TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 13 JULY 2023
Wound care nurse Neenu Antony on a telehealth call. Pic supplied.
Wound care levels up with telehealth option A wound care clinician who can work with isolated health care teams to treat wounds and serious skin conditions from hundreds of kilometres away has given some Torres Strait patients a new lease on life, Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman says. Clinical nurse consultant Neenu Antony started work on Thursday Island in February after relocating with her young family. Based at Thursday Island Hospital, Ms Antony used Telehealth to treat many of her patients with her service extended to the Torres Strait outer islands and the Northern Peninsula Area. Doctors, nurses, health workers and allied health staff call Ms Antony when someone with a complex wound presented in their clinics. She has been able give live expert advice, along with support for staff to apply the correct treatment or dressing. “I want to thank Ms Antony for the vital support she is offering this community,” Minister Fentiman said. “Having staff with this expert knowledge is such an asset and further improves health equity for those in our remote communities. “Given the complex skin conditions often seen in the Torres Strait and the comorbidities many patients in the region have, Ms Anthony’s knowledge and skills are already proving invaluable.” Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said Ms Antony’s efforts had
improved the quality of life of Torres Strait patients. “We are seeing telehealth uptake continue to grow within the Torres Strait, Cape York and Northern Peninsula Area as patients realise the benefits of being able to be treated without having to leave their community,” she said. “The Torres & Cape Hospital and Health Service now has three wound care nurses working across the region, based at Cooktown and Weipa, as well as Ms Anthony on Thursday Island.” Ms Anthony said Telehealth reduced waiting time and avoided unnecessary travel. “Staff provide referrals and forward pictures of wounds or skin infections, which I can use to triage the cases and contact patients directly,” she said. “I am then able to collaborate with doctors, dieticians, physiotherapists, and any other specialists required to organise the patient’s care plan. “I arrange follow up appointments based on the need of the wound and once it heals, I discharge them and place them on six-month reviews. “Using Telehealth reduces the waiting time to see a wound care specialist, avoiding unnecessary travel to access health service and time away from family. “It is also a great opportunity to identify and address challenges in wound care in remote locations and for patient and staff education.”
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HEALTH NEWS 05
Mosquito warning comes with Boigu malaria case
A case of malaria has been detected on Boigu Island in the Torres Strait, Torres & Cape Personal protective measures include: Hospital and Health Service Public Health • Wear light-coloured clothing, and long-sleeved Medical Officer Dr Allison Hempenstall says. shirts and long pants wherever possible to “The case is being managed appropriately cover exposed skin. and no further details can be provided due to • Use personal insect repellent containing DEET confidentiality,” she said. (di-ethyl toluamide) or Picaridin. DEET and “The community should be aware that Picaridin are safe for use by pregnant women. malaria is treatable and there is no cause for Always follow the manufacturer’s directions. community alarm.” Repellents usually only protect against She said malaria was a mosquito-borne mosquito bites for up to four hours. disease and not transmitted from person to • Use long-lasting ‘surface’ or ‘cockroach’ person, but spread through people by the bite of insecticide spray in places where mosquitoes particular types of mosquitoes. can hide. “Residents of Boigu Island and the Torres • Use other mosquito protection devices such Strait should be on alert for symptoms of as electric zappers and mosquito coils. malaria and take measures to prevent being • Install insect screens that are in good working bitten by mosquitoes,” she said. order in your home and office. If not, sleep “The most common symptoms of malaria under a mosquito net day and night. are high fever, headache, backache, nausea, vomiting, and muscle and joint pains. • Tip it, store it, throw it — tip out water from containers weekly, or dry store containers “If anyone exhibits any of these symptoms, under cover and discard rubbish properly. they should present immediately to their local Mosquitoes breed in containers that hold primary healthcare centre.” water. Remember, under the Public Health Act She said the best protection against 2005, you can be fined by your local council if mosquito-borne diseases of any kind was to your home or yard promotes the breeding of avoid being bitten by mosquitoes in the first mosquitoes. place. If you follow these simple instructions, you can “Mosquito spraying is currently being substantially minimise the risk of being bitten and undertaken on Boigu Island,” she said. infected with a mosquito-borne virus. “But all residents of Boigu, the Torres Strait, Northern Peninsula Area and Cape York can do For more information about malaria see http:// 19x4 colour adtake (*FY action July 2022 5% increase) 12 ad booking rate: $295.26incl + 15% RHP posn. Loading $339.25inc their part and to eliminate mosquito conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/ [$308.41ex] peron adtheir - dropped to flat rate [$304.55ex] x12 $4020incl. breeding sites properties and $335incl to protect condition/14/165/447/Malaria 2nd Thursday month.bites.” PROOF EMAILED E _______/22 -- DEADLINE ____________/22 themselves fromof mosquito
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Christina Koullas <christina@ckpr.com.au> OR ‘Chris Foord’ <gmanager@bament.com.au> + Amy Gardner <amy@ckpr.com.au>
Bamaga Enterprises Ltd July Update
BEL delivers on education support in the community
Bamaga local Rowena Abednego is set for success for her midwife course.
Bamaga Enterprises Limited (BEL) is dedicated to improving the social and economic outcomes of the Northern Peninsula Area by suppor�ng locals who are achieving their educa�on goals. BEL recently sponsored Bamaga local Rowena Abednego, a passionate young woman aspiring to become a midwife. Recognising her poten�al, BEL is sponsoring Ms Abednego in the first year of her six-year, part �me Bachelor of Midwifery Degree at Australian Catholic University in Brisbane.
BEL has provided $2,500 in funding to cover her university amenity fees, travel expenses, laptop, essen�al clinical equipment pack, and textbooks. Ms Abednego says the sponsorship has not only helped with her finances, but it has also mo�vated her to excel academically. “Thanks to this invaluable contribu�on, I am now able to focus wholeheartedly on my studies without the burden of financial stress,” she says.
Through its Socio Support Policy, BEL has invested over $3.5 million back into the community. Various sponsorships are available for those seeking assistance with costs in the areas of sports/recrea�on ac�vi�es, aged support, medical assistance, educa�on or training, arts and culture, religion, community infrastructure, and other general requests. Visit our website for more details, including how to apply for funding.
Bamaga Enterprises Ltd, Rural Transaction Centre, Adidi Street, Bamaga QLD 4876 • Ph 4069 3533 • www.bament.com.au
