Japanese encephalitis detected in South Australian piggery
The mosquito-borne disease Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus has been detected in a commercial South Australian piggery. The disease has also been confirmed in piggeries in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
Japanese encephalitis detected in Eastern Australia
“JEV is a mosquito-borne viral disease that mostly occurs in pigs and horses, but can cause disease in people and rarely other animals. Animals and people become infected through the bite of infected mosquitoes. It cannot be caught through eating pork or pig products. The disease is not transmitted from person to person”: DAWE.
Govt spent $6.2m on locum GPs, not locals
Chris Oldfield. The SA Government’s Limestone Coast Local Health Network spent $6.2 million on locum doctors in 2020-21. And it has now hired an international locum agency to fill Naracoorte hospital’s emergency roster with medical officers, not locals ... Crippled by the escalating rural doctor crisis, for 27 days during 2020-21 the government left the Naracoorte Hospital without an on-call doctor or locum.
Trainees for Naracoorte and Millicent
Chris Oldfield. Naracoorte and Millicent have welcomed three new paramedic trainees to their dedicated SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) teams. Jasmine White has joined Naracoorte, while Ben Merchant and Amy-Lee Hay have teamed up with Millicent's SAAS.
Government agrees to Maldon Hospital amalgamation
The Victorian Government has approved the proposal put forward by the Maldon Hospital and Castlemaine Health boards to come together as one organisation ... The new health service will officially commence on 1 March 2022. The integration follows more than 42 years of strong collaboration and partnership between the two health services.
Domestic violence is no laughing matter
Geoff Helisma. ‘Not out’ septuagenarian Bob Walker came to comedy relatively late. “It saved my life. I was deeply depressed when I took it up – it’s changed how I think about myself and my outlook on life.” ... the Tucabia man is back with a stellar line-up of comedians at the Maclean Bowling Club – and all of the money from ticket sales will be used to potentially save lives.
New research aims to end the refrigeration of vaccines
Researchers at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, have developed a technique that addresses the challenge of transporting temperature-dependent vaccines, which researchers hope may increase access in rural and remote communities in Australia and developing countries.
Life on the land can be tough, but an online tool helps farmers cope with factors beyond their control
A website launched in 2018 to give farmers practical strategies to cope with factors beyond their control has proved so successful with rural communities that it has now been expanded. With further input from farmers and generous funding from multiple philanthropic organisations, ifarmwell has updated its content and features and broadened its reach and expertise.
Keith Hospital model unveiled
Gabrielle Duykers. A newly proposed healthcare model for Keith and District Hospital would see it move into the public local health network, but 24/7 care has been excluded from the plan ... As part of the transition, the current Keith and District Hospital Governing Board could potentially morph into a Health Advisory Council (HAC), a consultative body which works with SA Health to provide advice on health service needs and priorities for the community.
TEYS – the canary in the coalmine
Sheryl Lowe. "What followed ‘saddened” me, Member for MacKillop Nick McBride MP said on 5THE FM radio. “I realise there is a lot of fear around covid but Teys employees were refused service at businesses in Naracoorte and there was even a threat of the Woolworths Fuel outlet closing so staff wouldn’t have to serve them. The media continued to connect the outbreak to Teys but, Teys was the ‘canary in the coal mine,’ if you like. They detected covid in Naracoorte but were not responsible for bringing it to Naracoorte. It was already there.”
Mozzie Mob helping Tennant eliminate dengue mosquito
A dengue mosquito elimination program is gaining traction in Tennant Creek, a year since the dengue mosquito, Aedes aegypti, was found in the town. A team of five NT Health staff, known to the locals as the Mozzie Mob, are conducting property inspections to review backyard items that can hold water to treat them for mosquito eggs or larvae.
Government signs up rural GPs after 19 months
Chris Oldfield. A fresh agreement between SA’s rural doctors and the State Government has been signed. The agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aims to ease a rural GP crisis sweeping the State, affecting country health care and hospitals, including Naracoorte. Government contracts expired 19 months ago, causing grave concerns for SA branches of the Australian Medical Association (AMASA) and Rural Doctor Association (RDASA).
Exhibition tackling social isolation
Make sure to visit the Newstead Arts Hub this February to see a collection of portraits taken by local Anglican Church Reverend Darcy Vaughan. The exhibition, open during the weekends, tackles issues of social isolation and how our communities function when faced with anxiety and uncertainty.
Jodie’s Inspiration delivers $11,000 Christmas gift to enhance in home palliative care support
Every palliative patient in our region deserves dignified treatment and care whether in home or in hospital. Chair of Jodie’s Inspiration, Jesse Smith, in partnership with St Vincent’s Hospital (SVPH), has delivered an $11,000.00 Christmas gift to support in home palliative care services from Lotus Palliative Care across the Northern Rivers.
Deadly Hair Dude shares his skill
For the month of February, if you have an interest in hairdressing and are between the ages of 11 and 17, you have the chance to participate in a program provided by the Deadly Hair Dude in collaboration with Julalikari, who managed to win a grant from the Department of Health to bring the program to Tennant Creek as a part of the Alcohol and Other Drugs initiative.
Case numbers creep up in region
Case numbers continue to grow in the Torres and Cape but health officials are happy with the rate of spread of COVID-19 across the region. On Monday morning, there were 451 active cases in the Torres and Cape, up almost 100 from the week before.
Courageous teen dreams of seeing the world
Emma Pritchard. Cohen Daly has a dream. It’s a dream which he is determined to see come true. And nothing, not even a battle against aggressive bone cancer, will prevent the strong-willed teenager with the beautiful smile from fulfilling his ambition.
WA’s hard border to stay but more exemptions for compassionate reasons
Western Australia’s hard border will stay in place for now with Premier Mark McGowan saying it would be irresponsible and reckless to ignore the problems the omicron wave was causing in the eastern states. But Mr McGowan said some changes to the border settings to start on February 5 would allow for more safe compassionate travel and the return of Western Australians.
Building a plan to prevent suicide
An important project is currently being undertaken in the Torres and Cape to develop a Suicide Prevention Community Action Plan for the region ... This year, the team are turning their attention to community members in the Torres and Cape to lend their voice for the development of a region-specific, Suicide Prevention Community Action Plan.
Boards agree to amalgamation
A proposal for the health services to formally come together to create a new health service, supported by a comprehensive business case, has been endorsed by Maldon Hospital and Castlemaine Health Boards. In accordance with the Health Services Act, the proposal has been sent to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Minister for Health for consideration and for approval.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) grants provisional registration for Novavax COVID-19 vaccine
Nuvaxovidâ„¢ is the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine to receive approval for provisional registration in Australia. Novavax, Inc. has announced TGA approval for provisional registration of NVX-CoV2373, Novavax' COVID-19 vaccine (adjuvanted), for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals 18 years of age and older. The vaccine will be supplied to Australia under the brand name Nuvaxovidâ„¢.
Common sense required for birthing restrictions: Malinauskas and Picton
Labor is calling for a common sense approach to current COVID-19 birthing restrictions in hospitals so the father, partner or a designated support person who tests negative on a RAT can be present for the entire labour and for the mother and baby’s stay in hospital.
