Day: February 10, 2022

A new study says 1 in 10 Australian health care workers has had thoughts of suicide or self-harm during the pandemic.

The authors of the Australian Frontline Health Workers survey believe it is the world’s largest study of suicidal thoughts among health care workers. It canvassed the opinions of 8,000 staff, in a range of positions and professions, including support staff, cleaners, doctors and nurses.

The survey finds 10% of respondents have had thoughts of self-harm or suicide during the pandemic, but fewer than half had sought help from a mental health professional.

Even before the emergence of COVID-19, Australian health workers had higher rates of suicide than those in other occupations.

The study’s authors said that emotional exhaustion and burnout were common among many respondents. What is unclear is the impact stress, which could cause more medical errors, has had on the quality of patient care.

Georgina Lonergan, a nuclear medicine technologist in Victoria state, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that her job was extremely stressful.

“There is an undercurrent of anxiety, I think, for everyone working in health care,” she said. “I have definitely had an undercurrent of anxiety increasing over the last couple of years. Some days you just really do not want to come. There has been a couple of days where I have been close to tears on the way in just from anxiety and just being tired of it all.”

The survey was published Wednesday in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.

Much of Australia continues to battle a wave of omicron variant infections. Government data has shown that more than 3,500 people are in the hospital with the virus.

Since the pandemic began, Australia has detected 2.4 million coronavirus cases; 4,366 people have died, according to the Health Department.

Source: Voice of America

Ms Woon Saet Nyoon, Chief Executive of Temasek Foundation Cares,

Mr Wee Leong How, Chairman of Singapore Cancer Society,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. Good afternoon. I am very pleased to join all of you today to mark the official launch of the Temasek Foundation Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Immunisation Programme, in partnership with the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS).

2. While Singapore continues to battle COVID-19 on the frontline, I am heartened that the pandemic has not detracted from ongoing efforts to combat other viruses such as HPV. Today’s event is an example to reach out to women about HPV vaccination and cervical cancer, through the Temasek Foundation HPV Immunisation Programme.

HPV vaccination and prevention of cervical cancer

3. Almost all instances of cervical cancer can be attributed to HPV infection – more than 95 per cent of cervical cancer cases worldwide are a result of the virus1. In Singapore, cervical cancer is the 10th most common cancer and also the 10th most common cause of cancer deaths among Singaporean women2, as attributed by Mr Wee earlier. However, it is also one of the most preventable cancers among women and can also be effectively treated, if detected early.

4. The HPV vaccine significantly reduces a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer. Studies have shown that getting vaccinated earlier in life also provides better protection against the disease. Completing the HPV vaccination and going for regular cervical cancer screening are key to cervical cancer prevention.

Positive Results from National Programmes

5. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has embarked on various initiatives to improve uptake of the HPV vaccine. The national school-based HPV vaccination programme was rolled out in 2019 to vaccinate female secondary school students. Since then, more than 90% of Secondary One female students in various cohorts have received their HPV vaccinations. Female Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who fall under the recommended age group for HPV vaccination are also eligible for subsidies under the national immunisation schedules.

6. However there remains a lack of awareness and uptake in some population groups. Today’s launch demonstrates the importance of the government and community partnerships in advancing public health and wellness and augmenting existing national efforts.

Launch of the Temasek Foundation HPV Immunisation Programme

7. Funded by Temasek Foundation, this new programme will be helmed and implemented by SCS and seeks to cover the out-of-pocket costs for each HPV vaccine dose for women from low-income backgrounds. This will greatly increase the accessibility of the HPV vaccine by removing cost barriers associated with the vaccination and will go a long way towards improving vaccine uptake in this group.

8. Through such collaborations that seek to educate individuals and facilitate their access to potentially life-saving vaccinations, we can better empower women to take ownership of their own health.

Other efforts for the early detection of cervical cancer

9. Besides vaccination, screening is also key to the early detection of cervical cancer. Early detection and treatment particularly in its pre-cancerous stages can be lifesaving.

10. Since 2017, the Health Promotion Board’s national Screen For Life (SFL) programme has provided subsidised cervical cancer screening at Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) General Practitioners so that all eligible Singaporeans can go for their recommended health screenings and follow-up. To this end, SCS has been offering subsidised cervical cancer screening at their clinic in Bishan, and actively reaching out to young girls to educate them on HPV and cervical cancer. I encourage every eligible woman to make the most of such initiatives to protect their health.

Closing

11. In closing, I want to thank SCS for being MOH’s key partner in promoting cancer awareness and prevention through their public education and community outreach efforts, and Temasek Foundation for its continued support for programmes that seek to build social resilience in Singapore.

12. I would also like to express my gratitude to all agencies and partners for the invaluable support provided to make this HPV Immunisation Programme a reality despite the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic. I am confident that this new partnership will go a long way towards boosting the uptake of HPV vaccination in Singaporean women. Together, we can #JabOutHPV!

13. Thank you.

Source: Ministry of Health, Singapore

JAKARTA– Indonesia yesterday confirmed 46,843 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total tally to 4,626,936, said its Ministry of Health.

The ministry’s senior official, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said yesterday that, the total number of confirmed cases with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the archipelago, has risen to 4,768, with most of them being locally transmitted cases.

According to the ministry, the death toll from COVID-19 rose by 65 to 144,784, while the total number of recoveries rose to 4,216,328, with 14,016 newly recorded, during the past 24 hours.

The Indonesian government is accelerating national vaccination programmes to curb the spread of the virus. More than 187.29 million people in the country have received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while over 132.66 million have taken their second doses, according to the ministry.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

SUVA– Tonga confirmed today, the spread of the Omicron variant in the island nation, as 31 new COVID-19 cases were reported today, bringing the total number of active cases in the country to 64.

According to Tonga’s news website, Matangi Tonga Online, Tonga’s Minister of Health, Saia Piukala, said at a press conference this morning that, the five tests sent to Australia confirmed that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading in Tonga now.

He also confirmed that 30 new cases were reported in Tonga’s main island of Tongatapu, while one was detected in Vava’u, an island group consisting of one large island (‘Utu Vava’u) and 40 smaller ones.

The confirmed cases include adults fully vaccinated and children. They are all having mild symptoms.

Currently, Tongatapu and Vava’u are under a 14-day COVID-19 lockdown, with shopping allowed on Tuesdays and Fridays only.

The Health authorities on the island today urged Tongans in the lockdown area to stay at home.

Tonga, an island nation with a population of more than 100,000, has so far vaccinated 98 percent with their first dose and 88 percent with their second dose. Over 2,000 people have had their booster shots.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

ISLAMABAD– A terrorist was killed, in a clash with security forces, in tribal district North Waziristan of Pakistan’s north-west Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, an army statement said yesterday.

During the intense exchange of fire between the two sides, the terrorist was gunned down, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in the statement.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorist, the statement added.

“The killed terrorist was involved in terrorist activities against security forces, target killings and kidnapping for ransom,” the ISPR said.

Locals of the area appreciated the operation and expressed their full support to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the area, the statement said.

The Pakistani security forces have picked up the pace of operations against terrorists, in the wake of a fresh wave of insurgency against security forces in the country.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK