UTHSAC Newsletter - December 2019

DEC 2019

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UTHSAC NEWSLETTER |

ISSUE 26

Chrstmas Break Umoona Health Service will be closing for Christmas Break from 23rd DEC 2019 to 03rd JAN 2020 (inclusive).

Clients who are currently on Webster packs will be given enough packs to last them throughout the Christmas break.

In case of an emergency Pharmacy will also be available.

We kindly advice our clients who may need the health services during Christmas

Merry Christmas!

break to present themselves at Coober Pedy Hospital [08 8672 5009] Until Clinic opens on the 6th January 2020.

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A: PO Box 166, Lot 08 Umoona Road Coober Pedy SA P: (08) 8672 5255

W: www.uths.com.au Medical: reception@uths.com.au

F: (08) 8672 3349

Admin: umoona@uths.com.au

Content

DIVERSITY STATEMENT Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation (UTHSAC) will strive to: Inform, educate, perform, model and lead to ensure diversity is reflected throughout UTHSAC.

CEO Christmas Greetings ………………………………………..

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AGPAL Accreditation ……………………………………………..

04

Managing Diabetes well during this Summer ………………

06

Sexually Transmitted Infections and Its Prevention

08

DAS Music Program Poster ………………………………………

10

Public Notice …………………………………………………...

11

UTHS Clinic Visiting Doctors & Specialist

12

Women’s Group Program …………………………………………

14

Mental Health Week ………………………………………

16

Aboriginal Health Community Forum ………………………...

18

Kangaroo Care For Low Birth Weight Babies ………………..

20

After Hours Mental Health Team Poster ……………………….

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VISION STATEMENT

UTHSAC Vision, Mission & Diversity Statement …………...

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Christmas Break Notice ……………………………………………

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Innovative, responsive and culturally appropriate health services are accessible to Aboriginal people living in the Coober Pedy and surrounding region.

Create & sustain an environment that actively embraces diversity and inclusion by recognising value in the uniqueness of all individuals Hold all people associated to UTHSAC accountable for their actions and decisions impacting the achievements of UTHSAC Diversity mission statement.

Utilise the success in diversity to assist UTHSAC becoming a provider and the employer of choice as we lead our community to improve health

We respect all our Community and all who walk through our doors and expect the same in return from Community Members and Clients

MISSION STATEMENT To provide a holistic health care service that achieves positive health outcomes through primary health care intervention as well as safer communities through prevention and education.

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CEO Christmas Greetings It’s hard to believe the Christmas season is already upon us, and most are preparing for a well-deserved rest with family and friends.

On a corporate level, the summer holiday is usually the time when we finalise outstanding duties and prepare to get ready to start implementing fresh initiatives for the New Year.

Let’s prepare for next year with positivity and glee. As we take a break from all the hard efforts with friends and family.

The work my staff have done is rated superbly. Which is why I want to thank all my staff so deeply and to those agencies that made it possible to achieve our goals. Next year Umoona Tjutagku Health Service will continue to work with the community

0437 628 933 After Hours Mental Health General Support Line 1300 364 277

through their journey in improving their health through many exciting programs next year. Thank you to all agencies that have positively supported Umoona Tjutagku Health this year in working together collaboratively in supporting the lives of our mob.

Please stay safe over the Christmas break and we will see you all in the new exciting year.

If it is an Emergency Please Call 000 Merry Christmas and a Happy Blessed New Year to All!

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Birth Weight Babies There, the death rate for premature infants was 70 percent. The babies were dying of infections, respiratory problems, and simply due to lack of attention. Researchers found that babies who were held close to their mothers' bodies for large portions of the day not only survived, but thrived.

In the United States, hospitals that encourage kangaroo care typically have their mothers or fathers provide skin-to-skin contact with their preterm babies for several hours each day. However, skin-toskin contact is encouraged for all babies, including term babies.

Benefits of Kangaroo Care The benefits of kangaroo care are unimaginable, in fact, studies have found that skin-to-skin holding stabilizes heart and respiratory rates, improves oxygen saturation rates, better regulates an infant's body temperature, and conserves a baby's calories.

When a mother is kangarooing, the infant typically snuggles into the breast and falls asleep within a few minutes.

The breasts themselves have been shown to change in temperature to accommodate a baby body's changing temperature needs. In other words, the breast can increase in temperature when the infant's body is cool and can decrease in temperature as the baby is warmed. The extra sleep that the infant gets snuggling with mom and the assistance in regulating body temperature helps the baby conserve energy and redirects calorie expenditures toward growth and weight gain. Being positioned on mom also helps to stabilize the infant's respiratory and heart rates. Finally, research has also shown that kangaroo care results in positive effects on brain development.

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Kangaroo Care For Low It is an inevitable fact that mothers play a key role for the overall development of the child. Surprisingly, researchers have proved that skin to skin contact of baby with the mother especially babies with low birth weight with bare chest could drastically help in weight gain of the baby to an unprecedented level.

Kangaroo care is a method of holding a baby that involves skin-to-skin contact. The baby, who is naked except for a diaper and a piece of cloth covering his or her back (either a receiving blanket or the parent's clothing), is placed in an upright position against a parent's bare chest. This snuggling of the infant inside the pouch of their parent's shirt, much like a kangaroo's pouch, led to the creation of the term "kangaroo care."

Kangaroo care came about as a response to the high death rate in preterm babies seen in Bogotรก, Colombia, in the late 1970s.

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Aboriginal Health Community Forum Managing Diabetes well during this Summer

The community forums will provide an opportunity to meet and talk with key staff from each Local Health Network, and the Chair and Aboriginal Health expert of the Governing Board.

For more information on these changes please contact Aboriginal Health Strategy Branch on 08 8226 6344 or via email to AboriginalHealthEnquiries@sa.gov.au

We often foresee to changes of season, however if you've got diabetes, you would like to be further careful once temperatures climb dramatically. Extreme heat will have an effect on your blood glucose management.

If you manage Diabetes with Insulin or if your treatment of blood sugars is insufficient, this could place you at higher risk. Often, worsening blood glucose management is that the main concern. Counting on things and your level of physical activity, low blood sugars are potential.

Extreme temperatures may also affect your medications and testing equipment like Glucometer and Glucometer Strips. So it is continuously reminded to patients about precautions to guard themselves.

If a patient’s blood sugars are largely beyond15mmol/L or less than 4 mmol/L, it is recommend to manage blood glucose levels before partaking in significant physical activity — in spite of the climate and therefore the temperature.

How heat will have an effect on you The extreme heat of summer affects blood glucose levels. However the warmth affects your levels depends on what you’ve eaten up, whether or not you’re well-hydrated and your activity level.

If the warmth and your activity cause you to sweat extravagantly, you will become dehydrated, resulting in an increase in blood Glucose levels.

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Aboriginal Health Community Forum SA Health and Umoona Tjutagku Health Service (UTHSAC) hosted community forum on 26th September 2019 for Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal health organisations to discuss the recent changes to the South Australian health system, and what this means for health care for Aboriginal South Australians. All members of the Aboriginal community were welcomed.

If you become dehydrated, your blood sugar levels can rise. This could result in frequent urination, that then results in additional dehydration and even higher blood glucose levels — a form of regeneration.

Further, if the treatment includes Insulin, dehydration reduces blood circulation to the skin and, therefore, less absorption of injected internal Insulin dose.

Tips for managing blood sugar Don’t allow the heat to keep you indoors. You can participate in outdoor activities and enjoy all types of weather as long as they take a few precautions.

Follow these tips to help manage your diabetes while enjoying the outdoors: 

Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated is important for all people during physical activity, but it’s especially critical for people with diabetes. Avoid this by carrying small bottles of water or electrolyte replenishing sports drinks in a backpack or on a belt while hiking or engaging in sports.



Test your blood sugars levels frequently. Since very hot temperatures can cause levels to fluctuate, it’s a good idea to test more frequently than usual.

That way you can take appropriate and immediate action to keep levels more stable. Frequent monitoring should extend for several hours after the end of physical activity; the effects of activities on blood sugars usually last for a longer period of time.



Keep items to treat low blood sugars with you. This includes glucose tabs or glucose gel. If you are at high risk for very low blood sugars (if you have frequent low blood sugar or had very low blood sugar previously), you should also have a glucagon kit available.

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Take some snack with you. Some snacks can serve as a meal replacement.

Others can serve as ways to prevent low blood sugars. Discuss with your nutritionist possible options.

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Protect your medication and supplies. Take proactive steps to protect your insulin, glucagon kit and other supplies before you head outdoors, regardless of the temperature. Be sure to protect your insulin pump from high temperature. Depending on the situation and duration of activity, the intervention could be as simple as monitoring glucose more often.



Avoid sunburn. You can get sunburned while skiing on the slopes or while hiking in the summer. Sunburn stresses your body and can raise blood sugar levels. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen and wear protective eye gear.

Why are these community forums being held?

From 1 July 2019 the State Government established 10 Local Health Networks (LHNs), each with its own Governing Board.

The Governing Boards are responsible for the planning and delivery of local services and ensuring that services are sustainable and reflective of local values, needs and priorities.

Each Governing Board has an Aboriginal health expert as a member along with other board members who bring high level expertise and experience in healthcare, finance, law and management.

By taking a few precautions, you can enjoy an active, healthy lifestyle in most any weather.

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Sexually Transmitted Infections and Its Prevention

My Community Here are some ways you can make connections in your community:     

Check in with mates Share a cuppa and talk things over Listen and keep talking Find out what’s happening in your community Head to the Mental Health Service or Drug & Alcohol Service

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an infection you get from someone else during sexual activity such as kissing, touching, oral sex and intercourse. Some examples are Gonorrhea, Trichomonas, Chlamydia, HIV, Hepatitis and Syphillis. STIs can be managed by right protection, good communication and regular sexual health checks.

My Support Here are some ways you can seek support when you need it:       

 

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Talk to someone you trust Visit your GP Make a call and have a yarn with our mental health team Call Mental Health Triage 131465 in a crisis Suicide Call Back Service - telephone 1300 659 467 Beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Lifeline 13 11 14 Lived Experience Telephone Support Service 1800 013 755 UTHS After Hours Mental Health Team - 0437268933

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Mental Health Week Everyone’s wellbeing is important.

My Wellbeing Here are some ways you can look after yours: 

Keep yourself safe

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Get enough sleep

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Eat well, exercise and reduce alcohol consumption

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Learn how to manage stress

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Maintain healthy relationships

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Talk to a friend or counsellor

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See your GP or call a helpline if you are concerned

Common symptoms of STIs Some STIs are asymptomatic which means you can have it and infect other people without your knowledge and worst, it can also permanently damage your reproductive system. These are the signs and symptoms of the person acquired an STI. 

Itchiness, discomfort, irritation, pain in genital areas

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rashes

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leaking and foul smelling discharge from your genitals or anus

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burning sensation upon urination

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fever

How to prevent STI? 1. Communicate Talk to health service provider about sexual health and get regular sexual health checks. Be open with your sexual partners about your sexual history and health.

2. Practise safe sex Use protection during sexual intercourse such as condoms and dental to prevent acquiring the STIs. 3. Get regular sexual health checks If you regularly have sex with new or different partners, get a sexual health check every three months. If you’re in a long-term relationship and you’re sexually active, get a sexual health check at least once a year.

You can get a sexual health check with any GP or at a sexual health centre.

STI Treatments STI treatment differs based on the type of infection you have. Most infections are cured with a simple antibiotic or antifungal treatment.

Those that can’t be cured can be managed with ongoing medical treatment. Clients can talk to the health service for the appropriate delivery of care and follow ups. It is also relevant that the client’s partner should be treated to prevent the spread of the disease.

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Women’s Group Program Women’s Group program was held on 21st November 2019 at DAS activity Centre. We discussed about Domestic Violence issues which is more prevalent in the community currently. It was visible that the clients participated in this session enthusiastically. Clients were raising questions about current Domestic Violence issues. Uniting country SA joined with us to advocate clients on Domestic Violence issues.

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Women’s Group Program

Public Notice

Women’s Group program was held on 19th September 2019 at DAS activity Centre. We discussed about sleep hygiene patterns at the women’s group followed by Lunch Prepared by the staff and the clients.

Awareness videos and handouts were provided to the clients during the program today

Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation (UTHSAC) has given a new face for it’s organisation by creating a brand new logo for the organisation.

The old logo is displayed below:

We have created the new logo by using the concepts of Umoona, People and Caring. All the designs to feature the Aboriginal colours & art themes.

Meaning of “Umoona” is before the white settlement the name of the area was "Umoona" which is named after the Umoona tree meaning long life which is found at the Breakaways and the Umoona Community in Coober Pedy. After the white man inhabited this area in search of opal Aboriginal people named this area Kupaku Piti meaning "white man's hole".

UTHSAC New logo displayed below:

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UPCOMING DOCTORS & SPECIALIST February 2020

December 2019 SUN 1

MON 2 GP

TUE 3 GP

WED 4 GP

THU 5 GP

FRI 6 GP

SAT

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

7

SAT 1

9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 8

10 No

11 GP

Doctor

Doctor

9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM

Doctor

16 No

17 No

18 No

19 No

20 No

Doctor

Doctor

Doctor

Doctor

Doctor

23 Clinic

24 Clinic

25 Clinic

26 Clinic

27 Clinic

Closed

Closed

Closed

Closed

Closed

9 No

15

22

29

12 GP

13 No

14

2

21

9

28

16

3

4

5 No

6 No

7 No

Podiatrist

Podiatrist

Doctor

Doctor

Doctor

10 GP &

11 GP &

12 GP &

13 GP &

14

DENTIST

DENTIST

DENTIST

DENTIST

DENTIST

17

18

19

20 GP &

21 GP

Audiologists

Audiologists

27 GP &

28 GP

Endocrinolo- Endocrinolo- Audiologists gist gist

30

23

24 GP

25 GP &

26 GP &

9AM-4.30PM Respiratory Respiratory

nurse

January 2020 SUN

5

12

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

1 Clinic

2 Clinic

3 Clinic

Closed

Closed

Closed

6 No

7 No

8 No

9 No

10 No

Doctor

Doctor

Doctor

Doctor

Doctor

13 GP

14 GP

15 GP

16 GP

17 GP

SAT 4

nurse

8

15

22

29

Respiratory 9AM-4.30PM nurse

All the consultations are done by appointments, it can be made by contacting our reception on 08 8672 5255

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between 8.30 am to 4.30pm

Monday to Friday

9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 19

26

12

20 GP &

21 GP &

22 GP

23 GP &

24 GP &

Dietitian

Dietitian

9AM-4.30PM Respiratory Respiratory

nurse

nurse

27 No

28 No

29 No

30 No

31 No

Doctor

Doctor

Doctor

Doctor

Doctor

25

For more information visit our website www.uths.com.au 13