MULTICULTURAL NEWS AUSTRALIA
Cameroon launches world’s 1st malaria vaccine campaign
New York, Jan 23 (PNA)
NAIROBI, Kenya – In a groundbreaking move to address the persistent threat of malaria, Cameroon on Monday started the world’s first vaccination campaign against the disease. At a press briefing, Mohammed Abdulaziz, head of Disease Control at the Africa Centre for Disease Controls, said the historic step brings hope in the fight against the deadly mosquito-borne disease, which kills hundreds of thousands of people annually, particularly children, in Africa. “The vaccination is a life-saving intervention, a beacon of hope in our collective effort to combat the devastating impact of malaria,” he said. Abdulaziz added that Cameroon, with its high
malaria burden, especially in young children, was seen as a prime candidate for the expanded rollout. The rollout, supported by the World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Vaccine Alliance Gavi, will see the systematic integration of the vaccine called “RTS, S” into Central African nation’s routine childhood immunization schedule. Aurelia Nguyen, Gavi chief program officer, noted that the first rollout will see the introduction of the RTS, S vaccine in 42 districts. Health authorities said young children will receive the malaria vaccine alongside other essential vaccinations, ensuring wider and sustained coverage.
HEALTH
FEB 2024 - Vol 1, Issue 1
The RTS, S malaria vaccine is administered in a four-dose schedule to children living in areas with moderate to high malaria transmission. The recommended age for starting the series is five months old, with subsequent doses given at monthly intervals until the child reaches nine months of age.
Health updates by Ms. Cliantha Padayachee: Heart health check Brisbane, Jan 30 (MCCQ Newsdesk)
Now that we’ve all settled into 2024 and the world comes out of the era of pandemic stress and strain it’s important to consider our health in proactive ways. One way to get ahead of the game and prevent larger issues in heart health, such as heart attacks or heart failure is to get a Heart Health Check done. Medicare covers the cost of a specific heart health check if the GP bulk bills. The 20-minute check covers lifestyle habits, family background and other factors that contribute to heart health such as diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure. The GP will then put all the information about together and provide an overall risk of heart disease specifically for you. If there are areas which need improvement to prevent heart disease, your GP can advise you or refer
you to other specialists to address these areas. If you are deemed high risk of heart disease, the GP will refer you on for further testing to investigate whether there is any established disease which can be treated. The check is recommended for those who are aged 45 – 79 years old, or over 35 years old if you are diabetic and over 30 years old if of First Nations background. It’s a great idea to get the check done to give you some peace of mind and information about how your heart may be travelling. More information on this specific check can be found on the Heart Foundation website https://www.heartfoundation. org.au/heart-health-education/ heart-health-checks Cliantha Padayachee, Cardiac Scientist Email: clio.padayachee92@ gmail.com
A booster dose is then recommended at two years of age. According to WHO’s 2021 World Malaria Report, SubSaharan Africa still accounts for roughly 95 percent of global malaria cases and 96 percent of deaths. Children under five bear the brunt of the disease, with an estimated 263,000 lives lost in 2020 alone. (Anadolu)
DOH urges police to ensure vape inaccessibility to minors “We need stronger implementation at ang DOH [Department of Health] magre-remind (and the DOH will remind), but I hope the police, vendors, stores will strictly implement no sales to minors of its vape products,” he said. He noted that tobacco use, in general, has decreased — from 29.7 percent in 2009 to Manila, Jan 16 (PNA) By Ma. Teresa 19 percent in 2022. Montemayor MANILA – Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure that teenagers do not have access to vapes or electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). In a media forum on Tuesday, Herbosa said he wrote a request to PNP regarding the implementation of the law on such products and to ensure that “minors should not have access to vaping.” www.mccq.org.au
of] e-cigarette is increasing. Before, there is none, it is 14 percent among the youth),” he added. According to the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, about 11 percent of students nationwide use tobacco, 10 percent smoke cigarettes, and 14 percent use e-cigarettes. In 2021, data from the Philippine Pediatric Society showed that 11 percent of students ages 10 to 15 years old already tried vapes.
“Dahil siguro sa sin tax sa tobacco. Ang tobacco sa youth bumaba din from 22 percent in 2007 naging 12 Online accessibility (32 percent na lang in 2019 (This percent), varied flavors (22 may be due to the sin tax on percent), and the belief that tobacco. Tobacco [use] among e-cigarettes are safer than the youth also went down tobacco (17 percent) are from 22 percent in 2007 to 12 the top three reasons for the percent in 2019),” he said. use of vapes among the age group. “Ang problema, ang tumataas ang e-cigarette. Dati wala Republic Act No. 9211 ito, ngayon 14 percent ang (Tobacco Regulation Act of youth (The problem is, [use 2003) and Executive Order
No. 106 by former President Rodrigo Duterte prohibit the sale or distribution of tobacco products within 100 meters of schools, public playgrounds, or other facilities where minors may be found.
into law which lowered age restriction of such products from 21 years old to 18 years old, removed comprehensive ban on vapes and heated tobacco products in public places, and allowed their advertisement.
Nonetheless, a study by the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health showed that more than 2,000 cigarette vendors were selling tobacco products within 100 meters of at least 276 schools.
The measure also removed restriction for non-smokers against using vape, added more vape flavors, and removed the mandate of regulation from the Food and Drug Administration.
At least 43 e-cigarette and 33 heated tobacco products retailers were located near several schools. The study was conducted from December 2022 and January 2023 in nine cities, and urban and rural areas of the country’s regions. In 2022, the Vape Bill lapsed
Herbosa said the increase in vape use among the youth pose health risks to them and other people. Last year, the PNP said it will remind students caught outside schools to quit smoking or vaping and that it will confiscate vapes or e-cigarettes from students who have to be reminded repeatedly. (PNA)
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