, territories, Indigenous organizations and other stakeholders. Implementation will require coordinated efforts across governments in Canada, as well as many partners, organizations, and individuals whose work touches on autism-related initiatives. The Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces and territories to advance the needs of Autistic people in Canada.

    Lastly, we officially launched the process for the creation of a National Autism Network today. The Network is intended to bring together the skills and resources of autism organizations and stakeholders, including people with living experience, to support the implementation of activities guided by the Framework and Strategy. We invite eligible organizations to respond to the call for applications for the Network by November 25, 2024.

    This sets out a vision to improve screening, diagnosis and services across Canada; strengthen economic inclusion; enhance data collection, public health surveillance and research; increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance; and facilitate access to evidence-informed autism resources and tools.

    • Autism (also known as autism spectrum disorder or ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. Autistic people may communicate and connect with other people differently, have sensory processing differences, or focus intensely on certain interests or activities. Autistic people may also have other physical, intellectual, learning, or mental health conditions which can introduce further complexities and challenges.  

    • It is estimated that 1 in 50 children and youth aged 1 to 17 years have been diagnosed with autism in Canada. The Government of Canada is exploring options to measure and report on autism in adults living in Canada. This information will build the evidence base required to inform public health actions aimed at improving the health and well-being of Autistic people across the life course.

    • Since 2018, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research have invested approximately $88 million in research on autism. This research is increasing our understanding of autism and guiding the development of innovative tools and more effective ways to support people on the autism spectrum and their families.

    • Budget 2021 provided PHAC with $15.4 million over two years to work collaboratively with provinces, territories, families and stakeholders toward the creation of an autism strategy. 

    • In 2022, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) published an assessment report on autism highlighting gaps in knowledge regarding the needs and outcomes of Autistic adults, including quality of life, activities of daily living, loneliness, and mental health. 

    • The Framework is aligned with other disability related activities, such as the Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), which was released on October 7, 2022. The DIAP is a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to disability inclusion, which embeds disability considerations across Government programs while identifying targeted investments in key areas to drive change. 

    • The National Autism Network will be a non-profit organization, working independently from the Government of Canada to share their skills, knowledge and resources, supporting key autism priorities and providing a forum for ongoing engagement on federal policies and programs. The Network will work directly with provinces and territories on specific initiatives at the provincial/territorial level and coordinate and integrate autism investments, while bringing together the knowledge and experience of local autism organizations, partners and the perspectives of those with living experience. It will also lead targeted national public awareness campaigns and provide sustained, accessible and culturally relevant resources (available online and elsewhere) to support Autistic people in Canada, their families and caregivers.

    • PHAC hosted two national conferences on autism in November 2022 and August 2024. The first, to bring together people from across Canada to identify potential short-, medium- and long-term priorities for action under an autism strategy and the second, to discuss the Framework’s five priority areas and the actions needed to advance them.

    • The Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder Act received Royal Assent on March 30, 2023. This legislation outlines a commitment for the development of a framework designed to support Autistic people in Canada, their families, and caregivers. 

    Matthew Kronberg
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Mark Holland
    Minister of Health
    343-552-5654

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

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Groupama Group 2024 half-year results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Premium income (insurance premiums and other income) of €12.0 billion, up +8.7%

    • Growth in property and casualty insurance (+5.0%)
    • Increase in premium income in health and protection insurance (+10.0%)
    • Strong growth in the savings and pensions business (+20.7%)
    • Insurance revenue (IFRS 17) of €7.9 billion

    Net income of €398 million

    • Economic operating income of €409 million, impacted by events in New Caledonia and by a better understanding of the seasonality effect
    • Fairly moderate weather loss experience
    • Combined non-life ratio of 95.9%

    Strong solvency ratio of 190% without transitional measure 

    • Solvency ratio of 249% with transitional measure on underwriting reserves
    • Group’s IFRS equity of €9.3 billion
    • Contractual services margin of €3.6 billion

    The Board of Directors of Groupama Assurances Mutuelles met on 26 September 2024, under the chairmanship of Laurent Poupart, and approved the Group’s combined financial statements for the first half of 2024. The half-year financial statements underwent a limited review by the statutory auditors.

    Activity (insurance premiums and other income)

    As at 30 June 2024, Groupama’s combined premium income stood at €12.0 billion, a +8.7% increase from 30 June 2023. The increase came from property and casualty insurance (+5.0%), health and personal protection insurance (+10%), and savings and pensions (+20.7%).

    Groupama premium income as at 30 June 2024

    in millions of euros 30/06/2024 Like-for-like change (%)
    Property & casualty insurance 6,470 +5.0%
    Health & personal protection 3,690% +10.0%
    Savings & pensions 1,734 +20.7%
    Financial businesses 120 +16.3%
    GROUP TOTAL 12,014 +8.7%

    In France

    Insurance premium income in France as at 30 June 2024 amounted to €10.3 billion, up +8.8% compared with 30 June 2023.

    In property and casualty insurance, premium income totalled €5.3 billion as at 30 June 2024, up +4.6% compared with 30 June 2023. All segments were up, including agricultural (+5.0%), home insurance (+3.9%) and motor insurance (+1.7%).

    The health and personal protection business continued to grow (+9.4%) to €3.5 billion as at 30 June 2024, driven by individual health insurance (+5.5%) and growth in group insurance (+15.9%).

    In savings and pensions, premium income increased significantly (+24.7%) to €1.5 billion as at 30 June 2024 thanks to strong inflows from unit-linked products. Unit-linked products accounted for more than 60% of premium income in individual savings and pensions.

    Abroad

    Over the first half of 2024, business reached €1.6 billion, up +7.6% at constant scope and exchange rates compared with 30 June 2023, mainly from the sustained business growth in Hungary (+14.2%) and Italy (+6.1%).

    In property and casualty insurance, premium income totalled €1.1 billion as at 30 June 2024, up +7.2% compared with the previous period. This increase was due to the growth in home insurance in particular (+15.1%), mainly in Hungary and Greece, motor insurance (+5.5%) in Hungary and Italy, and good performance in business and local authorities casualty insurance (+13.5%).

    Health and protection businesses grew significantly (+22.0%) to €195 million, benefiting from the growth of the group health and personal protection segments (+42.3%), particularly in Romania and Bulgaria. 

    Premium income in savings and pensions was stable (-0.3%), with strong growth in unit-linked products (+24.8%) mitigating the decline in euro funds (-33.8%).

    Financial businesses

    The Group’s premium income was €120 million, including €116 million from Groupama Asset Management and €4 million from Groupama Epargne Salariale.

    Results

    The Group’s economic operating income amounted to €409 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €612 million as at 30 June 2023.

    It came from property and casualty insurance for €181 million (€378 million as at June 30, 2023) and health and protection insurance for €68 million (€182 million as at June 30, 2023). The non-life combined ratio stood at 95.9% as at 30 June 2024, up +4.2 points compared with 30 June 2023. This increase was largely due to the cost of the events in New Caledonia in May and June 2024 as well as the recognition of a seasonality reserve, making it possible to better capture the effects of seasonal fluctuations. Weather claims remained at a fairly moderate level, comparable with the level at the end of June 2023. The operating costs ratio was virtually stable at 28.7% as at 30 June 2024.

    Economic operating income in savings and pensions was €208 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €57 million as at 30 June 2023. It benefited from the result of the switch of the share reinsured by Groupama Gan Vie to CNP Retraite in the PREFON Retraite reinsurance treaty, effective 1 January 2024.

    Economic operating income amounted to +€20 million from financial businesses and -€68 million from the Group’s holding company business as at 30 December 2024.

    The transition from economic operating income to net income includes non-recurring items, in particular the realisation of capital gains or losses, the change in the fair value of financial assets, and financing expenses. Overall, the Group’s net income amounted to €398 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €447 million as at 30 June 2023.
      

    Balance sheet

    Group’s equity totalled €9.3 billion as at 30 June 2024 compared with €9.9 billion as at 31 December 2023. This change was mainly due to the redemption in May 2024 of perpetual subordinated bonds issued in 2014 for €871 million, partially offset by the positive contribution of the result. Note that the perpetual subordinated debt issued in early July 2024 for €600 million is not included in the 2024 half-year financial statements.

    The Group’s contractual service margin, which represents the deferred future profits of outstanding contracts in savings and pensions and long-term protection, calculated discounted, was stable at €3.6 billion as at 30 June 2024.

    As at 30 June 2024, the Solvency 2 ratio, without transitional measure on underwriting reserves, was 190%. The 7-point decrease in this ratio compared with end-2023 was mainly due to the redemption of subordinated bonds issued in 2014, mitigated by the result over the period. The perpetual subordinated debt issued at the beginning of July 2024 is not included in the ratio as at 30 June 2024. Including the transitional measure on underwriting reserves, authorised by the ACPR, the ratio was 249%.

    The Group’s financial strength is highlighted by Fitch Ratings, which confirmed in March 2024 the IFS Groupama’s rating of ‘A+’ with a ‘Stable’ outlook.

    Group Communications Department

    For the financial statements as at 30/06/2024, the Group’s financial information consists of:

    • this press release, which is available on the website groupama.com,
    • Groupama Group’s half-year financial report, which will be filed with the AMF on 30 September 2024 and posted on the groupama.com website on the same day. The English version will be available on 22 October 2024.

    About Groupama Group

    For more than 100 years, Groupama Group has based its actions on timeless, humanist values to enable as many people as possible to build their lives in confidence. It relies on humane, caring, optimistic and responsible communities. The Groupama Group, one of the leading mutual insurers in France, carries out its insurance and service business activities in ten countries. The Group has 12 million members and customers and 31,000 employees throughout the world, with premium income of €17.0 billion.

    Appendix: Groupama key figures

    Premium income (insurance premiums and other income)

    € million 30/06/2023
    pro forma*    		 30/06/2024 Change **
    as %
    > France  9,507 10,339 +8.8%
    Property & casualty insurance 5,102 5,335 +4.6%
    Health & personal protection 3,195 3,495 +9.4%
    Savings & pensions 1,210 1,508 +24.7%
    > International & Overseas 1,445 1,555 +7.6%
    Property & casualty insurance 1,059 1,135 +7.2%
    Health & personal protection 160 195 +22.0%
    Savings & pensions 227 226 -0.3%
    Total Insurance 10,952 11,894 +8.6%
    Financial businesses 103 120 +16.3%
    Groupama premium income 11,055 12,014 +8.7%

    * Based on comparable data
    ** Change on a like-for-like exchange rate and consolidation basis

    Net income

    € million 30/06/2023 30/06/2024
    Insurance – France
    Insurance – International    		 545
    71    		 396
    62
    Financial businesses 15 20
    Holding companies -19 -68
    Economic operating income 612 409
    Recurring financial margin -69 31
    Others -96 -43
    Net income 447 398

    Balance sheet

    € million 31/12/2023 30/06/2024
    Group’s IFRS quity 9,862 9,280
    Subordinated debts 3,009 2,140
    – equity instrument  871 –
    – financing debts 2,138 2,140
    Contractual services margin 3,649 3,638
    Total balance sheet 91,949 88,587

     

    Main ratios

      30/06/2023 30/06/2024
    PAA combined ratio 91.6% 95.9%
      31/12/2023 30/06/2024
    Solvency 2 ratio (with transitional measure*) 267% 249%
    Solvency 2 ratio (without transitional measure*) 197% 190%

    * transitional measure on underwriting reserves

    Insurer Financial Strength rating – Fitch Ratings

      Rating Outlook
    Groupama Assurances Mutuelles and its subsidiaries A+ Stable

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Applauds Biden-Harris Administration’s Expansion of IVF Coverage for Federal Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    September 25, 2024

    For years, the Senator has led the charge to ensure IVF treatment is covered for more Americans Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act, which Republicans blocked just last week, would enshrine this expansion in law

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—author of the Right to IVF Act and the bipartisan Family Building FEHB Fairness Act—applauded the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement that the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program will, for the first time ever, offer multiple plans with comprehensive IVF coverage to the entire federal workforce and their families, no matter their zip code. The FEHB is the largest employer-sponsored group health insurance program in the world, covering more than 8 million employees, retirees, family members and others.

    “I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for taking this decisive action that I’ve called for to ensure all federal employees have access to IVF coverage—because everyone deserves the ability to access the fertility treatment they need to build their families, no matter where they live.

    “While this is welcome news, any future President could reverse this decision—so it’s critical we permanently protect and expand access to IVF nationwide and ensure no patient or doctor is criminalized simply for trying to start or grow their family. Last week, the Senate had the opportunity to do just that. But when it came time for Senate Republicans to put their votes where their mouths are and help pass my Right to IVF Act, the same Republicans claiming to ‘support IVF’ blocked it and made sure this expansion—and the other common sense IVF protections in the bill—would not be enshrined in federal law.

    “Struggling with infertility is painful enough without the GOP’s hypocrisy, and I won’t stop working until every American in every state can access IVF and experience the joys of parenthood if, when and how they want to.”

    In April, Senator Duckworth—along with U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11)—led 176 of their colleagues in urging OPM to help ensure all insurance carriers in FEHB program to cover IVF medical treatments and medications in plan year 2025.

    Last week, Senator Duckworth—along with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ)—led Senate Democrats in trying to pass the Right to IVF Act for the second time, comprehensive legislation led by Duckworth that would require all health insurers to cover IVF. This renewed effort by Senate Democrats came after Donald Trump claimed he wanted IVF to be covered and represented a second chance for Senate Republicans to actually do something that would make it easier for Americans struggling with infertility to access IVF. Despite claiming to support IVF, Senate Republicans blocked the legislation for the second time in just a few months.

    Senator Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act also includes the bipartisan Family Building FEHB Fairness Act, legislation the Senator has led for years that would require carriers to cover IVF and ART and would give the OPM one year to implement its requirements from the date of enactment.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How history can teach us to prevent deaths at sea

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Guy Collender, Post Doctoral Senior Research Associate, Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures, University of Portsmouth

    AndriiKoval/Shutterstock

    The rapid sinking of the Bayesian superyacht and the loss of seven lives, including tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, in August 2024 cruelly emphasised the potentially lethal perils of the sea. This tragedy, although much publicised, is far from unusual. Globally, accidents at sea lead to thousands of deaths every year – but the true scale of the problem is unknown.

    Undoubtedly, life at sea remains hard and dangerous in the 21st century, but this is difficult to quantify. There were 215 shipping industry related deaths at sea recorded in 2022. However, due to a lack of standardised data and under-reporting this figure is likely to be an underestimate.

    Efforts to raise awareness and improve safety at sea today have much to learn from historic and successful safety initiatives in the UK’s docks. My research on early 20th century docks shows that proper data is a prerequisite to understanding a problem and identifying trends. Such an assessment can then lead to the allocation of resources, targeted safety measures – and life-saving change.

    These steps all apply to improving safety at sea, but the lack of accurate data is a real stumbling block.

    Life and death at sea

    Fishing is widely recognised as the “most dangerous occupation globally”, but estimates of deaths among the fishing community vary enormously from 32,000 to more than 100,000 deaths per year. Of course, such deaths also occur inland in lakes and rivers, as well as at sea.

    Twenty-six vessels of over 100 gross tonnes were recorded lost in 2023, with 13 sinking beneath the waves. This is low when compared with the loss of more than 200 vessels a year in the 1990s, but there have also been recent worrying trends such as attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. So far in 2024, four Red Sea seafarers have been killed by Houthi rebels from Yemem, with others injured and held hostage.

    Desperation and war are also leading to deaths and risks elsewhere. A total of 3,155 migrants crossing the Mediterranean were recorded as missing or dead in 2023.

    Nevertheless, such challenges and risks to life are increasingly being recognised and efforts are underway to address them. Importantly, better data collection and monitoring is in the pipeline.

    An amendment to the 2006 international maritime labour convention is expected to come into force in December 2024. It will require countries that have agreed to the convention to report deaths of seafarers on an annual basis to the UN’s International Labour Office.

    These will be published in a global register, and they will be investigated. It remains to be seen how such reporting will operate in practice and how deaths will be categorised – but it will be a good start.

    History lessons

    This is where it is helpful to learn from the past. I have researched the historic reduction of the dangers of dock work in the UK for Hindsight Perspectives for a Safer World – a collaboration between History and Policy and Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

    My study shows how progress was linked to gathering better data, and recognising the risks of loading and unloading cargo. The counting and scrupulous categorisation of accidents helped identify the problems and appropriate safety measures.

    In 1900, factory inspectors identified five causes of dock accidents, including falls (into the ship’s hold, or into the water), and shunting accidents involving trains. The docks were classified as one of the “dangerous trades” in the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901.

    Under the dock regulations of 1904, “life-saving appliances” – chains or floats – were introduced to prevent drownings. Lifting machinery was also subject to stringent checks to prevent deaths from falling loads.

    And more and more proactive inspections took place as the number of inspectors rose from 137 in 1900 to 320 by 1939. All these safety measures and others contributed to dock deaths falling from 115 a year in 1899 to 69 a year in 1939.

    Today’s safety initiatives at sea often echo the work of those safety pioneers in the early 20th century. Together in Safety, a consortium of companies dedicated to improving safety in the maritime sector, suggests a three-step safety process – assess the situation, act to improve, appraise the progress – which replicates the work of those early legislators and inspectors.

    Together in Safety’s clear and succinct golden safety rules show how to mitigate the risks of maritime work, including working over water and entering enclosed spaces.

    What’s more, Lloyd’s Register Foundation – a charity that helps to protect life and property at sea, on land, and in the air – is undertaking work to “assure the safety of people as the ocean economy grows” as part of its Global Maritime Trends 2050 Research Programme.

    Two million seafarers face daily dangers to keep the global supply chain operating smoothly. Doing more to highlight their safety will hopefully lead to a better understanding of the challenges they face. This, in turn, should lead to better safety procedures and practices to save lives at sea.

    Guy Collender was commissioned and paid to research the history of dock safety in the UK for Hindsight Perspectives for a Safer World – a collaboration between History and Policy and Lloyd’s Register Foundation. He is currently employed by the University of Portsmouth on the ‘Sail to Steam, Carbon to Green’ research project, which is funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

    – ref. How history can teach us to prevent deaths at sea – https://theconversation.com/how-history-can-teach-us-to-prevent-deaths-at-sea-237432

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change to health board status

    Source: Scottish Government

    NHS Forth Valley move to stage 3

    NHS Forth Valley will move to stage 3 of the NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework following improvements in leadership, culture and governance at the Health Board.

    The move will apply from 1 October 2024 and will mean NHS Forth Valley no longer requires direct formal oversight from the Assurance Board, in place since 23 November 2022, which will now be stood down.

    Health Secretary Neil Gray said:

    “Following considerable progress against measures outlined in their improvement plan, it is encouraging the Scottish Government are now able to move NHS Forth Valley to stage 3 on the Support and Intervention Framework.

    “The Board has provided evidence of tangible and sustainable improvements across the three areas they were escalated for: leadership, culture, and governance.

    “This is a step forward, however it is vital improvements made are sustained and the Board continues to prioritise delivery of actions now being monitored as business as usual.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Secretary of State visits farm amidst bluetongue outbreaks

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Secretary of State Steve Reed visited an Essex farm this week to hear from NFU representatives and a famer who recently had animals tested for bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3).

    Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed

    Secretary of State Steve Reed visited an Essex farm this week (Wednesday 25th September) to hear from NFU representatives and a famer who recently had animals tested for bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3).

    The Secretary of State, accompanied by Animal Plant Health Agency staff, including APHA’s Veterinary Head of Outbreaks for England Sascha Van Helvoort, heard about the impact this disease has been having on the industry and the importance of reporting livestock suspected of having the disease.

    Bluetongue virus is primarily transmitted by midge bites and affects cattle, goats, sheep, deer and camelids, with case numbers now increasing dramatically in northern Europe. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, ulcers or sores in the mouth or nose, and reduced milk yield.

    Disease control zones were put in place to control the movement of potentially affected animals as soon as bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) was detected. These zones have been under constant review and adjustment as the disease situation has developed, such as when evidence of local transmission of disease emerged. A single Restricted Zone is now in place covering the east of England from Lincolnshire to West Sussex.

    Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, said:

    I have heard first-hand the experiences of farmers battling this disease and we are working hard to prevent its spread into other areas of England and Great Britain.

    We understand restrictions can have an impact but stress the importance of everyone adhering to these. We are committed to working with everyone affected and urge people to report livestock they suspect have the disease.

    Sascha Van Helvoort, APHA Veterinary Head of Field Delivery and Veterinary Head of Outbreaks for England, said:

    The increasing number of bluetongue virus (BTV-3) cases demonstrate the importance of vigilance from all livestock keepers and farmers.

    We have field teams, vets and scientists across the country who are working hard to help tackle bluetongue virus and ensure farmers are being supported.

    If you have any suspicions of disease, you must report this to the Animal Plant Health Agency immediately so we can provide assistance.

    Defra has permitted use of the currently available unauthorised BTV-3 vaccines, subject to licence. We recommend animal keepers work with their veterinarians to decide if vaccination is right for their animals. To prioritise initial supplies, a general licence allows those in high-risk counties of England to use the vaccine. Specific licences can be applied for through APHA by animal keepers elsewhere in England who wish to use the vaccine

    BTV is a notifiable disease. Suspicion of BTV in animals in England must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03000 200 301, 03003 038 268 in Wales or your local Field Services Office in Scotland. 

    View more information about bluetongue. Check the list of all bluetongue cases and control zones and view the bluetongue interactive map.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VA makes tele-emergency care available nationwide, offering Veterans more virtual care options

    Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs

    Skip to content

    WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that tele-emergency care (tele-EC) is now available nationwide, a step that increases timely access to virtual emergency care options for Veterans enrolled in VA health care. This expansion of care — piloted in recent months — has already shown promise for Veterans, helping more than 61,182 callers with a 59.4% case resolution rate (meaning Veterans’ needs were resolved without having to travel from their homes to urgent care or an emergency department).

    Tele-emergency care is a part of VA Health Connect, a phone service that Veterans can call nationwide. Veterans who contact VA Health Connect will speak to a clinical triage nurse, who will connect them to tele-emergency care when clinically appropriate. Tele-EC providers will then evaluate the Veteran over the phone or on video and recommend treatment or follow-up, including if in-person care is needed. In life-threatening emergencies, the clinical triage nurse will call 911 and stay on the line until help arrives. It is important to note Veterans experiencing a life-threatening emergency should immediately contact 911, versus seeking support via tele-EC.

    This expansion is a part of VA and the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to expand access to timely, world-class care for Veterans. Veterans enrolled in VA health care can now access tele-EC nationwide by calling VA Health Connect, and through the VA Health Chat app. Veterans can find their local VA Health Connect number by searching for their facility.

    “Veterans can now be evaluated for possible emergencies from the comfort of their home,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. “Sometimes, you’re not sure whether what you’re experiencing is a minor emergency or not — and tele-emergency care can help you resolve those questions. Veterans can get immediate, virtual triage with a VA medical provider who has direct access to their medical records. This avoids having to potentially drive to the nearest emergency department and wait to be evaluated, if appropriate.”

    Through VA’s tele-emergency care, Veterans now have increased and quicker access to timely emergency care from VA clinicians, helping them get the right care, at the right time, from the right place. While tele-EC does not replace the need for in-person emergency evaluation, for Veterans in rural areas or those with mobility and transportation challenges, in-person immediate care can be difficult to access. VA’s tele-EC helps bridge this gap through quick, virtual triage assessments.

    VA continues to increase Veterans’ access to VA health care through initiatives like tele-EC, access sprints, and by designing and implementing more virtual care options. Since President Biden signed the PACT Act into law, VA is delivering more care to more Veterans than ever before. Nearly 740,000 Veterans have enrolled in VA health care in the past two years.

    Veterans’ trust in VA is at an all-time high, with outpatient health care trust scores reaching 91.8% in the latest VA Trust Report. For the second consecutive year, VA outperformed non-VA hospitals in a major independent, nationwide review of care quality, with the majority of VA facilities receiving 4- and 5-star ratings. At the same time, 79% of VA facilities received 4- or 5-star ratings for patient satisfaction — the ninth consecutive quarter in which VA facilities have outperformed non-VA counterparts in this independent review.

    For more information about VA care, visit VA’s health care website. For more information about Veteran trust in VA, visit the VA trust website. To enroll in VA care, visit https://www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply/.

    Veterans should immediately seek care at the nearest medical facility if they are having a medical emergency. A medical emergency is an injury, illness, or symptom so severe that without immediate treatment, an individual believes his or her life or health is in danger. Examples include severe chest pain or shortness of breath, stroke-like symptoms, or excessive bleeding. If a Veteran believes their life or health is in danger or is experiencing a suicidal crisis, they should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away.

    Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

    Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.

    Contact us online through Ask VA

    Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.

    Learn about our chatbot and ask a question

    Subscribe today to receive these news releases in your inbox.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Biden-Harris Administration Releases Historic Guidance on Health Coverage Requirements for Children and Youth Enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services

    In another demonstration of the Biden-Harris Administration’s unwavering commitment to children’s health, today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released comprehensive guidance to support states in ensuring the 38 million children with Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage – nearly half of the children in this country – receive the full range of health care services they need. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bonamici, Bacon, Valadao Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Connect People with Overdose, Detox Aid

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

    WASHINGTON, DC [9/26/24] – This week Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Don Bacon (R-NE), and David Valadao (R-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation to provide transportation for people in need of overdose prevention, substance use disorder treatment, detoxification, and supportive services.

    The Connections to Health Infrastructure and Emergency Recovery Services (CHIERS) Act is inspired by the former long-running van service provided by the health and housing nonprofit Central City Concern that transported people in need to a sobering center in Portland, Oregon. The legislation would create a grant program to improve access to or expand services that provide transportation to connect people with sobering centers, behavioral health supports and supportive services including outpatient health services, case management, and mental health services.

    “People who are intoxicated or in danger of overdosing need a safe way to access care,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Lack of transportation shouldn’t be a barrier to getting help. Central City Concern’s CHIERS van helped many people reach sobering centers in Portland. This bipartisan legislation will build on that model to create new transportation programs in Oregon and across the country.”

    “Everyone deserves a second chance,” said Rep. Bacon. “The CHIERS Act will improve access to developing services that provide individuals with transportation to and from substance use disorder treatments or support services. This program will help thousands of citizens get the help they need.”

    “Rural communities throughout the Central Valley have been impacted by the devastating effects of the opioid crisis,” said Congressman Valadao. “Those seeking treatment and services often face long travel times and high transportation costs to access the resources they need. I’m proud to cosponsor this legislation, which would eliminate many of these travel barriers and make it easier for folks to access the treatment they need.”

    Funding from the CHIERS Act could be used to train staff, purchase vehicles, and contract with ridesharing services to cover transportation. The grant program would be run jointly through the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Housing and Urban Development and eligible entities include community health centers, Continuum of Care Program participants, opioid recovery centers, state, Tribal and local governments, and nonprofit organizations.

    The legislation is endorsed by Central City Concern, Drug Policy Alliance, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association of Counties, National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Lyft, Uber, and the City of Portland.

    “Providing no cost critical ‘first and last mile’ transportation to the front door of recovery services for our most vulnerable neighbors is an essential part of the continuum of care,” says Brooke Goldberg, Director of Public Policy at Central City Concern. “We know from our years of experience of providing transport services that thousands benefitted from this simple act. And, it provided a critical public safety need in our community. We are grateful for Representative Bonamici’s continued efforts to enhance community services.”

    “In 2023, over 48 million Americans had a substance use disorder (SUD). Substance use treatment services save the lives of millions of Americans each year, but too many people struggle to find transportation to these life-saving services,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “Rep. Bonamici’s CHIERS Act would provide transportation to those with an SUD so that they can be connected to these life-changing services. NAMI is proud to support the CHIERS Act.”

    “Lyft is proud to support the CHIERS Act,” said Lyft VP of Healthcare Buck Poropatich. “This important bill will help people get rides to and from critical supportive services. Supporting this bill aligns with Lyft’s goal to be a force for good in communities across the country by removing transportation barriers. This legislation has the potential to greatly enhance public health, safety, and help those who need it most. We urge Congress to take it up.”

    “Uber is proud to support the Connections to Health Infrastructure and Emergency Recovery Services (CHIERS) Act,” said CR Wooters, Head of Federal Affairs at Uber. “Lack of transportation should not stand in the way of accessing care. Through Uber Health, community organizations and non-profits can help patients reach the services and care they need to aid recovery. We applaud Representatives Bonamici, Bacon, and Valadao for their leadership on this issue.”

    The legislative text of the CHIERS Act can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Announces Changes to Connecticut’s Early Child Care and Education Programs That Will Enable More Children To Enroll and at Less Cost to Parents

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is making several changes to Connecticut’s early child care and education programs that will result in more children being able to receive access to these programs, while also lowering the associated costs to their parents.

    “Access to child care and early education programs is massively important to the success of our state, not only because these programs provide valuable tools for children that will lead them to success in the future, but also because being able to enroll your child in care right now means that parents themselves can have an opportunity to obtain employment and earn an income that supports their family,” Governor Lamont said. “Right now, Connecticut is expanding access to child care for high-need communities to levels we’ve never experienced and I am determined to continue this trend. I appreciate the Biden-Harris administration for working with our state to make expanding access to child care a priority.”

    Effective January 1, 2025, family fees for Care 4 Kids – the state program that supports low to moderate-income families with some of the costs of paying for child care – will be capped at 7% of household income, which is down from the current rate of 10%. This means that the fees required to participate in Care 4 Kids will decrease for all participating families. On average, it is estimated that this change will save families about $200 per month.

    Additionally, effective October 1, 2024, in an effort to reduce the benefit cliff that families enrolled in Care 4 Kids can face, families participating in this program will be able to remain enrolled until their household income reaches 85% of the state median income, which is an increase from the current limit of 65%. This means that if a parent receives a promotion or pay raise from their employer, it is more likely they can accept the pay increase and not worry that it will prevent their child from continuing to receive this care.

    Both of these changes bring Connecticut in alignment with federal requirements and can be implemented using existing federal funds.

    An additional 1,500 children will be enrolled in Care 4 Kids, bringing the total number of children served under this program from 21,500 to 23,000, using existing state and federal funding.

    In addition to the Care 4 Kids changes, the state is adding 900 new state-funded early care and education spaces for young children through the School Readiness and Child Day Care program by maximizing existing state funds.

    These programs are administered by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood.

    “Connecticut continues to look for ways to leverage state and federal resources to increase access to affordable child care for families,” Connecticut Early Childhood Commissioner Beth Bye said. “Today’s announcement is about adding capacity and affordability. It’s good for families, good for child care programs, and good for Connecticut’s economy.”

    This added capacity brings the total number of children receiving municipal, state, and federally funded early childhood programs in Connecticut to 62,400, which is well ahead of the Connecticut Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care’s goal of 60,000 children being funded in these programs by fiscal year 2026. With these new investments, 29% of children under 5 years of age will be enrolled in more affordable early childhood education programs in the current fiscal year.

    “Child care is a necessity for Connecticut’s working families and the Biden-Harris administration commends the state for moving swiftly to implement a new federal rule to lower costs for families participating in the child care subsidy program,” Ruth Friedman, director of the Office of Child Care for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said.

    “Few things are more frustrating for parents than trying to find affordable child care,” U.S. Senator Chris Murphy said. “These new changes are going to make a big difference for thousands of families by lowering costs and opening up more spots in child care and early education programs. It’s a big deal for those kids’ development, but it will also give the state’s economy a boost. I’ll keep fighting to increase the federal government’s investment in child care in Connecticut.”

    “I am thrilled to see federal funding be used to take bold steps that will make more child care slots available in our state and lower costs by capping fees for low and middle-income families receiving assistance at 7% of their household income,” U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) said. “Under Governor Lamont’s leadership, Connecticut is leading the nation to ensure working families can access the child care they need to make ends meet. I will continue to work with President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the entire Connecticut Congressional delegation to build on this progress in Washington so every family can afford high-quality child care.”

    “Affordable child care is essential for families to thrive,” U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) said. “And yet, they struggle with the high cost – making difficult decisions on their budget to ensure their children are cared for when they go to work. I am proud to have secured American Rescue Plan Act funding and Child Care and Development Fund dollars to help bring down the cost of childcare in Connecticut. Ensuring parents pay no more than seven percent of their income for childcare, will help families keep more of their hard-earned dollars.”

    Governor Lamont made these announcements today during a news conference at the Enfield Child Development Center.

    “We are very proud to serve families in our community who are working or attending training or college who are supported thorough the Care 4 Kids program,” Eileen Gardner, senior site manager for the Enfield Child Development Center, said. “These changes will help our families pay for child care and other critical household needs. We are also committed to partnering with the Office of Early Childhood to deliver state-funded high-quality early care and education services to our youngest children.”

    “I began working at the Enfield Child Development Center two years ago as a teacher’s aide in the toddler program,” Ashley Plaza Torres said. “I have two children, 8 years old and 2 years old, and I am thankful to have the support of Care 4 Kids because it gives me the opportunity to work and afford child care for two children.”

    These changes and their impacts on Connecticut’s workforce and its economy are projected to increase the state’s gross domestic product by $351 million and state revenue by $29.7 million. For every dollar invested in adding these child care slots, there is an expected one-year return of approximately $13.50 in total economic benefits. If it is assumed an additional slot enables on additional parent to join the workforce, even at minimum wage, this would add $33,000 in household earnings.

    For information on Care 4 Kids, visit ctcare4kids.com.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Rep. Wild Sits Down with La Mega’s Victor Martinez for Behind-the-Scenes Look at Her Work in Congress

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Susan Wild (PA-07)

    Recently, Congresswoman Susan Wild hosted Allentown’s Victor Martinez with La Mega radio to provide a behind-the-scenes look at her work in Congress. During their conversation, they discussed Rep. Wild’s work on her committees, federal funding she secured for projects throughout the Greater Lehigh Valley, and her legislative priorities.

    Check out some memorable moments of the conversation below:

    Federal Funding Secured for Community

    Rep. Wild’s Committee Work

    “Big Deal”: Lowering Health Care Costs

     You can watch the full interview here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Community Planning Aberdeen to become Volunteer Charter Champion

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Community Planning Aberdeen is to become a Volunteer Charter Champion in recognition of the significant role volunteers have in supporting communities and people across the city.

    The Volunteer Charter, produced by Volunteer Scotland, is a tool for policy makers, elected members and funders to use when making decisions about how volunteering is represented in decision making processes, policy development, and how volunteering is resourced and utilised.

    It sets out 10 key principles which help to underpin good relations within a volunteering environment and is open to any individual, group or organisation from any sector which either involve volunteers, or influence decisions on volunteering.

    Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard, Chair of the Community Planning Aberdeen Board, said: “We are very fortunate in Aberdeen that so many people give up their free time, share their knowledge and skills, and their enthusiasm to support people and communities across the city on a voluntary basis.   

    “It is in recognition of the importance of volunteers to communities, people and place that Community Planning Aberdeen has agreed to become a Volunteer Charter Champion.

    “We would like to thank all volunteers for their dedication and commitment. By working in partnership, we can all ‘do our bit’ to ensure Aberdeen is a place where everyone can prosper.”

    Volunteer Scotland and Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations (ACVO) invited Community Planning Aberdeen to sign up to the Volunteer Charter. It was agreed that it could only sign the charter if partner organisations could collectively adhere to the principles.

    Partners are supportive of the Volunteer Charter with some; Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Grampian and North East College Scotland stating that they will also sign up as individual organisations. Aberdeen City Council agreed to become a Volunteer Charter Champion at the Council meeting on 3 July 2024.

    Following the Chair’s formal pledge of support of the Volunteer Charter on behalf of the partnership the necessary arrangements will be put in place to ensure the charter is integrated within the appropriate Community Planning Aberdeen structures.

    Find out more about volunteering opportunities with Community Planning Aberdeen here. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: How a women-led tech startup is using AI to motivate Brazilians to take better care of themselves  

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: How a women-led tech startup is using AI to motivate Brazilians to take better care of themselves  

    Like many countries experiencing rapid urbanization, Brazil is grappling with high rates of heart disease and metabolic conditions, such as diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, also known as steatohepatitis. The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Brazil is estimated to be around 35.3 percent, the highest in Latin America, compared to 25 percent worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease database. While costly to treat and potentially deadly, many chronic conditions, including NAFLD, can be prevented – or even reversed – with proper diet and exercise, according to the Journal of Hepatology. That’s one reason why more companies like Rigo’s have signed up for RadarFit. In a few short years RadarFit has enrolled over 60 corporate customers – and is on track to have 80 commercial clients by the end of this year.

    Powered by the Microsoft Cloud, RadarFit runs on Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service and uses Microsoft Copilot Studio to automate marketing, and analyze data and user feedback.

    The impact of RadarFit on the health of employees has “been a big surprise to us,” says Samuel Lopes Fontes, who overseas finance and HR at Cooabriel, Rigo’s employer. Under persistent but friendly prompting from the RadarFit app, says Lopes Fontes, “people who claimed they didn’t have time to go to the gym started exercising and waking up earlier so they can take care of themselves.” In another turnaround, colleagues are asking the company to stock more fresh fruit and vegetables in the employee kitchen.  

    Two years ago, 27 of Cooabriel’s 470 employees signed up for RadarFit. Now as word has spread, 59 are taking part, and in the first six months of this year, health complaints have fallen by half, says Lopes Fontes.

    Prompted by RadarFit’s AI-generated app, Lopes Fontes, who, like Rigo, also developed fatty liver disease (although his was caught much earlier) improved his diet, started running more and says his doctor has since declared his disease in remission.

    Of course, there are thousands of apps and websites dishing out health and wellness advice, and many more millions of people who aspire to live healthier lifestyles but fail to follow through.

    That’s where gamification comes into play. “The root cause of the difficulty of achieving a healthy life is the lack of immediate results,” says Filizzola. Even if a person puts in 60 minutes of exercise or eats a healthy meal, “they don’t instantly get the health and body they want,” she says. “This lack of immediate reward is what triggers the lack of motivation.”

    “For companies, we solve the problem of high costs from employee health problems and having to invest a lot in health benefits,” says Jade Utsch Filizzola, Chief Executive Officer of Brazil’s RadarFit. Photo by Avener Prado.

    So RadarFit uses generative AI, combined with a points system, to incentivize healthier choices. Anonymized user data captured from the uploaded images of meals and other activities is used to generate “tags” – or labels – that generate personalized recommendations based on each healthy habit registered by users. An avatar that “learns” from user input recommends meals and physical activity tailored to individual health goals. Points awarded for healthy choices can be exchanged for donations to social or environmental causes or redeemed for products like appliances and electronics.

    Different point categories recognize that some tasks are more difficult than others. For example, a 15-minute workout earns 3 points, while a 60-minute or longer workout can be worth 9 points. A healthy meal can earn 31 points, highlighting the importance of healthy eating, while tasks like drinking a glass of water, an important but easier task, earns 5 points.

    The RadarFit app also allows users to track their progress compared to colleagues, the kind of friendly competition that research has shown can act as a further spur to action (and is familiar to anyone who has practiced more after comparing their scores to other learners on popular language apps). Users can also opt out of company competitions.

    RadarFit Chief Technology Officer Tatiany Duarte, who designed her first video game at age 15, says combining generative AI with gamification turns what could be a dreaded task into something fun and engaging. It “makes it much more playful,” she says. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Improving the lives of Scotland’s Gypsy/Travellers

    Source: Scottish Government

    Voices of communities at the heart of plan to tackle discrimination and social exclusion.

    Improved access to housing, education and health services and tackling discrimination are at the heart of a new Gypsy/Traveller Action Plan agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA.

    The voices of Gypsy/Travellers have helped shape the Plan, which acknowledges improvements in many of these areas, but recognises further progress needs to be made.  

    The Scottish Government and COSLA will work with stakeholders to take forward measures in the Plan.

    Key actions in the plan include:

    • Supporting Local Authorities to provide more and better accommodation, by taking steps for funding to be accessed under the Affordable Housing Supply Programme from 2026-27, and ensuring planners understand the needs of Gypsy/Traveller communities
    • Measures to remove barriers to education and improve educational outcomes for Gypsy/Traveller children and young people
    • Improving Gypsy/Travellers’ access to and experience of healthcare
    • Working to remove barriers to accessing benefits and build understanding among employers of the inequalities faced by Gypsy/Travellers, with practical tools to support recruitment and retention.
    • Challenging prejudice and discrimination and helping communities to influence decision-making

    Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said:

    “Improving the lives of Scotland’s Gypsy/Traveller communities is a significant human rights commitment and is crucial in helping us deliver the fairer Scotland we want to see.

    “The voices of Gypsy/Travellers across Scotland are at the centre of this second national joint action plan, and it is a testimony to the collaborative work of national and local government, third sector organisations, and most of all, the determination of Gypsy/Travellers to ensure better futures for their communities.

    “We know current initiatives are having a positive impact on the lives of Gypsy/Traveller communities across Scotland, like the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund and the success of the Community Health Worker project in overcoming barriers to accessing health and other statutory services.

    “However, there is still work to do. Through the actions in this plan we will build on the successes we have had to date and make further progress in many areas such as accommodation, health, education and combating discrimination.”

     Background:

    Improving the Lives of Scotland’s Gypsy/Travellers Action Plan 2024-2026

    The Ministerial Oversight Group on Gypsy/Travellers, co-chaired by the Minister for Equalities and COSLA’s Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing, will oversee the work of the action plan and provide a forum for members of Gypsy/Traveller communities and stakeholders to engage in the discussion.

    In the 2022 Census, 3,343 people in Scotland identified as belonging to the Gypsy/Traveller ethnic group, representing 0.06% of Scotland’s population.[1] However, organisations working with these communities estimate the true Gypsy/Traveller population size could be as high as 15,000 to 20,000.  

    Testimonies from Gypsy/Traveller communities shared with the Scottish Human Rights Commission in 2023 underlined experiences of racism and discrimination, challenges with accessing services and poor quality accommodation impacting their physical and mental health negatively.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: School caving tragedy was preventable

    Source: Worksafe New Zealand

    WorkSafe has uncovered multiple failures that contributed to a teenager’s death on a school caving trip in Northland last year.

    Whangārei Boys’ High School student Karnin Petera drowned in floodwaters from torrential rain at Abbey Caves in May 2023. Sixteen other students on the trip and their two supervisors were lucky to survive.

    Karnin’s parents contacted the school multiple times to express their concerns about the weather in the lead-up to the trip, but were told it would go ahead as the school didn’t expect heavy rain until later.

    A full day before the group ventured in, MetService had issued an orange weather warning forecasting heavy rain. The school’s own risk assessment for the caving trip noted it would be cancelled in the event of heavy rain warnings. However, WorkSafe found there was no shared understanding among organisers and decision-makers of exactly what heavy rain meant, or when trips would be cancelled.

    Overall, the school Board had ineffective oversight of high-risk activities and critical decisions, and its emergency planning failed to identify the risk of rising water trapping students while caving. The Board fully cooperated with WorkSafe throughout the entire investigation.

    “This tragedy is the worst nightmare of any parent, and could easily have involved multiple casualties. Our heartfelt sympathy remains with Karnin’s friends and whānau who continue to mourn his loss and the survivors who live with ongoing impacts,” says WorkSafe’s Inspectorate Head, Rob Pope.

    “Outdoor education plays a crucial role in providing students with valuable, real-world learning experiences that enhance their overall education. However, there must be gold standard risk management whenever schools take rangatahi into the great outdoors. This drowning should be a moment for every school board in the country to ensure its oversight of outdoor education is robust – and if you’re at all unsure, get an expert involved,” says Rob Pope.

    Education outside the classroom (EOTC) safety management systems should be regularly reviewed by school boards.

    “It is essential that the person responsible for EOTC in each school is registered on the EOTC coordinators database and participates in ongoing professional development, so schools can continue delivering safe, engaging, and high-quality education outside the classroom,” says Education Outdoors New Zealand’s chief executive, Fiona McDonald.

    Schools must manage their risks under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. WorkSafe is proactively engaging with the Ministry of Education, Education Review Office, and Education Outdoors NZ to raise awareness of the issues and drive improvements across the sector.

    Read more guidance from Education Outdoors New Zealand(external link)

    Background

    • The Whangārei Boys’ High School Board was sentenced at Whangārei District Court on 27 September 2024
    • The charges were filed against the legal entity of the Board, not individuals
    • Reparation payments of more than $500,000 were ordered but the details are suppressed
    • The Board was charged under sections 36(2), 48(1) and 2(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
      • Being a PCBU, having a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers of other persons is not put at risk from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking, namely the outdoor education caving activity to Abbey Caves Reserve, did fail to comply with that duty, and that failure exposed other persons, including Karnin Petera, to a risk or death or serious injury.
    • The Board was charged under sections 36(1)(a), 48(1) and 2(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
      • Being a PCBU, having a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who work for the PCBU while the workers were at work in the business or undertaking, namely undertaking an outdoor education caving activity to Abbey Caves Reserve, did fail to comply with that duty, and that failure exposed workers to a risk of death or serious injury.

    Media contact details

    For more information you can contact our Media Team using our media request form. Alternatively:

    Email: media@worksafe.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Secretary for Health calls on Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council and National Medical Products Administration (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and his delegation conducted the last day of their visit to Beijing today (September 27), and called on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (HKMAO) and the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).     The delegation called on the Executive Deputy Director of the HKMAO of the State Council, Mr Zhou Ji, this morning. Professor Lo expressed gratitude to the HKMAO for its continuous support and trust in the work of the Health Bureau (HHB), and introduced to Mr Zhou the latest developments of various healthcare reform initiatives in Hong Kong, including the initial achievements in the area of health and medical innovation.     Professor Lo said, “The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC Central Committee) adopted the Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization, and Deepening the Medical and Health System Reform was identified as one of the key tasks. It is essential for Hong Kong to press ahead with reform and innovation in the healthcare system to cater for the mounting service demand of society posed by an ageing population.     “The HHB will stay committed to implementing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and reform the healthcare system in a progressive manner. We have been progressively implementing the Primary Healthcare Blueprint and developing new healthcare services and management models to promote primary healthcare development on all fronts. We have enhanced the mechanism of healthcare professional training and created new pathways for admitting non-locally trained healthcare personnel to practise in Hong Kong so as to strengthen the healthcare manpower supply, and made every effort to formulate the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint in collaboration with the Chinese medicine sector to promote the inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine, etc. At the same time, we will give full play to the medical strengths of Hong Kong and complement the advantages of other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to vigorously develop new quality productive forces in biomedicine according to local conditions, with a view to developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub.”     “The HHB will adhere to the objectives of ‘Government dominating; be bold and committed; improving the healthcare system; caring for all patients; be creative and innovative; leading the GBA; seeking common ground while allowing differences; and winning mutually in the reforms’, and make breakthroughs and changes through an innovative mindset, so as to build a ‘Healthy Hong Kong’ for integration into the nation’s ‘Healthy China’,” he emphasised.     Professor Lo and his delegation then met with Deputy Commissioner of the NMPA Mr Zhao Junning to exchange views on fostering closer collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong in key areas such as the regulatory and approval of drugs and medical devices, cross-boundary clinical trials, and real-world data research.     Professor Lo highlighted the efforts to develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub, and establish an authority that registers drugs and medical devices under the “primary evaluation” approach in the long run.     He said, “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will leverage the city’s medical strengths in a more proactive and efficient manner. The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute established by the HHB in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone and the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Centre in the Shenzhen Park will jointly set up a regional clinical trial collaboration platform leveraging the GBA population base of over 86 million, with a view to attracting more local, Mainland and overseas pharmaceutical and medical device enterprises to conduct research and development (R&D) as well as clinical trials in Hong Kong, and build up the capacity, recognition and status to ensure that the eventual approval mechanism of drugs and medical devices in Hong Kong would be widely recognised internationally and by the Mainland.     The HKSAR Government implemented the new “1+” mechanism for approval of new drugs (“1+” mechanism) on November 1 last year. Since the implementation of the “1+” mechanism, the Department of Health (DH) has received over 250 enquiries from more than 70 pharmaceutical companies, including many overseas and Mainland pharmaceutical companies, and has approved five new drug applications under this mechanism, bringing new hope to patients. The “1+” mechanism has effectively accelerated the R&D and registration and approval of innovative drugs and medical devices in Hong Kong, bringing the benefits of good drugs and R&D to Hong Kong patients. At the same time, the HKSAR Government established the Preparatory Office for the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR) under the DH on June 5 this year to comprehensively study and plan a regulatory and approval regime for drugs and medical devices suitable for Hong Kong, as well as put forward proposals and steps for the establishment of the CMPR.     Members of the delegation include the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Sam Hui; the Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Henry Fan; and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko. They will return to Hong Kong tonight.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Redefining the “Health or Wealth” Dilemma through HealthFi with Dynachain

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, Sept. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dynachain, a pioneer in the HealthFi space, is redefining the way we approach health and finance in daily lives, merging them into a single platform that motivates and incentivizes users for living healthier lives through exclusive financial rewards. With this innovative platform, Dynachain envisions a global community where personal wellness and financial prosperity are intertwined, allowing individuals to achieve both simultaneously. By emphasizing on improving well-being through actionable incentives, Dynachain is setting a new benchmark for aligning personal health goals with financial growth.

    At the heart of Dynachain’s platform lies its proprietary Proof of Wellness (PoW) economics, powering a range of innovative products within their ecosystem, including Drink2Earn, Sleep2Earn, and Wave2Earn, each designed to promote healthier behaviors while offering users financial incentives, creating a sustainable cycle of wellness and rewards. These products have gained significant traction over the past three years, with more than 20,000 devices sold globally, demonstrating the value these products bring to users by helping them achieve positive health outcomes alongside financial benefits.

    • Drink2Earn: Hydrate healthily and earn rewards with DC LIFE PROMAX, A Hydrogen Water Machine.
    • Sleep2Earn: Enhance your sleep quality with the DC REVIVE Smart Mattress , rewarding you for restful nights.
    • Wave2Earn: Rejuvenate and relax with the Ultra Long Wave Massage Device, DC WAVE, rewarding you for prioritizing wellness.

    Leading a New Era in Health with Dynachain

    Dynachain’s upcoming listing on MEXC slated for 28 September, is set to offer early participants an exclusive opportunity to secure tokens before the broader rollout. With only 2.1% of the total circulating supply available during TGE, token scarcity is expected to drive early demand for mass adoption as we progress towards the emerging HealthFi era. Early participants will gain access to Dynachain tokens, positioning themselves ahead of the curve as HealthFi continues to attract attention from both the health and finance sectors.

    Dynachain’s Power Boost Staking Program, with its staking period active from 29 September, 05:00:00 (UTC) to 4 October, 04:59:59 (UTC), offers a unique opportunity for users to maximize their returns through timely participation, especially since rewards are calculated by the second. To receive 100% of your potential staking rewards, staking must begin precisely at the start of the campaign. This five-day window is critical for participants looking to maximize their earnings, with daily rewards of 20% for early stakers.

    Stake Early to Join the HealthFi Movement

    To participate, users must first buy Dynachain tokens on MEXC and then access the staking platform via app.dynachain.io. The earlier you stake, the higher the rewards. For instance, staking 25 minutes after the campaign begins still allows users to earn 99.65% of the rewards, whereas waiting until 4 October significantly reduces the potential to 4.16%. With the campaign approaching a close, staked tokens will be made fully withdrawable, and accumulated rewards will follow a 600-day vesting schedule starting from 4 March 2025, encouraging long-term engagement amongst users with the Dynachain ecosystem.

    Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to be part of a groundbreaking movement where “health or wealth” is no longer a dilemma. Secure your part in the rapidly expanding HealthFi ecosystem by participating early in Dynachain’s Power Boost Staking Program to make sure you get the most from your investment. Be part of the HealthFi future — stake with Dynachain today!

    For media inquiries or further information, please visit the following:

    X: https://twitter.com/Dynachain

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dynachain.official

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dynachain.io/

    Telegram Community: https://t.me/+wuP60V8ojkBmN2Vl

    Telegram Announcement Channel: https://t.me/dynachaindc

    Media Contact:

    Name: Rayz

    Email: zc.ooi@dynachain.io

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by “Dynachain”. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6823c2f5-737d-4b77-8338-eeeeeb304c44

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH’s enforcement operation “Pipepurge” against waterpipe smoking in no smoking areas (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) conducted an enforcement operation codenamed “Pipepurge” last night (September 26) against illegal waterpipe smoking activities in no smoking areas in Tsim Sha Tsui.
         
         During the operation, officers from TACO (including plainclothes officers) issued a total of seven fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to persons illegally smoking waterpipes at one bar. TACO’s investigation is ongoing, and prosecution may also be taken against operators of the bar who are suspected of contravening the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) (the Ordinance) and the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap. 221) for aiding and abetting smoking offences. TACO will also notify the Liquor Licensing Board of the above-mentioned violation.
         
         Under the Ordinance, conducting a smoking act in a statutory no smoking area (such as indoor areas of bars or restaurants) is prohibited. Any person doing a smoking act in statutory no smoking areas is liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. Moreover, where smoking products (including waterpipes) are sold, in bars or otherwise, the restrictions on the promotion and sale of smoking products stipulated in the Ordinance apply. Offenders are liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000. Venue managers of statutory no smoking areas are empowered by the Ordinance to request a smoking offender cease the act; if the offender is not co-operative, the manager may contact the Police for assistance.
         
         Also, under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission by another person of any offence shall be guilty of the like offence. A spokesman for the DH appeals to operators and venue mangers of bars/restaurants not to assist any person in breaching the statutory smoking prohibitions, or provide a waterpipe apparatus and tobacco to customers for use.
         
         The DH spokesman stressed that TACO will follow up and investigate every complaint about illegal smoking, and will conduct inspections and take enforcement actions in the venue concerned. TACO will also conduct joint inspections and enforcement action (including plainclothes operations) with other law enforcement agencies from time to time with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement. The DH will continue to closely monitor and take stringent enforcement actions to tackle illegal waterpipe smoking. In the past 12 months, TACO conducted 119 operations against illegal waterpipe smoking activities in no smoking areas. A total of 161 FPNs were issued against smoking offenders, while 78 summonses were issued to staff members and operators of the bars/restaurants for other related offences.   

         The spokesman said that waterpipe is a smoking product, and its combustion of fuel (e.g. charcoal) releases carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas that is a by-product from incomplete combustion of any fuel containing carbon, such as charcoals. Exposure to a low concentration of carbon monoxide can lead to a range of symptoms such as dizziness, headache, tiredness and nausea; whereas exposure to a high concentration of carbon monoxide can lead to impaired vision, disturbed co-ordination, unconsciousness, brain damage or even death. People should seek medical attention immediately if they suspect they are developing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
         
         Due to deeper inhalation and longer smoking sessions, waterpipe users usually inhale more toxins than they would when smoking cigarettes. A typical one-hour waterpipe smoking session exposes the user to 100 to 200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from a single conventional cigarette. Moreover, sharing a waterpipe apparatus increases the risk of transmitting infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis. Furthermore, areas in bars/restaurants where waterpipes are handled or kept have been found to be unhygienic during previous enforcement operations. The spokesman cautions against waterpipe smoking and the use of other smoking products. Smokers should quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. For more information on the hazards of waterpipe smoking, please visit http://www.livetobaccofree.hk/pdfs/waterpipe_leaflet_new.pdf.   

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government announces appointments to Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Government announces appointments to Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health
    Government announces appointments to Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health
    ****************************************************************************

         ​The Government announced today (September 27) the reappointment of Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai and Dr Johnnie Casire Chan Chi-kau as the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) respectively, and the reappointment of five incumbent members as well as the appointment of seven new members. All appointments will take effect from October 1 this year for a two-year tenure.     The five reappointed incumbent members are Mr Langton Cheung Yung-pong, Mr Clement Fung Cheuk-nang, Mr Terence Lau Chun-kai, Dr Haston Liu Wai-ming, and Professor Phoenix Mo Kit-han. The seven newly appointed members are Dr Celine Ho Ming-wai, Ms Lee Yi-ying, Professor Vitus Leung Wing-hang, Dr Chris Ng Chun-kong, Professor Or Ka-hang, Mr Simon Wong Hin-wing and Mr Tang Fei.     COSH is a statutory body established in 1987 to advise the Government on matters related to smoking and health. It is also tasked to advance public education concerning the effects of smoking on the community and individuals as well as to engage in smoking-related research.     The full membership of the Council with effect from October 1, 2024, is as follows: Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai (Chairman)Dr Johnnie Casire Chan Chi-kau (Vice-Chairman)Mr Langton Cheung Yung-pongMr Clement Fung Cheuk-nangMiss Ho Alice Chiu-yanDr Celine Ho Ming-waiMr Terence Lau Chun-kaiMs Lee Yi-yingDr Will Leung Lok-hangProfessor Vitus Leung Wing-hangDr Haston Liu Wai-mingProfessor Phoenix Mo Kit-hanDr Chris Ng Chun-kongProfessor Or Ka-hangMr Simon Wong Hin-wingMr Tang FeiController, Regulatory Affairs, Department of Health

     
    Ends/Friday, September 27, 2024Issued at HKT 11:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: In the mysteries of the operating room, jobs with high employability potential

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Geneva in French

    Focus on two complementary medical-technical professions: operating room technician and medical device technologist.

    Start of the day in the operating room. The operating room technician (OT) goes through the patient’s file being cared for by the care team. In this work, it is essential to be prepared for any eventuality, to think about the complications that may arise during a surgical procedure.

    The TSO is one of the links in the treatment chain, guaranteeing hygiene, safety and good care. This is why checking the patient’s identity and identifying any allergies and medical history are the first essential steps before any procedure in the operating room. Then, she puts on her sterile pajamas and proceeds to surgical hand washing.

    Unite around the patient

    Continuation of the adventures in the operating room. The final preparations are finalized: the surfaces disinfected, the devices necessary for the intervention checked.

    The operation can then begin. Silence takes over the operating room. The interdisciplinary team is focused, hypervigilant. “Like an orchestra conductor, the TSO coordinates each step precisely,” explains Luzia Stettler, a teacher at the École supérieure de la santé. “She anticipates the surgeon’s actions by presenting him with the instruments and, in particular, guarantees that the operations go smoothly. Given the complexity of the profession, it requires three years of higher education after a secondary II diploma.”

    Now comes the reprocessing of medical devices, “an activity that occurs after their use on the patient,” explains Hervé Ney, sterilization expert at HUG and president of the Swiss Society for Hospital Sterilization. Coordination between TSOs and medical device technologists is therefore essential.”

    During this time

    A stone’s throw from the operating room, Djésika Anani is busy at Steriswiss, an outsourced sterilization company for clinics and medical centers. She is an apprentice medical device technologist (MDT) in her third and final year. A job that is also behind the scenes, straddling care and technology.

    After the crucial step of hand washing, she puts on her personal protective equipment and joins the sterilization team. Sorting, washing, disinfecting, packaging and sterilizing the medical instruments used now hold no more secrets for the apprentice.

    “After the TSO sends the used equipment for sterilization, there are several steps in three separate areas, from the dirtiest to the cleanest,” Djésika specifies. “In a rigorously followed order, we check the proper functionality and cleanliness of the medical devices after they have passed through the washer-disinfector. Then, we package them and sterilize the instrument sets that will be part of the surgeon’s instrument tray.”

    Four hours have passed since the beginning of the day. Time for the new patient.

    “All TSO ES students find a job before the final exams”

    Three questions for Luzia Stettler, TSO teacher at the École supérieure de la santé.

    Can a medical device technologist (CFC) continue in the “higher education” program as an operating room technician?

    Yes, directly after validating their CFC. Currently, we have two students who have gone through this route. They are exempt from courses and exams concerning sterilization, which represents an entire module (out of the nine in the training plan).

    What about employability?

    100%! All TSO ES students find a job before the final exams, as the shortage of manpower in care, and particularly in the operating room, is significant.

    Are there other opportunities to enter such a profession?

    Of course! However, you don’t improvise as a TSO: providing patients with services with a high degree of quality and safety remains our leitmotif. Nursing graduates who wish to specialize in the operating room field can have their acquired experience recognized and valued, thus validating one year of TSO training, and therefore train in two years. Exemptions are also possible for people who have worked in the operating room for several years and do not have an officially recognized qualification.

    Career focus dedicated to medical-technical care.

    Operating room professionals, TSO students and TDM apprentices will share their experience on Wednesday, October 9 between 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), at 4, rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil, in Geneva. Zoom professions by registration (45 places).

    To learn more and register: http://www.devenirtso.ch

    All information on vocational training:http://www.citedesmetiers.ch

    Text: Laurie Josserand, OFPC-SISP, DIP / Photo: Laurent CrottetArticle also published in the Tribune de Genève on September 26, 2024

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ARU collaborates on new childhood cancer project

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Published: 26 September 2024 at 12:28

    Scientists will work with Medannex to help accelerate treatment for bone cancer

    Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is collaborating with Scottish biopharmaceutical company Medannex on a £313,000 project to develop a new treatment for a childhood bone cancer.

    Thanks to funding from Innovate UK’s Cancer Therapeutics programme, Medannex will work with senior scientists at ARU’s School of Life Sciences and world-leading paediatric oncologists to prepare its first-in-class therapy MDX-124 for a clinical study focusing on paediatric osteosarcoma.

    MDX-124 is the first clinic-ready agent to target annexin-A1, a protein known to drive numerous cancers and other diseases. In preclinical tests, MDX-124 has been shown to stop the growth and spread of certain cancers, as well as harnessing the immune system to attack tumours. MDX-124 is currently being evaluated in a first-in-human Phase 1b oncology study in adults (‘ATTAINMENT’).

    Recent data mining of a paediatric genomics database and staining of tumour tissue has revealed that annexin-A1 is highly expressed in osteosarcoma, making MDX-124 a strong candidate to treat this form of cancer.

    Osteosarcoma is a rare primary cancer of the bone characterised by a high degree of malignancy, strong invasiveness, rapid disease progression and a high mortality rate. Approximately 50% of cases are in children and young adults, representing about 2% of all paediatric cancers.

    In the UK, around 65% of children with osteosarcoma survive for five years after diagnosis, however this drops to only 24% for those with metastatic disease. Therefore, there remains a significant unmet clinical need for novel therapies like MDX-124.

    Professor Chris Parris, Head of the School of Life Sciences at ARU, said:

    “We’re delighted to be collaborating with Medannex to explore this innovative approach to childhood cancer treatment and we look forward to generating key data in the coming months.”

    The project’s Clinical Advisory Board is led by Professor Pamela Kearns, Chair of Clinical Paediatric Oncology at the University of Birmingham, who said:

    “This grant award will allow Medannex to tackle the critical unmet need for new treatments in osteosarcoma. I look forward to helping guide the company’s development in this area and exploring the potential of MDX-124 to radically improve patient outcomes.”

    Medannex CEO, Ian Abercrombie, said:

    “We’re grateful to Innovate UK for this resounding endorsement of the potential of our first-in-class therapy to make a real difference to osteosarcoma patients and their families. Our team is excited to drive the project forward with the support of our scientific collaborators and specialist clinical advisors.”

    Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, will fund £231,000 of the project costs, with the remainder financed by Medannex.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Get your haul from the Hall as artisan market returns

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Around 70 of the best independent traders will be heading to St George’s Hall next month to showcase a vast array of stunning and unique products.

    The artisan market, which has FREE entry, returns on Sunday 6 October, after the huge success of the inaugural event back in June. Running from 10am to 4.30pm expect stalls filled with beautiful artwork, jewellery, candles and one-off homeware pieces.

    There will also be a whole host of goodies ranging from chocolates, to cheeses and chutneys, right through to a large selection of crafted pieces.

    Outside the Hall, the food zone will be the perfect place to take a break from browsing, with a variety of hot food vendors offering light bites or more substantial meals. And why not sit back and relax inside with a drink and enjoy the live music performances which will be taking place throughout the day.

    The first market took place on 16 June and attracted more than 3,000 visitors. There are already plans for a winter instalment of the market, which will take place on Sunday 3 November.

    Liverpool is home to a well-established markets offer, from the weekly Great Homer Street Market (Greatie Market) – to a regular programme of farmers’ and craft markets. Please visit the Council’s markets webpages for more information.

    Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: “There is already an autumnal nip in the air and this artisan market is the perfect, family-friendly way to while away an October day.

    “We were delighted with the numbers who came out in June to support local traders, so we knew it couldn’t be just a one-off event. We know that markets, done right, can be hugely popular and we have never been shy about our ambition to grow our markets and make them a key part of our destination offer which will not only appeal to residents, but will also bring in visitors from outside of the city.   

    “I’m sure this next instalment will prove to be popular once again, and that we can make this a permanent, seasonal offer at the Hall.”

    Local trader and textile designer specialising in unique, bespoke city landscapes, Sandra Hepworth, said: “The market was a big hit in June, and I’m so pleased we’re returning to St George’s Hall again. It’s a place where visitors can enjoy a vast array of high-quality products created by local traders, and get that personal, friendly interaction that makes artisan markets like this really stand out from the crowd.

    “And of course being located in such amazing surroundings really gives this venue the edge. I know so many people who are excited to come along in October – not only to check out the unique pieces for sale, but also to enjoy this incredible heritage gem, which many will be visiting for the first time.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ministerial event Feminist Foreign Policy Plus (FFP+) group Address by Jean-Noël Barrot Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs (25.09.24)

    Source: Republic of France in English
    The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

    Ministers,

    Representatives of the United Nations agencies, international organizations and civil society organizations,

    Executive Director of UN Women,

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    Our countries have chosen to officially adopt feminist foreign policy.

    By doing so, they pledged to make the rights of women and gender equality a priority.

    Because feminist foreign policy is a political commitment: to combat violence against women and girls all over the world; to defend and, as decided in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, make gender equality effective; and to reaffirm and promote the universality of the rights of women and girls everywhere that they are under threat.

    And it is on the basis of these principles that I will have the honour and pleasure of welcoming you to France in 2025 as agreed for the next Feminist Foreign Policy Conference.

    2025 will also mark the 30th anniversary of two key documents in the advancement of the rights of women and girls around the world: the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. We must continue to enforce this reference framework and go even further.

    That is why France enshrined the freedom to choose an abortion in its Constitution on 8 March 2024. Guaranteeing sexual and reproductive health and rights means respecting women’s right to control over their own bodies. We must protect that right from any regression, and it must remain an absolute priority for our group. We invite all States to give the right to abortion the highest level of legal protection.

    Going further also means taking into account the challenges presented by the rapid development of new digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.

    In 2023, France launched the Laboratory for Women’s Rights Online, an international platform created to fight online violence against women and girls. By doing so, we are building the first forum of this kind, which will be both a space for dialogue and an incubator for projects.

    The upcoming AI Action Summit, set to take place in Paris in February 2025, will also be an opportunity to address gender bias and barriers to the rights of women and girls online.

    This autumn, France – with the Netherlands – will present a draft resolution to combat online violence against women and girls to the General Assembly. They are the primary victims, and it is time that the international community tackles this issue.

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    Violence is also perpetrated against women and girls in the context of war. We cannot resign ourselves to what is happening in Afghanistan, where the Taliban’s policy of segregation is erasing women from society. We have made respect for the rights of women a clear condition for political dialogue to resume. That condition must be met. We should not, cannot, abandon Afghan women and girls. It would be a moral failure.

    Nor can we omit to condemn in the strongest terms the barbaric sexual violence committed by Hamas and other terrorist groups on 7 October last year.

    And we cannot forget the lives of Yazidi women, shattered by the genocidal terrorism of Daesh.

    Relentlessly fighting sexual and gender-based violence and impunity will remain central to our work. France was the first to support the fund launched by Nadia Murad and Doctor Mukwege, and supported the first International Conference of Prosecutors on Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence at The Hague in March. We will continue to work to support female victims of sexual violence, as we are doing in Ukraine for the victims of Russian atrocities, and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic.

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    The international community should not limit its understanding of feminism to the protection of victims. I mentioned the upcoming anniversary of the Beijing Declaration next year; I now want to highlight the role of women as drivers of change for peace, sustainable development and prosperity. Involving women and girls in decision-making processes is both a moral imperative and a condition for our prosperity.

    We therefore support the draft general recommendation No. 4 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems. It is a major step forward. I also commend the work of the Committee and thank Minister Nicole Ameline for her enlightening presentation.

    As we know, women play a crucial role in responding to crises and, together, ensuring peace and security. With this in mind, I hope to one day address a female Secretary-General of the United Nations, as well as her envoy for the political participation of women and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

    I would like to reiterate that France supports the voices of those who defend these rights, often risking their lives, all over the world. The Support Fund for Feminist Organizations, a French initiative, is the world’s leading fund in terms of financing and geographic scope. I am committed to enshrining it in the long term.

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    In conclusion, I would like to express France’s support for all women and girls whose voices have been stifled and silenced, and whose freedoms and rights have been denied and trampled. France stands with you, and with them.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Publicly Traded Tritent International Corp. and Burst Technologies, Inc. Sign MOU to Outline Strategic Merger Plans

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tritent International Corp. (“Tritent”), a US public company (US OTC: TICJ), and Burst Technologies, Inc. (“Burst Technologies”), a Delaware corporation, are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) that outlines the key terms and conditions for a proposed strategic merger. The MOU was officially executed on September 24, 2024.

    In a groundbreaking move to enhance healthcare billing efficiency, Burst Technologies and Tritent are excited to announce their potential merger, which introduces the build out of an AI-accelerated billing solution designed to recover Medicare Part B costs for nursing homes across the United States where in most cases currently goes unrecovered. This innovative technology aims to streamline billing processes, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure that nursing homes receive maximum reimbursement for these products and services.

    Key Benefits of Burst’s AI-Accelerated Healthcare Solution

    Maximized Reimbursement: Nursing homes can achieve direct recovery of Medicare Part B costs, significantly improving their bottom line.

    Efficiency Boost: Automated processes reduce the time and effort required for billing, freeing up staff and resources to focus more on patient care.

    Enhanced Accuracy: Technology and AI-driven algorithms minimize errors and optimize claim submissions and help ensure compliance with Medicare and insurance regulations.

    Key Points of the MOU

    This proposed merger is designed to enhance the capabilities and market presence of both organizations by integrating Burst Technologies as a wholly owned subsidiary of Tritent.

    Merger Structure: Under the proposed terms, Tritent will become the primary entity, and Burst Technologies will be integrated as a wholly owned subsidiary, ensuring operational continuity and strategic alignment between the companies.

    Governance and Management: Post-merger, key management and operational roles within Tritent will be filled by executives from Burst Technologies. Additionally, Burst Technologies will appoint a majority of the Board of Directors of the merged entity, ensuring a cohesive leadership team.

    Share Exchange: As part of the merger, Tritent will issue common restricted shares in accordance with the Definitive Share Exchange Agreement, facilitating the acquisition of Burst Technologies.

    Good Standing and Compliance: Both companies have committed to maintaining good standing with relevant regulatory bodies and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, including those set forth by the OTC Markets, FINRA, and the State.

    Mutual Responsibilities: The MOU emphasizes the spirit of cooperation, transparency, and mutual respect between the parties. Both Tritent and Burst Technologies will work together diligently to finalize the Definitive Share Exchange Agreement and ensure the success of the merger.

    Market Size: Burst Technologies has developed a multi-year financial plan, focusing on expanding its client base and boosting revenue inside the Nursing Care Facilities and Continuing Care Retirement Communities representing 4%, or $180 billion, of the $4.5 trillion National Healthcare Expenditure (NHE) marketplace1.

    “This MOU represents an exciting opportunity for both companies to leverage each other’s strengths and drive growth in our respective markets,” said Reno J. Calabrigo, CEO of Tritent International Corp. “We are confident that this merger will create significant value for our shareholders and position us for long-term success.”

    Eric Hansen, CEO of Burst Technologies, added, “This partnership marks the first step toward making the nursing home industry a leader in technology. We’ll start by building the first AI-driven billing solution specifically for nursing homes. From there, we’ll continue pushing boundaries to bring fresh innovation to an industry ready for transformation. Our goal is not just to modernize long-term care, but to set a new tech standard for the entire sector, and we’re confident this merger offers an exciting path for our shareholders.”

    The MOU sets the framework for the negotiation and execution of a Definitive Share Exchange Agreement, which both parties expect to finalize in the coming weeks.

    About Burst Technologies, Inc.

    Burst is building out an AI-accelerated healthcare billing solution designed for America’s nursing homes, addressing a critical gap where many Medicare Part B supply costs currently go unrecovered. Currently, Burst supports 30 nursing homes and over 3,000 residents, ensuring they receive the healthcare returns they deserve. With a market size serving 1.6 million elderly residents across 16,700 facilities, Burst can ensure that essential Medicare reimbursements are accessible, transforming the way nursing homes manage healthcare billing. With a focus on healthcare inclusion, Burst’s success-based model allows any nursing home to sign up at no upfront cost, delivering reimbursements directly to their bank accounts. For more information please visit, http://www.burstmedicalbilling.com.

    About Tritent International Corp.

    Tritent International Corp. (US OTC: TICJ) is focused on the acquisition of controlling equity interests in disruptive companies by taking an active role to improve their growth, provide capital and management expertise.

    For more information, please contact:

    Tritent International Corp.
    Reno Calabrigo, Director
    Email: info@tritentintlcorp.com

    Burst Technologies, Inc.
    Eric Hansen, Director
    Email: Eric@Burstbilling.com

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This Press Release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “potential” and similar expressions. These statements reflect the Company’s current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to it. Accordingly, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements, as well as other risks discussed from time to time in our filings with OTC Markets, including, without limitation, our latest Quarterly Report filed on August 13th, 2024. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or advise in the event of any change, addition or alteration to the information catered in this Press Release, including such forward-looking statements.

    Footnote

    1: references Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of the Actuary, “National Health Expenditures 2022 Highlights” https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/national-health-expenditures-2022-highlights

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/65b45d29-324a-4e7c-8687-64bd4f854a51

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Health’s Human Subjects Protection Program Earns AAHRPP Reaccreditation

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn Health’s Human Subjects Protection Program (HSPP) has earned reaccreditation from the Association of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP). AAHRPP is an independent, non-profit accrediting body created to ensure that HRPPs across the nation meet rigorous standards in their policies, procedures, practices, and protections. 

    “AAHRPP is the gold standard,” says Michael Centola, associate vice president for research integrity at UConn Health. “As programs, we are required to abide by regulations. This accreditation shows that our program meets standards that are higher than what is required.”  

    HSPP oversees all research at UConn Health involving human subjects and their data. This broad range of activity includes clinical, bio-medical, social-behavioral, and retrospective research; clinical trials for drugs or devices; psychiatric research; research involving children; industry-sponsored evaluation of investigational drugs; internally funded research initiated by faculty; and two institutional review boards (IRBs).  

    AAHRPP reaccreditation is a lengthy, multi-step process much like what hospitals undergo to be reaccredited. A lot of preparation goes into the submission process, which takes about two years, says HSPP administrative manager Julia Blair.  

    The first phase includes a self-evaluation of all procedures and the preparation of a roughly 1,000–page application document, which Blair’s office submitted in June 2023. A site visit by AAHRPP followed in March 2024, during which evaluators talked to researchers and research staff.  

    “It’s a lot of folks participating in our process and contributing to our success in this effort,” Blair says.  “It’s a team effort.”  

    Anything flagged by evaluators must be addressed. But, in the case of UConn Health, no concerns were noted. In fact, the AAHRPP report held up the UConn Health HSPP as an example of how things should be done, noting a long list of strengths that included engaging with community-based organizations, consultations between researchers and the community about potential research projects, and use of surveys and other instruments to ensure that researchers were meeting the communities’ requests and needs.  

    “What that says is that UConn Health takes the protection of human subjects very seriously,” says Centola. “Institutions accredited by AAHRPP must have systems in place for participants, recording requirements, outreach and education for participants, and even conflict of interest committees — guardrails to ensure that anyone with a conflict of interest is appropriately managed.”   

    Stakeholders include faculty, staff, IRB members, and members of the Scientific Review and Conflicts of Interest Committees, Office of Clinical and Translational Research Services, Sponsored Program Services, Research Pharmacy and Research Safety, and many others.   

    Centola praised Blair and her team for driving the many steps of the reaccreditation process to a successful conclusion. Issued in June, the final report from AAHRPP grants UConn Health HSPP full reaccreditation for five years. The program received its first three-year accreditation in 2006 through the leadership of then-HSPP director Dr. Richard Simon and has consistently achieved five-year reaccreditations in the years since.  

    “Dr. Simon guided us all those years,” says Blair. “Given his commitment to high standards, we were not surprised our program successfully attained reaccreditation once again.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –