NewzIntel.com

Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: National Conference on ‘Emerging Trends in Psychological and Educational Interventions for Diverse Learners: Future Prospects and Challenges’, organized in Ahmedabad

    Source: Government of India (2)

    National Conference on ‘Emerging Trends in Psychological and Educational Interventions for Diverse Learners: Future Prospects and Challenges’, organized in Ahmedabad

    “Divyang students should be encouraged to pursue fields of engineering, science, and technology”: Secretary, DEPwD

    Posted On: 21 SEP 2024 9:45PM by PIB Delhi

    A three-day National Conference on ‘Emerging Trends in Psychological and Educational Interventions for Diverse Learners: Future Prospects and Challenges’, is being jointly organized by the Indian Academy of Health Psychology; the B.Ed. and M.Ed. Special Education Department, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar; and, the Composite Regional Skill Development, Rehabilitation, and Empowerment Centre for Divyangjan (M/o Social Justice & Empowerment), in Ahmedabad, from 20th to 22nd September 2024.

     

     

    On the second day of the conference, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, graced the event as the chief guest. He elaborated on the significant initiatives undertaken by the Government of India for persons with disabilities, such as the UDID card, free coaching programmes, and other schemes.

    Further, Shri Aggarwal particularly advocated for enhancing access to science and technology education for Divyangjan, especially those who are visually impaired or deaf-mute. He said, “Divyang students should be encouraged to pursue fields of engineering, science, and technology”.

    Dr. Niranjan Patel, Vice Chancellor of Sardar Patel University, presided over the ceremony. Mrs. Pooja Patel, Board Member of the National Trust Act and EC Member of the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), Delhi, along with Dr. Ajit Kumar, Director of CRC, Ahmedabad, were also present at the event. The conference director, Dr. Sameer J. Patel, delivered the welcome address, and Dr. Niranjan Patel emphasized the university’s sensitivity towards the needs of Divyangjan.

    Over 300 participants attended the three-day symposium, which received 119 research papers. The conference also saw the release of an abstract book compiling these research papers.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister attends the sixth Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 22 SEP 2024 5:21AM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the sixth Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware on 21 September 2024, hosted by the President of the United States of America, H.E. Mr. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Prime Minister of Australia, H.E. Mr. Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Mr. Fumio Kishida also participated.

    In his address, Prime Minister thanked President Biden for hosting the Summit and for his personal commitment to strengthen the Quad as a force for global good. Prime Minister stated that at a time when the world is ridden with tensions and conflicts, the coming together of Quad partners, with shared democratic ethos and values, is important for humanity. He emphasized that the group stood for upholding the international order based on the rule of law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and with a commitment to pursue peaceful resolution of disputes. He further stated that a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific was a shared objective of the Quad partners. He underlined that the Quad was here to stay, to assist, to partner and to complement the efforts of Indo-Pacific countries. 

    Reiterating that the Quad remains to be a “force for global good,” the Leaders made the following announcements to address the development priorities of the Indo-Pacific region and of the global community as a whole:

    * “Quad Cancer Moonshot”, a groundbreaking partnership to save lives in the Indo-Pacific region by combating cervical cancer.

    * “Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific” (MAITRI) to enable Indo-Pacific partners to maximize tools provided through IPMDA and other Quad initiatives.

    * First-ever “Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission” in 2025 to improve interoperability and advance maritime safety.

    * “Quad Ports of the Future Partnership” which will harness the Quad’s collective expertise to support sustainable and resilient port infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific.

    * “Quad Principles for Development and Deployment of Digital Public Infrastructure” in the region and beyond.

    * A “Semiconductor Supply Chains Contingency Network Memorandum of Cooperation” to enhance resilience of Quad’s semiconductor supply chains.

    * Collective Quad effort to boost energy efficiency, including deployment and manufacturing of high-efficiency affordable cooling systems in the Indo-Pacific region.

    * India’s establishment of a space-based web portal for Mauritius, to support the concept of open science for space-based monitoring of extreme weather events and climate impact.

    * A new sub-category under the Quad STEM Fellowship, announced by India, for students of the Indo-Pacific region to pursue a 4-year bachelor’s level engineering programme at a Government of India funded technical institute.

    The Leaders welcomed the next hosting of the Quad Leaders’ Summit by India in 2025. To take the Quad agenda forward, they adopted the Quad Wilmington Declaration.

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    MJPS/ST

    (Release ID: 2057443) Visitor Counter : 34

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 2-Day Global Food Regulators Summit 2024 Concludes with a Pledge to Strengthen Food Safety Systems across the Globe

    Source: Government of India

    2-Day Global Food Regulators Summit 2024 Concludes with a Pledge to Strengthen Food Safety Systems across the Globe

    India Leads the Way to Strengthen Global Food Safety Ecosystem

    It is our responsibility to ensure food safety along with food security: Shri Chirag Paswan

    “The diversity of our food systems is truly remarkable—this is the essence of India. We need to brainstorm ways to transform this rich abundance into meaningful opportunities”

    Posted On: 21 SEP 2024 7:34PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Shri Chirag Paswan addressed the Valedictory Ceremony of the two-day Global Food Regulators Summit 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, here today. Hosted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the summit featured insightful dialogues and discussions aimed at fostering international collaboration and knowledge-sharing on food safety and regulatory issues.

    Addressing the session, Shri Chirag Paswan said, “It is our responsibility to ensure food safety along with food security. We should aim not only to maintain the quality of our food but also to explore ways to enhance its value.” Shri Paswan congratulated FSSAI for organizing the global summit which saw a massive participation of national and international food regulators and other stakeholders.  “The diversity of our food systems is truly remarkable—this is the essence of India. We need to brainstorm ways to transform this rich abundance into meaningful opportunities,” he added.

    Dr. V K Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, in his special address commended the Eat Right India movement of FSSAI. He said, “I’m very proud that our nation has the Eat Right Movement. I urge all of you to join the movement of the Eat Right India Jan Andolan and engage in behavioural change.”

    Earlier in the day, Smt Anupriya Patel, Hon’ble Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers, delivered the Presidential Address at the Regional Conclave which was held as a parallel session. She emphasized on unity and collaboration between countries to elevate the role of regional countries in shaping food safety standards globally. She also shed light on the crucial role played by FSSAI in aligning the national food safety standards of India to that of Codex norms.

    India hosted the Regional Conclave aimed at enhancing collaboration and harmonization within the Codex Alimentarius Commission’s standard-setting process. This is the first time that a Regional Conclave has been organized outside the headquarters of Codex in Rome. It provided a dedicated platform for Asian countries to discuss food safety, trade, and regulatory challenges unique to the region.

    Ms Punya Salila Srivastava, Officer on Special Duty, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare delivered the keynote address at the occasion.

    Shri G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, FSSAI CEO provided an overview of the discussions held during the two-day event. He expressed gratitude to both national and international delegates for their invaluable contributions and expertise during the discussions.

    The second day of the summit saw insightful discussions on critical subjects like residue and contaminant monitoring systems, new-age analysis in food-testing, addressing hidden hunger through fortification and impact of animal feed on food safety and human health. The summit was inaugurated on 20th September 2024 (Friday), by Shri JP Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare. It brought together food regulators from around the world to exchange perspectives and knowledge on crucial issues related to food safety systems and regulatory frameworks throughout the food value chain.

    Various initiatives including Food Import Rejection Alerts (FIRA)- an online portal for notification of food import rejections at Indian borders and FICS 2.0 – an advanced website for the Food Import Clearance System, were launched during the Summit. A millets recipe show ‘Flavours of Shree Anna – Sehat aur Swaad Ke Sang’ was also launched during the inauguration ceremony. The release of the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) 2024, an annual report evaluating the food safety performance of Indian states and union territories, was also a highlight of the event.

    The Summit brought together delegates from over 70 countries, including Food safety regulators and those from Risk Assessment Authorities, Research Institutes and Universities who discussed and strategized on key regulatory issues. It highlighted India’s commitment to leading global efforts in enhancing food safety standards and ensuring food security. It set off dialogue on critical aspects such as food safety, risk assessment, analytical competence, and capacity-building initiatives, which impact the food safety ecosystem worldwide.

    Ms Inoshi Sharma, Executive Director, FSSAI and senior officials of the Union Health Ministry were present at the event.

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     MV

     HFW/ GFRS Valedictory Session /21st September 2024/1

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Department of Telecommunication (DoT) is observing Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS)- 2024 campaign

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 21 SEP 2024 6:27PM by PIB Delhi

    Department of Telecommunication (DoT) is observing Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS)- 2024 campaign from 17.09.2024 to 02.10.2024 in its organisations/ PSUs across the country. The campaign celebrates the 10th Anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission. The campaign encourages Jan Bhaagidari urging citizens to participate in the nation’s cleanliness efforts and also to recognise the important role of SafaiMitras (sanitation workers).  SafaiMitra Suraksha Shivirs, to recognize the role of sanitation workers and also promote their welfare, are being held in organizations/ PSUs pan India. A SafaiMitra Suraksha Shivir was held today in DoT HQ at Sanchar Bhavan, New Delhi which was inaugurated by Shri S. Balachandra Iyer, DDG(C&A). Health check up of about 100 sanitation workers & their wards took place and they were also made aware of the importance of hygiene.

     

     

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    SB/DP

    (Release ID: 2057365) Visitor Counter : 55

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’ Campaign from Dibrugarh

    Source: Government of India

    The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’ Campaign from Dibrugarh

    “People’s Participation has turned Swacha Bharat Mission into a People’s Movement”: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal

    Shri Sonowal participated in ‘Swachhata Mein Jan Bhagidari’ programme within the Civil Hospital premises

    Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates “Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivir” in Chowkidingee – aims to secure and enable the Safai Karmis with social security via Government Welfare Schemes

    Posted On: 21 SEP 2024 5:41PM by PIB Delhi

    The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal took active part in programmes organised under ‘Sewa Pakhwada’ campaign of the government here today. Shri Sonowal participated in the cleanliness drive under the ‘Swachhata Mein Jan Bhagidari,’ held at the Civil Hospital of the city, to encourage Safai Karmacharis, the government employees and people in general to engage in regular cleanliness.

    The Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, who is also the MP (Lok Sabha) for the Dibrugarh LSC, also inaugurated “Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivir” at the historic Chowkidingee field for the benefit of the Safai Karmacharis working under the various municipal bodies of Dibrugarh, Chabua, Tinsukia, Margherita, Digboi, Makum, Naharkatia, and Namrup. More than 500 Safai Karmacharis attended the programme where Sonowal also interacted with them. Shri Sonowal assured that the Government would take all necessary steps so that they can avail the benefit of the Government welfare schemes and ensure their social security.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister said, “Swachha Bharat Abhiyaan is the most significant and popular movement which has been successfully going on under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji. This movement has been embraced by everyone in this country towards building a stronger and cleaner India. Inspired by Bapu Mahatma Gandhiji’s words, our dynamic leader Narendra Modi ji launched this campaign a decade ago which is still going strong with a resounding response from the common people. This year, during this Sewa Pakhwada, we are celebrating the theme ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’ as we continue our journey towards a cleaner tomorrow. In this endeavour, the most crucial section of our society is our brothers and sisters who have been working as the Safai Karmacharis. It gives me immense pleasure that we are sitting under one roof today along with more than 500 Safai Karmacharis who are keeping Dibrugarh constituency. I bow before all of you today with complete devotion.”

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ throughout length and breadth of the country as a national movement in 2014. In 2023), under the ‘Ek Tareekh, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath’ campaign, more than 8.75 crore people simultaneously cleaned 9 lakh sites. Last year, the Swachhata Hi Sewa campaign saw 32 crore people participating with Shramdan by more than 15 crores citizens. Institutional buildings, Garbage vulnerable sites, water bodies, legacy waste sites, river banks & waterfronts, tourist sites, beaches were cleaned. ‘Swachhata ki Bhagidari’ campaign encourages public participation, awareness and advocacy via Swachhata Pledges, Public Workshops, Marathons, Cyclothons, Human Chains, Gram Sabhas, Youth Connect, and Waste to Art events. It is aimed at involving the whole society.

    Adding further, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “A public program transforms into a true people’s movement only when there is genuine involvement. And when there is such a movement, success is inevitable. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, initiated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has evolved into a powerful people’s movement. Cleanliness reflects the perfection of God. Bapuji has shown us the vision of cleanliness. One can inspire many to care for the environment, towards cleanliness. For this, we must change for better and adapt ways of living in conformity with Mother Nature. As the campaign says, we must clean our inner self besides ensuring cleanliness outside. ‘Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskaar Swachhata.’ Is something that we aspire to achieve via this popular movement.”

    With an aim of ‘Sampoorna Swachhata’ including ‘Swachhata Lakshit Ekayi,’ the idea is to identify generally neglected garbage points or any other points which is posing an environmental or health & hygiene risk. Such points once identified will be known as Swachhata Lakshit Ekayi or Cleanliness Target Unit (CTUs). This has already been done and effort is being made to get all the CTUs cleaned up by 1st October. This is targeted transformation. One of the most crucial is the Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivir where we want to help our Safai Mitras and Safai Karmacharis with the help of Preventive Health Checkups & social security coverage. These camps are single window camps for Safai Mitras to improve access to social protection. All the benefits under the Central and State government will be considered for all eligibility. The camps will focus on welfare schemes of Modi govt like PM Awas Yojana (PMAY), AMRUT 2.0, AADHAR, Mission Indradhanush, PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PM JAY), SAUBHAGYA scheme, PM Jan Dhan Yojana, UDYAMi and Ujjwala schemes.

    The Union Minister was accompanied by Rameswar Teli, MP, Rajya Sabha and ex Union Minister of State; Jogen Mahan, Minister, Govt of Assam; Sanjay Kisan, Minister, Govt of Assam; Prasanta Phukan, MLA & Chairman, Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC), Dibrugarh; Binod Hazarika, MLA, Lahowal; Bikul Deka, Chairman, Assam Petrochemicals Limited; Vijay Kumar IAS, Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI); Bikram Kairi IAS, District Commissioner, Dibrugarh; Dr. Saikat Patra, Mayor, Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation (DMC), among other dignitaries.

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    NB/AK

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How to navigate the challenges of long-distance caregiving

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Navjot Gill-Chawla, Doctoral Candidate, Aging, Health and Well-being, University of Waterloo

    Co-ordinating care from a different time zone, navigating language barriers and managing finances and legal matters remotely can be overwhelming. (Shutterstock)

    Taking on the role of a caregiver can often come with a lot of physical and mental stress and doing so from a distance can be even more emotionally taxing.

    Long-distance caregiving presents unique challenges for caregivers in different cities, regions or countries. Distance can create a sense of helplessness and guilt, as caregivers feel powerless to provide hands-on assistance or support in times of need. The inability to be physically present can also lead to feelings of isolation and frustration as caregivers grapple with the limitations of their involvement in their family member’s daily lives.

    In our modern world families are increasingly spread across borders, making it challenging to provide care and support to aging parents, relatives or friends. These logistical challenges of long-distance caregiving add another layer of stress. Co-ordinating care from a different time zone, navigating language barriers and managing finances and legal matters remotely can be overwhelming.

    Constantly juggling responsibilities and the pressure to make crucial decisions from a distance can take a toll on the caregiver’s mental and emotional well-being.

    However, with the proper support, resources and coping strategies, caregivers can navigate these challenges and provide meaningful support to their family and relatives from afar.

    Constantly juggling responsibilities and the pressure to make crucial decisions from a distance can take a toll on the caregiver’s mental and emotional well-being.
    (Shutterstock)

    Challenges of long-distance care

    One of the primary challenges of long-distance caregiving is communication. Maintaining open lines of communication with health-care providers, family members and the person receiving care is essential for ensuring the necessary support and assistance are provided.

    However, distance can hinder effective communication, leading to misunderstandings and delays in addressing urgent needs. Another challenge is co-ordinating medical care and accessing essential services.

    Caregivers may need help finding reliable health-care providers in their family member’s location. Additionally, navigating the complexities of health-care systems and insurance coverage in different countries can be daunting, requiring careful research and planning.

    Financial considerations also play a significant role in long-distance caregiving. Supporting someone from afar often entails significant expenses, including travel costs on top of the usual expenses of long-term care. Caregivers may need to make difficult decisions about their finances and employment to accommodate the financial demands of caregiving, adding to their stress and anxiety.

    Moreover, the emotional toll of long-distance caregiving cannot be overstated. Caregivers may experience feelings of guilt, anxiety and depression as they grapple with the challenges of balancing their caregiving responsibilities with other aspects of their lives.

    Supporting long-distance caregivers

    While caregiving from afar is challenging, there are strategies and resources available to support caregivers with their responsibilities. Building a support network of family members, friends and health-care professionals can provide caregivers with emotional support and practical assistance.

    Seeking out local resources and support groups, both in their community and in the community where their family member resides, can also help caregivers feel less isolated and overwhelmed.

    Utilizing technology can also facilitate communication and co-ordination of care. Video calls, messaging apps and telehealth services allow caregivers to stay connected with their family members and health-care providers, regardless of geographical distance. Online platforms and mobile applications can also help caregivers manage appointments, medications and other aspects of their family member’s care more effectively.

    By fostering a supportive environment and promoting collaboration among caregivers, we can help alleviate the burdens of long-distance caregiving.
    (Shutterstock)

    Policymakers can potentially address the challenges of long-distance caregiving by implementing several key measures. Cross-border health-care agreements can ensure consistent access to medical services, simplifying care and reducing financial and legal burdens. Governments can also invest in support networks, such as helplines, counselling, and care co-ordination services that provide caregivers with valuable local resource information.

    Financial support, through tax incentives or travel subsidies, can help ease the economic strain of caregiving from afar. Flexible work policies, like remote work options and caregiving leave, would enable caregivers to balance their responsibilities without sacrificing financial stability. For example, the Canada Caregiver Credit provides tax relief for those supporting a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent living with physical or mental impairment. Additionally, Employment Insurance Family Caregiver Benefits offer up to 35 weeks of financial support to caregivers who need to take time off work to care for a critically ill or injured family member.

    Finally, inclusive caregiving policies should ensure that benefits and services are accessible to all caregivers, including those providing care across international borders.

    Caregivers, both near and far, face numerous obstacles and challenges. It is essential to recognize the unique needs of long-distance caregivers and provide them with the resources and support they need to fulfill their caregiving responsibilities effectively.

    By fostering a supportive environment and promoting collaboration among caregivers, health-care professionals and community organizations, we can potentially help alleviate the burdens of long-distance caregiving and ensure that those receiving and giving care get the support they deserve.

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

    – ref. How to navigate the challenges of long-distance caregiving – https://theconversation.com/how-to-navigate-the-challenges-of-long-distance-caregiving-238412

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Announcement of the appointment of the Government.

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

    The composition of the Government resulting from the decree signed today on the proposal of the Prime Minister, responsible for Ecological and Energy Planning, is as follows:

    Ministers:

    Mr. Didier MIGAUD, Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice;

    Ms. Catherine VAUTRIN, Minister for Partnership with the Territories and Decentralization;

    Mr. Bruno RETAILLEAU, Minister of the Interior;

    Ms. Anne GENETET, Minister of National Education;

    Mr. Jean-Noël BARROT, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs;

    Ms. Rachida DATI, Minister of Culture;

    Mr. Sébastien LECORNU, Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans;

    Ms. Agnès PANNIER-RUNACHER, Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention;

    Mr. Antoine ARMAND, Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry;

    Ms. Geneviève DARRIEUSSECQ, Minister of Health and Access to Healthcare;

    Mr. Paul CHRISTOPHE, Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men;

    Ms. Valérie LÉTARD, Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal;

    Ms. Annie GENEVARD, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry;

    Ms. Astrid PANOSYAN-BOUVET, Minister of Labor and Employment;

    Mr. Gil AVÉROUS, Minister of Sports, Youth and Community Life;

    Mr. Patrick HETZEL, Minister of Higher Education and Research;

    Mr. Guillaume KASBARIAN, Minister of Civil Service, Simplification and Transformation of Public Action;

    Mr. François-Noël BUFFET, Minister to the Prime Minister, responsible for Overseas Territories;

    Mr. Laurent SAINT-MARTIN, Minister to the Prime Minister, responsible for the Budget and Public Accounts.

    Ministers Delegate:

    To the Prime Minister and the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs:

    Mr. Benjamin HADDAD, responsible for Europe;

    To the Prime Minister:

    Ms Nathalie DELATTRE, responsible for Relations with Parliament;

    Ms Maud BREGEON, Government spokesperson;

    Ms. Marie-Claire CARRÈRE-GÉE, responsible for Government Coordination;

    To the Minister for Partnership with the Territories and Decentralization:

    Mrs. Françoise GATEL, responsible for Rural Affairs, Trade and Crafts;

    Mr. François DUROVRAY, responsible for Transport;

    Mr. Fabrice LOHER, responsible for the Sea and Fisheries;

    To the Minister of the Interior:

    Mr. Nicolas DARAGON, responsible for daily security;

    To the Minister of National Education:

    Mr. Alexandre PORTIER, responsible for Academic Success and Professional Education;

    To the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs:

    Ms Sophie PRIMAS, responsible for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad;

    To the Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention:

    Ms. Olga GIVERNET, responsible for Energy;

    To the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry:

    Mr. Marc FERRACCI, responsible for Industry;

    Ms Marie-Agnès POUSSIER-WINSBACK, responsible for the Social and Solidarity Economy, Profit-Sharing and Participation;

    Ms. Marina FERRARI, responsible for the Tourism Economy;

    To the Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men:

    Ms. Agnès CANAYER, responsible for Family and Early Childhood.

    Secretaries of State:

    To the Minister of the Interior:

    Mr. Othman NASROU, responsible for Citizenship and the Fight against Discrimination;

    To the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs:

    Mr. Thani MOHAMED SOILIHI, responsible for Francophonie and International Partnerships;

    To the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry:

    Ms. Laurence GARNIER, responsible for Consumption;

    To the Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men:

    Ms. Salima SAA, responsible for Equality between women and men;

    To the Minister of Higher Education and Research:

    Ms. Clara CHAPPAZ, responsible for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology.

    The President of the Republic will bring together all members of the Government for a Council of Ministers which will be held on Monday, September 23 at 3:00 p.m.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 2024 LDC Fellowship awarded

    Source: Leadership Development Centre

    Ben Clark is the recipient of the 2024 LDC Fellowship.

    The Leadership Development Centre  is pleased to announce the 2024 LDC Fellowship recipient is Ben Clark.

    Ben is the Director Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) at the Department of Corrections – Ara Poutama. His time as Regional Public Service Commissioner for Canterbury and Chatham Islands stoked his interest in building unity of purpose. 

    Ben’s fellowship will explore how we can help Public Service leaders collaborate and lead complex systems. 

    Read more on our LDC Fellowships page.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: United Christian Hospital appeals to public for missing patient

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

         â€‹A spokesperson for United Christian Hospital (UCH) made the following appeal today (September 23) regarding a patient leaving the hospital without notification:

         An 80-year-old male patient with dementia was sent to the Accident and Emergency Department of UCH at around 9pm yesterday (September 22) by ambulance. While waiting for consultation, the patient left the Accident and Emergency Department without notification at around 11.30pm.

         Security guards were deployed to search for the patient within the hospital compound and in the vicinity. The hospital also made a report to the Police for assistance. The patient is yet to be located. The hospital is very concerned about the incident and will fully cooperate with the Police in order to locate the patient.

         The patient is about 1.6 metres tall, with short white hair and has a slim build. CCTV footage showed that the patient was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, black trousers and black shoes when he left. The hospital appeals to the public to contact the hospital at 3949 4002 or the Police if they know the whereabouts of the patient.

         The hospital has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office through the Advance Incident Reporting System.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why isn’t dental included in Medicare? It’s time to change this – here’s how

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Breadon, Program Director, Health and Aged Care, Grattan Institute

    Engin Akyurt/Unsplash

    When the forerunner of Medicare was established in the 1970s, dental care was left out. Australians are still suffering the consequences half a century later.

    Patients pay much more of the cost of dental care than they do for other kinds of care.

    More Australians delay or skip dental care because of cost than their peers in most wealthy countries.

    And as our dental health gets worse, fees keep on rising.

    For decades, a litany of reports and inquiries have called for universal dental coverage to solve these problems.

    Now, with the Greens proposing it and Labor backbenchers supporting it, could it finally be time to put the mouth into Medicare?

    What’s stopping us?

    The Australian Dental Association says the idea is too ambitious and too costly, pointing out it would need many more dental workers. They say the government should start small, focusing on the most vulnerable populations, initially seniors.

    Starting small is sensible, but finishing small would be a mistake.

    Dental costs aren’t just a problem for the most vulnerable, or the elderly. More than two million Australians avoid dental care because of the cost.

    More than four in ten adults usually wait more than a year before seeing a dental professional.

    Bringing dental into Medicare will require many thousands of new dental workers. But it will be possible if the scheme is phased in over ten years.

    The real reason dental hasn’t been added to Medicare is it would cost billions of dollars. The federal government doesn’t have that kind of money lying around.

    Australia has a structural budget problem. Government spending is growing faster than revenue, because we are a relatively low-tax country with high service expectations.

    The growing cost of health care is a major contributor, with hospitals and medical benefits among the top six fastest-growing major payments.

    The structural gap is only likely to grow without major policy changes.

    So, can we afford health care for all? We can. But we should do it with smart choices on dental care, and tough choices to raise revenue and reduce spending elsewhere.

    Smart choices about a new dental scheme

    The first step is to avoid repeating the mistakes of Medicare.

    Medicare payments to private businesses haven’t attracted them to a lot of the communities that need them the most. Many rural and disadvantaged areas are bulk-billing deserts with too few GPs.

    The poorest areas have more than twice the psychological distress of the wealthiest areas, but they get about half the Medicare-funded mental health services.

    As a result, government money isn’t going where it will make the biggest difference.

    There are about 80,000 hospital visits each year for dental problems that could have been avoided with dental care. If there is too little care in disadvantaged and rural communities, where oral health is worst, that number will remain high.

    That’s why a significant share of new investment should be quarantined for public dental services, with those services targeted to areas where people are missing out on care.

    Another problem with Medicare is its payments often have little relationship to the cost of care, or the impact that care has on the patient’s health.

    To tamp down costs, Medicare funding for dental care should exclude cosmetic treatments and orthodontics. It should be based on efficient workforce models where dental assistants and therapists use all their skills – you might not always need to see a dentist.

    Sometimes you might see a dental therapist instead.
    Gustavo Fring/Pexels

    The funding model should take account of a patient’s needs, reward giving them ongoing care, and have a cap on spending per patient.

    Oral health should be measured and recorded, to make sure patients and taxpayers are getting results.

    Tough choices to balance the budget

    Those steps would slash the cost of The Greens’ plan, which is hard to estimate but might reach more than $20 billion a year once it’s phased in. Instead, the cost would fall to roughly $7 billion a year.

    That would be a good investment. But if you’re worried about where the money will come from, there are good ways to pay for it.

    Many reforms could reduce government health budgets without harming patients.

    There is waste in government funding of pathology tests and less cost-effective medicines.

    In some hospitals, there are excessive costs and potentially harmful low-value care.

    Over the longer-term, investments in prevention can reduce demand for health care. A tax on sugary drinks, for example, would improve health while raising hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

    Measures like this would help the government pay for more dental care. But demand for health care will keep growing as the population ages, and as expensive new treatments arrive.

    This means a broader strategy is needed to meet the three goals of balancing the budget, keeping up with growing health-care demand, and bringing dental into Medicare.

    Adding dental to Medicare would mean some tradeoffs.
    Lafayett Zapata Montero/Unsplash

    There are no easy solutions, but there are many options to reduce spending and boost revenue without hurting economic growth.

    Choosing Australia’s infrastructure and defence megaprojects more wisely could save several billion dollars each year.

    Undoing Western Australia’s special GST funding deal – described by economist Saul Eslake as “the worst Australian public policy decision of the 21st Century thus far” – would save another $5 billion a year.

    Reducing income tax breaks and tax minimisation opportunities – including by reining in superannuation tax concessions, reducing the capital gains tax discount, limiting negative gearing, and setting a minimum tax on trust distributions – could raise more than $20 billion a year.

    Major tax reform like this offers economic benefits while creating space for better services such as universal dental coverage.

    No one likes spending cuts and tax hikes, but they will be needed sooner or later regardless. Dental coverage might be just the sweetener taxpayers need to accept it.

    Grattan Institute, has been supported in its work by government, corporates, and philanthropic gifts.

    A full list of supporting organisations is published at www.grattan.edu.au.

    – ref. Why isn’t dental included in Medicare? It’s time to change this – here’s how – https://theconversation.com/why-isnt-dental-included-in-medicare-its-time-to-change-this-heres-how-239086

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Taree NPWS hazard reduction burn 22 September 2024

    Source: New South Wales Environment and Heritage

    The 72 hectare ‘Starrs Creek HR – Stage 2’ aims to provide a fuel reduced zone within Coorabakh National Park, aiding in the suppression of bushfire in the area.

    The burn will also stimulate reproduction of the critically endangered Banksia conferta within the prescribed burn area.

    NPWS crews will be working on roads and trails throughout Coorabakh National Park to implement the burn. The public are advised that smoke may affect roads in the area and motorists are reminded to exercise caution when driving along roads in the area.

    Hazard reduction burns are essential to reduce bushfire fuel loads to help protect parks, neighbours and communities from future bushfires. Fires such as this one are also specifically planned to have an ecological outcome.

    All burns around the state are coordinated with the NSW Rural Fire Service.

    People with known health conditions can sign up to receive air quality reports, forecasts and alerts via email or SMS from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW DCCEEW).

    For health information relating to smoke from bush fires and hazard reduction burning, visit the NSW Health or Asthma Australia.

    More information on hazard reduction activities is available at NSW Rural Fire Service and the NSW Government Hazards Near Me website and app.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: City invites community voices to be heard in a social needs survey

    Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

    The City of Greater Bendigo is asking residents to complete a survey to help identify the most pressing social needs in our community.

    The survey is now available on the City’s Let’s Talk community engagement website for community members to have input into the project until Monday October 21.

    City of Greater Bendigo Community Partnerships Manager, Andie West said the City’s Community Partnerships Unit supports liveability by working together with residents and groups to support a community that is inclusive, strong, connected and resilient.

    “This means it’s responsible for understanding the needs and priorities of the community to deliver on Council’s commitments to community development, fairness and social equity, accessibility and participation, community safety, respect for others and sense of belonging,” Ms West said.

    “The aim of the Community Needs Assessment is to support a more evidence-informed and targeted approach to resource investment.

    “It’s important that services, policies, and programs meet the real needs of the community and work well. Without proper planning, services can become fragmented and may only react to problems instead of focusing on preventing them from happening in the first place and basing decisions on evidence.

    “The City is now undertaking a systematic approach to understand the community’s social needs as funds and other resources are becoming increasingly constrained to address them.

    “Community feedback will help us understand where we could focus our efforts. We can’t increase our services, so doing more in one area, will mean doing less in another – and we want to get it right.

    “All community feedback will be analysed along with other information to form a fuller picture of community needs using current best evidence.

    “Ultimately this evidence will inform decisions that the City makes about how it delivers to the community in terms of its role, whether that be service provider, advocate or facilitator, and to ensure that future resource allocations are invested for maximum positive social impact.

    “The project aligns with our commitment to the City’s Social Justice Framework and will help inform the incoming Councillors in their future decision making. It will also assist with future planning via the City’s Council Plan and Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan renewal.

    “I encourage all interested people to visit the City’s Let’s Talk website and provide their feedback by Monday October 21, 2024.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Avian influenza quarantine areas eased

    Source: Government of Australia Capital Territory

    On 13 September 2024, the ACT Government assumed a caretaker role, with an election to be held 19 October 2024. Information on this website will be published in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions until after the election and conclusion of the caretaker period.

    Released 23/09/2024

    Quarantine areas restricting the movement of birds and other materials, objects and equipment in the Belconnen area will be reduced as the ACT’s response to avian influenza (HPAI H7N8) enters the final phase.

    There have been no new detections of avian influenza in the ACT since 4 July 2024. From tomorrow, 24 September, the quarantine areas will be reduced to:

    • A restricted quarantine area within a one kilometre radius of the first affected property on Parkwood Road in Belconnen.
    • A control quarantine area within a two kilometre radius of the first affected property on Parkwood Road in Belconnen.

    In the restricted quarantine area the movement of birds, bird products and other materials, objects and equipment deemed as high risk is not permitted.

    In the control quarantine area, the movement of birds and other materials, objects and equipment deemed as high risk is not permitted, but bird products such as eggs may be moved under certain conditions.

    These restrictions will remain in place until late December 2024, but will continue to be reviewed as the response progresses.

    All bird owners should review the updated quarantine restrictions to know their responsibilities and continue to implement good biosecurity practices.

    The ACT’s response to avian influenza is moving to the final phase of decontaminating the first property affected by the disease.

    Avian influenza is a notifiable animal disease which means any suspected or confirmed cases must be reported immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

    For more information on the situation in the ACT and the movement restrictions, including a map of the quarantine area, visit the ACT Environment website.

    For updates on the current disease situation in other jurisdictions across Australia visit outbreak.gov.au.

    – Statement ends –

    ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate | Media Releases

    Media Contacts

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Directorate Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Finalists announced for the NSW Health Awards 2024

    Source: New South Wales Health – State Government

    Virtual care programs that improve access to rural and multicultural communities are among some of the incredible finalists being recognised in the NSW Health Awards 2024.
    Now in its 26th year, the awards acknowledge the personalised, sustainable, and digitally enabled programs that contribute to the wellbeing of patients and the community.
    NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM said it is really exciting to celebrate the people and teams who are enriching health in millions of ways every day.
    “These awards are a chance to recognise our incredible healthcare staff and volunteers, across the public health system,” Ms Pearce said.
    “It is important to celebrate innovative and sustainable programs which invest in the wellbeing of the NSW community, while also delivering better patient outcomes.
    “I congratulate the finalists, but I also want to acknowledge the work being done across the system every day, by our teams of doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health and support staff.”
    NSW Health received 186 nominations across the 12 award categories. Categories this year include the Keeping People Healthy Award, Transforming Patient Experience Award, and the Health Innovation Award.
    “All of the nominations really showcase the impressive and important work being undertaken throughout the state, so choosing the 42 finalists was a challenge,” Ms Pearce said.
    “The awards also recognise the significant contribution of community members who selflessly support our patients carers and staff, with the Volunteer of the Year Award.”
    The finalists and winners will be celebrated at the NSW Health Awards ceremony, which will be held on Thursday 24 October at the International Convention Centre in Sydney. It will also be livestreamed from 6pm.
    The full list of finalists is available on the NSW Health website.​​

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to provide more diverse food for deep-space exploration missions

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China is working on serving a more diverse range of food options for future deep-space exploration missions, according to the Second Frontier Forum of Space Medicine held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province in east China.
    During the recently concluded Mid-Autumn Festival, a cherished tradition symbolizing family reunion, the Shenzhou-18 crew aboard China’s orbiting space station enjoyed “space mooncakes” stuffed with lotus paste as well as their personal favourites such as spicy lamb and braised pork chops, which had been prepared in advance by the ground support team.
    “We have developed technologies to bring Chinese cuisine to the ‘space dining table’, allowing astronauts to enjoy ‘home-cooked flavors’,” said Li Yinghui, a researcher at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center.
    Li added that China has advanced precision nutrition control technology and built accurate standards for space flight nutritional supplies that can help astronauts address physiological issues caused by weightlessness and radiation and stay healthy during missions lasting over 180 days.
    “Various functional space foods featuring antioxidant effects, immune support, fatigue relief and gut microbiome regulation have been developed to enhance astronauts’ in-orbit adaptability,” said Li.
    With an eye on future deep space missions, China is also working on technologies such as in-orbit cooking that can sustain long-term living beyond Earth, said Zang Peng, another researcher at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Two operators selected for new e-scooter licences in Auckland

    Source: Auckland Council

    Auckland Council has selected two providers to receive new rental micromobility licences in Auckland.  

    Of the seven licence applications received, the chosen providers are current operator Lime and the New Zealand-owned Flamingo. Both will be licensed for a two-year period from 4 November 2024. 

    Auckland Council’s Manager of Licensing and Environmental Health, Mervyn Chetty, says the council received a number of strong applications, with the chosen providers demonstrating a commitment to safety initiatives and reducing nuisance.   

    “Both Lime and Flamingo have a history of operating in Auckland and around New Zealand. Their applications represented the best offering for Aucklanders, with both committing to a range of initiatives to support public transport connections, improved parking and safer riding.” 

    “We look forward to continuing our relationship with Lime and welcoming back Flamingo, which currently operates in a number of New Zealand cities and has been licenced in Auckland previously.”  

    Fewer operators but allocations the same

    The current e-scooter allocation in Auckland is 3000 in total, with 900 in tier 1 (city centre), 900 in tier 2 (city fringe) and 1200 in tier 3 (suburban). This allocation will remain the same from November 4, but with the allocation split across the two providers.

    “Having just two operators allows riders to easily find a device with their preferred provider, as well as allowing us to monitor and work with providers more closely,” says Mr Chetty.  

    Lime and Flamingo will each be allowed 900 devices split across tiers 1 and 2. In tier 3, Lime will have 700 devices and Flamingo will have 500.  

    Rental Micromobility Code of Practice 

    Throughout the current licensing period the council has identified improvements that can be made to the Rental Micromobility Code of Practice to better manage operator compliance and influence user behaviour. 

    Changes to the rental micromobility code of practice will include: 

    • Faster response times required to rectify non-compliant parking, reduced from 90 to 75 minutes in tier 1 (city centre) and tier 2 (city fringe).  
    • Faster response times to rectify toppled scooters, reduced from 90 to 75 minutes in tiers 1 and 2. 
    • Strengthened data provisions.  

    E-bikes 
     
    From 4 November the council will no longer license rental e-bikes. Previous e-bike licences saw a low number of trips, with operators having removed all rental e-bike devices from the streets. 

    Operators have committed to work with Auckland Council and Auckland Transport to develop a strategy to successfully bring rental e-bikes back to Tāmaki Makaurau. 

    Assessment of applications 

    Applications were assessed against the requirements of the Public Trading, Events and Filming Bylaw 2022 and Auckland Transport’s Activities in the Road Corridor Bylaw 2022, and were considered to ensure that the applicants could demonstrate their ability to comply with the Rental Micromobility Code of Practice (version 3).  

    Find out more 

    Visit the council’s micromobility web page to find out more about rental e-scooters in Auckland.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Ministers oblivious to cuts’ effect on families

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    The National Government is oblivious to the impact cuts to services will have on New Zealanders who are doing the hard yards caring for mentally ill family members.

    Labour mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary said that the fact Health Minister Shane Reti and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey weren’t aware respite services for 120 families of mentally ill kids were being cut was an example of this Government being missing in action.

    “They put downward pressure on services to do more with less, then wash their hands of it and walk away.

    “This is a failure by Matt Doocey to advocate around cuts impacting frontline mental health services. He needs to step up and fight to stop cuts that are impacting the frontline in his portfolio area.

    “This Mental Health Awareness week, what we’re seeing from the Government is penny pinching and meanness. Parents and other family members need support and an occasional day off when they are caring for mentally unwell children.

    “Matt Doocey is missing in action when it comes to sweeping cuts across social services that are impacting mental health and he should stop blaming his officials. It’s his job to know this stuff,” said Ingrid Leary.

    Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: The Albanese Government invests in future psychologists fast tracking workforce expansion

    Source: Australian Ministers for Education

    The Albanese Government will increase the number of postgraduate psychology places at universities and provide more psychology internships and supervisors so Australians can access a psychologist when needed.  

    This will help remove barriers to studying and working in mental health, which is sorely needed while Australia faces a critical shortage of mental health workers. 

    The Albanese Government will support Australia’s leading universities to provide up to an additional 500 student places and grow postgraduate psychology courses over a four-year period. 

    Despite strong demand and interest from students, currently only 10 per cent will complete the required postgraduate course to become a registered psychologist due to the limited number of university places.   

    The following universities successfully applied for funding through the 2023–24 Postgraduate Psychology Incentive Program Grant Round and will provide 146 additional student places this year: 

    •    Australian National University 
    •    Central Queensland University 
    •    Charles Darwin University 
    •    Curtin University 
    •    Deakin University 
    •    Federation University 
    •    La Trobe University 
    •    Murdoch University 
    •    Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology 
    •    University of Adelaide 
    •    University of Canberra 
    •    University of Melbourne 
    •    University of New England 
    •    University of Queensland 
    •    University of South Australia 
    •    University of Southern Queensland 
    •    University of Sydney 
    •    University of Tasmania 
    •    University of the Sunshine Coast 
    •    University of Western Australia 
    •    University of Wollongong 
    •    Western Sydney University 

    To address bottlenecks in the psychology training pipeline, the Albanese Government will also provide Supporting Provisional Psychologists to Practice grants to increase the availability of psychology internships and supervisor training. 

    This initiative will support provisional psychologists by funding 681 one-year internships over a four-year period and up to 2860 Psychology Board of Australia endorsed supervisor training places. 

    To prioritise areas of greatest need, half the internships and supervisor training will be offered to people in First Nations communities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and people living in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia. 

    The following organisations will deliver the internships and supervisor training: 
    •    Stream 1 – psychology internships: 
    o    Western Sydney University (NSW) – 84 places 
    o    Grand Pacific Health (NSW and ACT) – 30 places 
    o    Marathon Health (NSW) – 36 places 
    o    Therapy Pro (QLD) – 85 places 
    o    Flinders University (SA and NT) – 100 places 
    o    CatholicCare Victoria Tasmania (VIC and TAS) – 98 places 
    o    Autism Association of Western Australia (WA) – 48 places 
    o    The Cairnmillar Institute (National) – 200 places 

    •    Stream 2 – supervisor training: 
    o    James Cook University – 380 places 
    o    Deakin University – 480 places  
    o    The Australian Psychological Society – 1000 places 
    o    The Cairnmillar Institute – 1000 places 

    The Albanese Government has also committed to work with the Psychology Board of Australia to reform and redesign the psychology higher education and registration pathway to make it simpler for students to complete their studies and work in the mental health system.  

    The redesign will consider opportunities to streamline psychology training, embed a focus on practical learning, and address access and equity challenges with consultations due to commence early in 2025. 

    Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:  

    “Many students want to become registered psychologists but are unable to due to a lack of internships, supervisors and university places. Given the significant community need for this workforce it critical we expand training pathways. 

    “We are committed to ensuring Australians can access the mental health services they need when they need it and this investment into the psychology workforce will be essential to improving access.  

    “Our commitment will address the shortage of registered psychologists and help develop the next generation of registered psychologists.” 

    Quotes attributable to Minister Clare: 

    “We need more young Australians studying and working in mental health services. 

    “This is an important investment which will help support more Australians study psychology.” 

    Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister McBride: 

    “The Albanese Labor Government is building the mental health workforce, so that everyone can access the mental health care they need close to home.  

    “We are providing even more opportunities for students to become registered psychologists by investing in additional psychology internships, supervisors and postgraduate places. 

    “This investment will support people in regional, rural and remote communities to get the care and support they need from registered psychologists.” 
     

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: The night shift: 24-hour economy strategy puts needs of night-time workers first

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Workers on the night shift represent one in five, or 21% of workers in NSW – or more than 870,000 people.

    The refreshed NSW 24-Hour Economy Strategy, A New State of Night, outlines the work and programs of the Office of the 24-Hour Commissioner as it expands its remit to support night-time economies across the state, rather than just in Greater Sydney.

    The strategy will move beyond a focus on the hospitality and entertainment economy to one that supports a myriad of night workers – such as nurses, doctors, paramedics, police, drivers, retailers, cleaners, security guards and workers in manufacturing and construction across the state.

    Despite the essential nature of their roles, these people are often in less secure work, are often paid less and have fewer transport options, fewer childcare options, reduced safety and less retail and food options. Improving their experience requires a whole-of-government effort.

    Recent research has revealed people in NSW working between the hours of 6pm and 6am is forecast to grow by between 5% and 13% by 2031, implying a structural shift in the way the NSW economy operates, with a larger proportion of people working during the night.

    The NSW Government has been working to support the state’s night-time economy and improve vibrancy by changing regulation and legislation that constrains businesses. The second tranche of the Government’s vibrancy reforms coming later this year will propose to remove more red tape and provide greater support for special events and hospitality and live music venues.

    This strategy places a strong emphasis on data collection to inform policy development to ensure the NSW Government, local councils and private sector partners can effectively balance the night-time revival, safety and public amenity.

    An example of how the strategy will work in action is how the NSW Government supporting workers in the Randwick Health and Innovation Precinct, one of the state’s most concentrated night workforce areas, with 4500 night-time workers. The precinct is open around the clock and home to three hospitals, a major university and five medical research centres.

    Workers across the precinct and the wider community will benefit from a raft of programs designed to enhance safety and activation including:

    • $600,000 for Spot On, through the Permit/Plug/Play and Open Streets programs, to support collaboration across local businesses to unlock the potential of public streets and spaces
    • $400,000 in Community Improvement District funding backing businesses to get organised, with government, and make the most of their public spaces and local character to draw more visitors and more life to their district.
    • $200,000 for Heart of Randwick in the Uptown program, to support greater collaboration between the health and education campuses, businesses and the council to amplify its night-time offerings
    • The precinct also recently received $500,000 in Safer Cities funding, to improve lighting and safety particularly for workers going to and from work after dark.

    Other night-time worker centres include Port Kembla, a manufacturing hub with over 3,500 night-time workers.

    In Liverpool, the Health and Academic Precinct employs around 4,500 night-time workers.

    Another focus will be the new Western Sydney Airport precinct which will run 24/7 and will grow to employ around 200,000 people.

    As part of the strategy, the Office of the 24-Hour Commissioner will consult across industry to identify the pain points and bring a whole-of-government approach to solving these issues.

    For more information, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/24-hour-economy/24-hour-economy-strategy.

    Minister for Roads, Music and the Night-time Economy and Minister for Jobs, John Graham said:

    “Night-time workers make up 21% of the NSW workforce. They play an important role in our communities and economies. They are nurses, doctors, paramedics, police, drivers, retailers, cleaners, security guards and workers in manufacturing and construction. They are often paid less and have less secure work.

    “This growing group of essential workers deserves safe environments and adequate services. They should be able to get a coffee before they start work or a decent meal when they finish.

    “Meeting their needs represents an enormous opportunity for the night-time economy. But this requires us to plan as well for the night as we do for the day.”

    “This strategy has an emphasis on data to both measure results as well as design better policy interventions.

    “We will continue to work alongside industry, businesses, councils and communities across NSW to ensure our state’s night-time economy reaches its true potential.

    “Our goal is to highlight our state as a safe and exciting night-time destination – not just for people looking for a great night out but for the people working hard to keep our state running at night.”

    24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said:

    “The Strategy we have developed is purposefully ambitious, but it is also full of practical ideas, solutions and strategic opportunities to bring our vision to life.

    “We know that people, especially night workers, want more amenity and safety at night – especially with the industry expected to grow by 5% to 13% by 2031. This includes activating outdoor spaces, diversity of offerings and safe, accessible transport.

    “We know that positive outcomes are possible when State Government, local councils and industry line up behind one plan. And with our work now extending across the State, it’s appropriate we have a strategy that continues to unite stakeholders to ensure NSW is as vibrant at night, as it is during the day.”

    Member for Coogee, Marjorie O’Neill said:

    “The Randwick Health and Innovation Precinct operates 24/7, with staff across emergency, wards, portering, catering, and support services always ready to serve.

    “We are working with the Precinct partners and district to improve our streetscapes and make better connection to our local communities. We are grateful for the Community Improvement District and Uptown Programs that enable us to make the Precinct safer and more vibrant for our workforce, students and local communities.”

    South Eastern Sydney Local Health District CEO Tobi Wilson said:

    “At the Randwick Health and Innovation Precinct, there are staff onsite 24 hours a day 365 days a year from those ready for us in the emergency departments to ward staff, porters, catering and support staff.

    “We are working with the Precinct partners and district to improve our streetscapes and make better connection to our local communities. We are grateful for the Community Improvement District and Uptown Programs that enable us to make the Precinct more vibrant for our workforce, students and local communities.”

    Background

    Research conducted in 2024 by SGS Economics & Planning on behalf of the Office of the 24-Hour Commissioner found:

    • The top industry by the number of night-time employees is Health Care and Social Assistance, with approximately 166,000, followed by
    • Accommodation and Food Services and Arts and Recreation Services, with around 155,200.
    • The Transport, Postal and Warehousing sector employs approximately 90,500 people during night-time hours, closely followed by
    • Retail Trade with 87,100 workers.
    • The Office of the 24-Hour Commissioner will consult with industry to understand the key challenges and barriers with government to develop appropriate policy measures and initiatives to sustainably develop night-workforce participation.

    The 24-hour Economy Strategy will serve as the NSW Government’s new blueprint to cement NSW as a safe, worldclass nightlife destination for visitors, locals and workers alike.

    The refreshed strategy’s five key pillars are:

    • An Enabling Regulatory Framework – Regulatory and legislative amendments aimed at bringing back vibrancy to enable diverse, sustainable and safe night-time economies across NSW.
    • Vibrant Coordinated Precincts and Places – Fostering collaboration among businesses, councils and other stakeholders to support precinct building and place-based economies.
    • Night-time workers, culture and industry collaboration – Collaborate across government and industry to support night-time workers, businesses, and cultural entrepreneurs to thrive in the 24-hour economy.
    • Safety, Mobility, Access and Inclusion – Enabling ease of movement to and from precincts while championing the wellbeing and safety of all within the night-time economy.
    • Authentic Storytelling – Celebrating the unique stories of our districts and promoting the experiences they offer to locals, visitors and workers.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Improved access to complex menopause care in Wagga Wagga

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 23 September 2024

    Released by: Minister for Regional Health

    Women who experience severe or complex menopause symptoms will benefit from enhanced support, with the opening of a new menopause referral site in the Murrumbidgee at Wagga Wagga.

    The Murrumbidgee Local Health District’s (MLHD) Menopause Service is part of NSW Health’s extensive menopause network, which includes four health hubs and multiple referral sites throughout the state.

    As a part of this network, the Wagga Wagga-based service is designed to assist women whose menopause symptoms have not responded to previous treatments, or who face additional complications from other medical conditions.

    MLHD’s Menopause Service is linked to the South Western Sydney LHD Menopause Hub, which means women can access a comprehensive approach to managing severe menopausal symptoms through a multi-disciplinary team of medical specialists and allied health professionals, including women’s health nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, and clinical psychologists.

    General practitioners, specialists, and nurse practitioners can refer eligible women for advanced care, they are also welcome to make contact with the service directly by emailing MLHD-menopauseservice@health.nsw.gov.au.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park:

    “Up to one in four women endure severe and debilitating menopause symptoms, which is why services like this one are so important.

    “The opening of MLHD Menopause Service means improved access to care for those women in this part of regional NSW who need it.

    “This service has the potential to be lifechanging for women in the community who require access.”

    Quotes attributable to Member for Wagga Wagga Joe McGirr:

    “I’m glad to see this service is now available in Wagga Wagga and the wider Murrumbidgee region. It will make a big difference to the lives of many women in the region experiencing severe or complex menopause symptoms.

    “To have access to the care right here in Wagga Wagga is potentially life-changing for many women in our community who may otherwise have to travel long distances to receive care.”

    Quotes attributable to MLHD Menopause Coordinator Mary Bartusek:

    “The Murrumbidgee service will help to ensure women of all backgrounds and diversity are able to access the specialised services they need to address their menopause symptoms.

    “This is an inclusive service which includes all women who may experience health inequities.  For example, women who identify as Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander, women from a non-English speaking background, women with a disability, women who are victims of family and/or domestic violence and women living in rural and remote areas of the local health district.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health Investigation – Disability Service referred to Director of Proceedings 21HDC00035

    Source: Health and Disability Commissioner

    A disability service provider has been referred to the Director of Proceedings to investigate if further legal action should be taken. The Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner said there was public interest in holding the service to account for its failures, in a decision released today.
    Rose Wall said the service, and one of its care workers, breached multiple rights of a resident under the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights. She found several significant departures from accepted practice.
    The resident – a man in his thirties at the time – and the care worker, had known each other for around 20 years. Their relationship was characterised as ‘brotherly’ by the care worker.
    The breaches relate to multiple incidents involving the care worker, including the resident allegedly being supplied with marijuana and alcohol, physical violence, a strangulation event, sharing recordings of embarrassing acts, being injured by a piece of wood and unsafe driving.
    Ms Wall said, while she was unable to make findings on some aspects of the resident’s complaint, there was enough evidence to conclude the care worker acted inappropriately.
    “There was a clear power imbalance and Mr B failed to maintain the professional boundaries required of him in his role as a carer,” she said. She found that “by consuming alcohol with Mr A, being violent towards him, and driving in a way that made him feel unsafe, Mr B failed to provide services with reasonable care and skill.”
    Rose Wall was critical of the way the service managed the resident – and another care worker’s – complaints, noting it was important that vulnerable consumers, especially those in residential settings, are supported appropriately to complain about the services provided to them.
    “They have a right to expect that their complaints and concerns will be taken seriously and managed appropriately. Mr A raised several concerns about Mr B’s behaviour with the disability service over time… Despite this, the disability service largely dismissed these concerns and failed to manage them as complaints.”
    Ms Wall noted the service had failed to act on, or resolve, the man’s concerns about the care worker and had denied his right to efficient resolution of his complaints. No evidence was found of training or guidance on clear professional boundaries, nor were there adequate policies and procedures to manage professional boundaries and personal relationships between caregivers and residents in general, she found.
    Ms Wall also found that the service did not have a structure that provided safe and appropriate services in place for Mr A for his care planning and needs assessment.
    She noted there was a failure to provide services with reasonable care and skill, or comply with professional standards, which was in breach of the Code. The Ministry of Health also audited the facility and did not renew its contract with the service as a result.
    The service is no longer operating. Because of this, Rose Wall recommended a trustee, or senior staff member employed at the time of the events, formally apologise to the man.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health Investigation – Woman’s rights breached when surgery performed without her informed consent 21HDC01573

    Source: Health and Disability Commissioner
    A woman’s rights to make a choice and give informed consent to a procedure were breached when her right fallopian tube was removed during a procedure to remove her left ovary and fallopian tube, said the Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner.
    In a decision released today, Dr Vanessa Caldwell said under the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights, before making a decision or giving consent, every person has the right to information that a reasonable consumer could expect to receive, and this opportunity was not provided to the woman.
    The complaint centres on surgery for the removal of a suspected ovarian cyst in the woman’s left fallopian tube. Written consent was provided for the removal of the woman’s left ovary and fallopian tube.
    On the morning of the surgery, the surgeon documented that the woman agreed to the removal of her right fallopian tube – known as a salpingectomy – the first mention of this in clinical records. He said he discussed the option of this as a preventative measure to alleviate the woman’s concerns about familial cancer risk, just before the surgery. However, after the surgery, the woman said she asked about her right fallopian tube and was told it was unaffected.
    While the removal of both fallopian tubes was noted in the woman’s discharge summary, the woman said she was only made aware of the removal of the right tube when she was advised by an ultrasound technician a year later.
    Dr Caldwell was critical of the doctor for advising the woman of the change in surgical plans, to include the right salpingectomy, in the preoperative holding bay while she was experiencing signs of acute stress relating to the procedure. “The environment in which this option was put to her was inappropriate. It affected her understanding of her surgery and the effect the procedure would have on her fertility was profound”.
    Dr Caldwell said the risks, benefits and options related to the procedure were not explained to the woman appropriately, particularly its potential effects on her fertility, and said the inadequate informed consent was a severe departure from accepted standards.
    Dr Caldwell was also critical that the written consent form did not include the right salpingectomy, because following the change in surgical plan, the doctor did not update the written consent form.
    She also made adverse comment against Health NZ for systemic issues relating to informed consent practise because, in the woman’s case, a surgical safety checklist was not followed.
    Dr Caldwell made a range of recommendations including that the doctor provide a formal apology to the woman and completes HDC’s the online learning modules about the Code. She has recommended Health NZ perform an audit of the last 30 clinical records for compliance with its informed consent policy. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Offering end of life support as part of home care is important – but may face some challenges

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Tieman, Matthew Flinders Professor and Director of the Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying, Flinders University

    Andrew Angelov/Shutterstock

    Earlier this month, the government announced major changes to aged care in Australia, including a A$4.3 billion investment in home care.

    Alongside a shake up of home care packages, the Support at Home program will include an important addition – an end of life pathway for older Australians.

    This pathway will allow access to a higher level of in-home aged care services to help Australians stay at home as they come to the end of their life. Specifically, it will provide an extra A$25,000 for palliative support when a person has three months or less left to live.

    This is a positive change. But there may be some challenges to implementing it.

    Why is this important?

    Older people have made clear their preference to remain in their homes as they age. For most people, home is where they would like to be during their last months of life. The space is personal, familiar and comforting.

    However, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows most people who die between the ages of 65 and 84 die in hospital, while most people aged 85 and older die in residential aged care.

    This apparent gap may reflect a lack of appropriate services. Both palliative care services and GPs have an important role in providing medical care to people living at home with a terminal illness. However, being able to die at home relies on the availability of ongoing support including hands-on care and assistance with daily living.

    Family members and friends often provide this support, but this is not always possible. Even when it is, carers may lack confidence and skills to provide the necessary care, and may not have enough support for and respite from their carer role.

    The palliative care funding offered within Support at Home should help an older person to remain at home and die at home, if that is their preference.

    Unless someone dies suddenly, care needs are likely to increase at the end of a person’s life. Supports at home may involve help with showering and toileting, assessing and addressing symptoms, developing care plans, managing medications, wound dressing, domestic tasks, preparing meals, and communicating with the person’s family.

    Occupational therapists and physiotherapists can assist with equipment requirements and suggest home modifications.

    End of life supports may also involve clarifying goals of care, contacting services such as pharmacists for medications or equipment, liaising with organisations about financial matters, respite care or funeral planning, as well as acknowledging grief and offering spiritual care.

    But we don’t know yet exactly what services the $25,000 will go towards.

    What do we know about the scheme so far?

    The Support at Home program, including the end of life pathway, is scheduled to start from July 1 2025.

    We know the funding is linked to a prognosis of three months or less to live, which will be determined by a doctor.

    Further information has indicated that an older person can be referred to a high-priority assessment to access the end of life pathway. We don’t know yet what this means, however they don’t need to be an existing Support at Home participant to be eligible.

    The pathway will allow 16 weeks to use the funds, possibly to provide some leeway around the three-month timeline.

    Although more details are coming to light, there are still some things which remain unclear.

    Home care providers will be looking for details on what can be covered by this funding and how they will work alongside primary care providers and health-care services.

    Older people and their families will want to know the processes to apply for this funding and how long applications will take to be reviewed.

    Everyone will want to know what happens if the person doesn’t die within three months.

    We’re awaiting certain details on what this new pathway will involve.
    Ground Picture/Shutterstock

    Some challenges

    Ready availability of appropriate supports and services will be crucial for older people accessing this pathway. Home care providers will therefore need to assess how an end of life pathway fits into their operational activities and how they can build the necessary skills and capacity.

    Demand for nurses with palliative care skills and allied health professionals is likely to increase. Providing end of life care can be especially taxing so strategies will be needed to prevent staff burnout and encourage self-care.

    How pathways are implemented in rural and remote areas and in different cultural and community groups will need to be monitored to ensure all older people benefit.

    Effective coordination and communication between home care, primary care and specialist palliative providers care will be key. Digital health systems that connect the sectors could be helpful. Family engagement will also be very important.

    Escalation pathways and referral pathways should be established to enable appropriate responses to emergencies, unexpected deterioration, and family distress.

    Finally, accurately determining when someone will die can be difficult. Knowing when the last three months of life starts may not be easy, particularly where frailty, cognitive issues and multiple health concerns may be present.

    This might mean some people are not seen as being ready for this pathway. Others may not be willing to accept this prognosis. An older person may also be expected to live with a terminal illness for many months or years. Their palliative care needs would not be met under this pathway.

    Despite these challenges, the announcement of an end of life pathway within the home care program is timely and welcome. As a population we are living longer and dying older. More details will help us be better prepared to implement this scheme.

    Jennifer Tieman receives grant funding from Department of Health and Aged Care and from SA Health. She is affiliated with Palliative Care SA, Palliative Care Australia and the Australian Institute for Digital Health.

    – ref. Offering end of life support as part of home care is important – but may face some challenges – https://theconversation.com/offering-end-of-life-support-as-part-of-home-care-is-important-but-may-face-some-challenges-239296

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health Investigation – Breach of the Code highlights lack of informed consent in treatment of a man with prostate cancer 22HDC03116

    Source: Health and Disability Commissioner

    Health and Disability Commissioner Morag McDowell has found a urologist breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights (the Code) in the treatment of a man with prostate cancer.
    The man was diagnosed with prostate cancer and offered two primary treatment options – radiation or surgery. The man opted for surgery, believing that the prostate cancer had not spread to the surrounding lymph nodes.
    Following surgery, two of the lymph nodes came back positive for metastatic disease. After another clinical consultation the man discovered that the spread of cancer to the lymph nodes was evident in his preoperative scan.
    The man said he was not told the surgery would not be curative because the cancer had spread, and that he would therefore require radiation therapy.
    Ms McDowell found that, while surgery was an appropriate treatment option, the urologist breached the Code for failing to ensure the man was adequately informed | whakamōhio and, therefore it followed that the man was not able to give informed consent for the procedure | whakaritenga mōu ake.
    She was critical that the urologist did not provide the man with an appropriate explanation of his preoperative scan result, so that he did not understand his pelvic lymph nodes were involved, and that the man did not have the opportunity for a radiation oncology review, or a clear explanation of the benefits of radiation or surgery.
    “Informed consent lies at the heart of the Code”, Ms McDowell said. “The responsibility for ensuring that the consumer has been provided with sufficient information to make an informed choice and give informed consent lies with the clinician who is to undertake that treatment.”
    Ms McDowell also found the urologist breached the Code for failing to comply with appropriate documentation standards | tautikanga. 
    “Given the man’s diagnosis and prognosis, I would have expected the urologist to have taken appropriate steps to ensure his discussions with the man, including the information provided to him, were documented adequately and accurately reflected what was discussed,” Ms McDowell said.
    She made an educational comment about consideration being given to a multidisciplinary team meeting, which would have enabled both radiologists and the radiation oncologist involved in the man’s care to confirm and interpret the scan findings.
    Since the events, the urologist has made significant changes, outlined in the report. Given the changes made by the urologist, Ms McDowell had no further recommendations. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Business – EMA highlights mindfulness in the workplace for Mental Health Awareness Week – EMA

    Source: EMA

    The Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) is supporting Mental Health Awareness Week by reminding businesses of the importance of mindfulness in the workplace.
    According to EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald, by applying the principles of mindfulness, workers experience less stress, better self-awareness and awareness of others.
    2024 Workplace Wellbeing survey
    Last month, the EMA and nib New Zealand (nib) released the 2024 Workplace Wellbeing survey results, which showed declining mental and physical health, as well as concerns about family wellbeing as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.
    “With employees experiencing financial strain, health issues, concerns for the future and more, it’s no surprise that they’re seeking stability in their current workplaces. It’s clear that when employers take steps to proactively manage wellbeing, employees respond positively, helping to alleviate some of the broader societal pressures,” he says.
    Better understanding of how anxiety is triggered
    “Mindfulness and resilience training have become recognised as essential skills to live and lead in uncertain times and the EMA has significant expertise in these areas.
    “Our courses include the neuroscience of stress and anxiety, which we apply to relatable experiences both in and out of the workplace.
    “By understanding where and how anxiety issues are triggered, we become better placed to ‘short circuit’ negative thinking before it snowballs into bigger issues. We can’t control what happens to us, but we can better control how we interpret and react to these issues.”
    McDonald says the EMA is focussed on supporting both its members and the wider business community through the current economic challenges.
    “The most important asset for any business is its people. That’s why it’s so important to help employers understand what might be going on with their team and consider how to respond.
    “We’ve got a range of resources, tools and learning programmes that are designed to help small to medium businesses drill down into the challenges and identify the right solution for them,” he says.
    Further information
    More information on EMA courses on Mental Health Awareness Training and other Workplace Wellbeing Learning can be found here: Workplace Wellbeing Courses: Upskill Professional Training | EMA https://ema.co.nz/learning/workplace-wellbeing/portfolio/

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Mount Royal National Park hazard reduction burn 24 September 2024

    Source: New South Wales Environment and Heritage

    A 140-hectare burn will take place adjacent to Kurranulla Creek, on the southernmost tip of Mount Royal National Park, east of Muswellbrook, and 5 km due north of Carrowbrook.

    The burn will begin in the morning, with crews continuing into the late evening. Crews will be present for a number of days after the burn.

    The low intensity burn is being undertaken to reduce fuel loads in the area and protect neighbouring properties.

    NPWS will be assisted by the NSW Rural Fire Service.

    Smoke may be visible and impact on the area around Carrowbrook and Mount Royal for a number of days. Motorists should exercise caution when driving along roads in the area.

    People with asthma or who are susceptible to respiratory problems are advised to stay indoors, close windows and doors, and follow their health plan.

    This burn is one of many hazard reduction operations undertaken by NPWS each year, many with assistance from the Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW.

    All burns around the state are coordinated with the NSW Rural Fire Service to ensure the impact on the community is assessed at a regional level.

    People with known health conditions can sign up to receive air quality reports, forecasts and alerts via email or SMS from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

    For health information relating to smoke from bushfires and hazard reduction burns, visit NSW Health or Asthma Australia.

    More information on hazard reduction activities is available at NSW Rural Fire Service and the NSW Government’s Hazard’s Near Me website and app.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China enhances food variety for deep-space missions

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China is working on serving a more diverse range of food options for future deep-space exploration missions, according to the Second Frontier Forum of Space Medicine held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province in east China.
    During the recently concluded Mid-Autumn Festival, a cherished tradition symbolizing family reunion, the Shenzhou-18 crew aboard China’s orbiting space station enjoyed “space mooncakes” stuffed with lotus paste as well as their personal favourites such as spicy lamb and braised pork chops, which had been prepared in advance by the ground support team.
    “We have developed technologies to bring Chinese cuisine to the ‘space dining table’, allowing astronauts to enjoy ‘home-cooked flavors’,” said Li Yinghui, a researcher at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center.
    Li added that China has advanced precision nutrition control technology and built accurate standards for space flight nutritional supplies that can help astronauts address physiological issues caused by weightlessness and radiation and stay healthy during missions lasting over 180 days.
    “Various functional space foods featuring antioxidant effects, immune support, fatigue relief and gut microbiome regulation have been developed to enhance astronauts’ in-orbit adaptability,” said Li.
    With an eye on future deep space missions, China is also working on technologies such as in-orbit cooking that can sustain long-term living beyond Earth, said Zang Peng, another researcher at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Passes Manchin, Scott Bipartisan Resolution Dedicating September 2024 As Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin
    September 20, 2024
    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (I-WV), Tim Scott (R-SC), Jack Reed (D-RI), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bob Casey (D-PA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) applauded the Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution to designate September 2024 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children past infancy; each year, more than 14,500 children under the age of 19 are diagnosed with cancer.
    “Every September, we honor the children taken from us too soon, recognize the strides we have made in treatment and recovery, and recommit ourselves to fighting this disease. Every child deserves to have a chance at a full and healthy life,” said Senator Manchin. “I am proud to help raise awareness around childhood cancer and the lives it affects every day. Gayle and I will continue to keep all cancer patients and their families across West Virginia and the country in our prayers.”
    “I’m proud to join my colleagues again in recognizing September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Since my Childhood Cancer STAR Act became law and was reauthorized last year, we have secured better outcomes for children fighting this terrible disease and grown our research capabilities, especially with institutions in West Virginia. I will continue to support initiatives that improve our understanding of childhood cancer, provide high-quality care for childhood cancer patients, and create better outcomes for survivors until we enter a world where cancer is a disease of the past,” Senator Capito said.
    “Cancer is tragically the most common cause of death by disease among children in America,” said Senator Scott. “I am proud to work with my colleagues to dedicate September to raising awareness and honoring the bravery of children and their families who are affected by this devastating disease. Let this occasion be a reminder that there is so much more work to be done to help every kid have the happy, healthy childhood they deserve.”
    “We are deeply grateful to Senators Manchin and Scott for their continued support in designating September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. While we celebrate the progress that has been made in improving the survival rate for children diagnosed with cancer, there is still so much work to be done. Cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children, and too many young lives are lost. This resolution reminds us of the urgent need to fund research and find cures so that every child has the chance to grow up cancer-free,” the Alliance for Childhood Cancer said in a statement.
    To view the resolution, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Carper, Coons cosponsor resolution reaffirming access to emergency health care, including abortion care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined a resolution led by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today reaffirming that every patient has the basic right to emergency health care, including abortion care, regardless of where they live. The introduction comes as new reporting from ProPublica makes plain that Republican abortion bans are preventing women from receiving lifesaving emergency health care, resulting in preventable deaths.
    “Every American, no matter where they live, deserves to receive the health care that they need,” said Senator Carper. “Reproductive health care continues to be attacked all across our country. Women and their doctors, not politicians and judges, should make these private health care decisions.”
    “New reporting makes clear what many Americans have suspected: Women are dying because of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and conservative states’ Trumpian abortion bans,” said Senator Coons. “Since the elimination of the federal right to an abortion, pregnant women who are in desperate need of medical attention are being turned away from emergency rooms, while doctors are afraid of being jailed for providing lifesaving care. I will fight tirelessly to protect emergency abortion care so that women don’t have to take their lives into their own hands when becoming pregnant.”
    “I introduced this resolution alongside my colleagues to simply reaffirm the basic principle that when you go to the ER, doctors should be allowed to treat you, and when you need emergency care – including abortion care – no politician should stop you from getting it,” said Senator Murray. “Yet here in America, in the 21st century, pregnant women die – not because doctors don’t know how to save them, but because doctors don’t know if Republicans will let them. Democrats will keep pressing to fully restore reproductive freedoms for every woman in America and we will continue to put a white-hot spotlight on the devastating, deadly fallout of Donald Trump’s abortion bans.”
    Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, nearly two-dozen Republican-led U.S. states have banned or severely restricted access to abortion. These strict laws have created confusion around the treatment doctors can provide even when a pregnant patient’s life is in danger, as physicians fear that they may lose their medical license, be sued, or even charged with a felony if they perform lifesaving emergency care. Despite the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act’s (EMTALA) requirements that Medicare-participating hospitals treat and stabilize pregnant patients in need of emergency medical care, pregnant people are being turned away from emergency rooms. New reporting by ProPublica this week reported on the death of Amber Furman, a Georgia woman who died of medical complications after failing to receive a routine medical procedure that doctors were afraid to carry out because of Georgia’s new anti-abortion law.
    This summer, in Moyle v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court had the opportunity to reaffirm that federal law requires pregnant patients to have access to lifesaving emergency care in every state, but instead, the court dismissed the case and sent it back to the lower courts, effectively punting on making a decision on the case itself. While the litigation continues in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the health and lives of women remain at risk as uncertainty around emergency abortion care persists. One-hundred-and-twenty-one congressional Republicans, including 26 senators, filed an amicus brief arguing that EMTALA does not require hospitals to provide abortion care as emergency stabilizing care in order to save a patient’s life.
    Alongside Senator Murray, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) co-led the introduction of the resolution. In addition to Senators Carper and Coons, this resolution is cosponsored by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.),George Helmy (D-N.J.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).
    The resolution is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for Reproductive Rights, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, Reproductive Freedom For All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, National Women’s Law Center, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Power to Decide, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Guttmacher Institute, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, All* Above All, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, National Council of Jewish Women, and National Partnership for Women and Families.
    The House companion bill was introduced last week by U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio) and Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.).
    The full text of the resolution can be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: OSHA pledges to reevaluate proposed rule after Senator Coons, colleagues call to protect volunteer firefighters from burdensome regulations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – This week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) responded to calls by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and their colleagues to reevaluate and exempt volunteer fire departments from parts of a proposed rule that would apply burdensome new regulations to volunteer fire departments in Delaware and across the country.
    “Delaware’s volunteer fire companies already face unprecedented challenges trying to keep their communities safe,” said Senator Coons. “OSHA’s proposed rule– while well-intended – would add a massive burden to under-resourced and understaffed volunteer fire departments, requiring expensive new equipment and trainings that the departments cannot afford. I’m glad OSHA is listening and responding to our shared concerns. I will always recognize our firefighters’ bravery and work to ensure they can fully protect the communities they serve.”
    “Volunteer fire departments and rural communities have made their voices heard, and I am pleased OSHA has listened and is reevaluating the proposed rule,” said Senator Moran. “This is a great first step, and I encourage Kansans to continue sharing their views with OSHA on how this rule would place a financial burden on volunteer fire departments.”
    OSHA proposed a new rule earlier this year that would require fire departments to furnish new reports, trainings, equipment, and health services.
    In August, Senator Coons and Moran called on Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor Julie Su to exempt volunteer fire departments from parts of the proposed rule. The effort was also supported by Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Angus King (I-Maine), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).
    This week, OSHA issued a statement that it is reevaluating the financial and regulatory impact the rule would have on volunteer firefighters: “OSHA has received comments in response to the NPRM [Notice of Proposed Rulemaking] from many stakeholders, including volunteer emergency responders, fire chiefs, trade organizations, and members of Congress, which raise serious concerns about the economic feasibility of the proposed standard for volunteer fire departments. OSHA takes these concerns seriously. This new information will help the agency make the necessary determinations about whether the proposed standard is feasible for volunteer organizations.
    “OSHA is committed to taking steps in any final standard, consistent with the rulemaking record, to assess and minimize detrimental effects on volunteer fire departments. If supported by the record, this may include excluding voluntary emergency response organizations entirely based on these feasibility concerns.”
    The full statement from OSHA can be found here.
    OSHA will hold a public rulemaking hearing on November 12, 2024, and stakeholders are encouraged to provide comments for the hearing. Instructions for how to participate in the hearing are available on the Emergency Response rulemaking webpage.

    MIL OSI USA News –