UTHSAC Newsletter - December 2018

CHRISTMAS BREAK

DECEMBER 2018 | UTHSAC NEWSLETTER | ISSUE 22

Umoona Health Service will be closing for Christmas Break From 20th December 2018 to 04th January 2019 (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 break to present themselves at Coober Pedy Hospital [08 8672 5009] Until Clinic opens on the 7th January 2019.

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS &

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas!

Content Be alert for tuberculosis (TB) in South Australia

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Dust Storms

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Women’s Bush Trip

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White Ribbon Day

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Mental Health Awareness

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Oodnadatta Youth Program

10

Men’s Camp

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UTHSAC Calendar

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What is Harm Reduction?

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H4L Gym Program

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Men’s Music Program

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Movie Night

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AOD effects on Mental Health

19

Gardening Program

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Men & Women Healthy Cooking Program

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Gym Program Posters

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Drug Forum Poster

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Christmas Break

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Be alert for tuberculosis (TB) in South Australia Globally in 2017 there were an estimated 10 million cases of tuberculosis (TB) of which 558,000 were rifampicin/multi-drug resistant. TB is uncommon in Australia with most cases imported by people travelling from high burden countries.

In South Australia, 52 cases of TB have been notified year to date in 2018, compared to a total of 70 cases in 2017 and 85 cases in 2016. A recent case of extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB) in Adelaide, likely related to imported Infection, has highlighted the importance of early detection, where early suspicion by the GP and referral to SA TB Services resulted in timely management and minimal public health impact. A delayed diagnosis may result in increased morbidity and mortality in TB cases, and increase the risk of transmission. This is particularly true in drug resistant cases where delayed diagnosis can result in increased disease burden, reduced chance of cure, reduced chance of prevention in newly infected close contacts, and significant increase in cost to the health care system.

People with increased risk of exposure to TB

People with increased risk of progression from latent TB infection to active TB disease

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Close contacts of an infectious TB case

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

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People born in Australian prior to the 1960s

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Migrants, refugees or students from high burden countries

P.T.O

Health care workers who have worked in high burden countries

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Infants and children under 5 with a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) People with “old healed” TB on CXR People with immunosuppressive disorders (e.g. HIV, malignancy) or those requiring prolonged use of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents People with solid organ transplants People with medical disorders such as diabetes, kidney disease requiring dialysis, or silicosis

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Men & Women Healthy Cooking Program

Medical practitioners should consider TB in these risk groups when:

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Cough or persistent chest infection is present for more than 2 weeks that does not respond to a standard course of antibiotics and/or,

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Other respiratory symptoms are present – dyspnoea, chest pain, haemoptysis and/or,

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Constitutional symptoms are present – loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, night sweats, fatigue, lymphadenopathy.

UTHS men's and women's healthy cooking program is an important aspect of good quality healthcare. It’s important that youth/adult in the community are offered nutritious meals and enjoy positive mealtime experiences. The mealtime atmosphere and the attitude and behaviour of health workers help developing of healthy eating practices in the local community. these programs creates an opportunity for men and women-focused cooking programs in providing invaluable life skills and food literacy to this potentially groups.

Medical practitioners should investigate and manage suspected pulmonary TB by:

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Chest X-ray – atypical findings are common in the immune suppressed and elderly; consider a CT chest if clinical suspicion remains.

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Sputum TB culture and acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear testing – request 3 sputum specimens collected at least 8 hours apart (e.g. early morning) for AFBs.

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If sputum result is:

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Smear positive – seek urgent advice from SA TB services or nearest tertiary hospital.

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Smear negative – this does not exclude TB as culture confirmation can take 3-6 weeks. Seek specialist advice if high suspicion of TB.

Note: TST and interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) are NOT recommended for the initial investigation of active TB. A negative result does not exclude the possibility of TB. For further advice please contact Umoona Health Service on 08 8672 5255

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Dust Storms

Gardening Program

Dust storms are caused when strong, turbulent winds greater than 30km/hour, carry fine particles of dust from the surrounding area with the wind. Particles that can be can be picked up during dust storms include:

People of all ages in the community can enjoy gardening. They could have lots of fun and gain special benefits. The program helps people come together to grow vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers in a supportive community. Gardening is educational and develops new skills including- Responsibility from caring for plants, achieving their goals and enjoying the food they have grown, chance to learn about the outdoor environment in a safe and pleasant place ,doing something fun and productive, teamwork, finding new and exciting ways to grow

Dust, Soil, Sand, Microorganisms such as bacteria, Spores of fungi.

Dust storms are short-term events that often occur after periods of intense surface heating (for example, drought or fire) over cleared land or during a cold front.

How dust can affect your health The lungs can be affected by the small particles which are included in the dust cloud.

Particles smaller than 10 micrometres in diameter (PM10), about 1/7 the diameter of a human hair, can be inhaled deeply into the sensitive areas of the lungs. There, these small particles can cause irritation and inflammation.

Larger particles, those greater than PM10, only reach the nasal passage, the mouth, throat or the upper part of the lungs from where they can be expelled, but they can still cause irritation.

Research shows that during dust storms, visits to the emergency department for respiratory problems increase above the norm.

Who can be affected?

While all people may feel discomfort, people with pre-existing illnesses such as respiratory or heart-related problems may have their existing symptoms aggravated.

It is important to seek medical advice if your symptoms continue or if you are concerned in any way.

How to protect yourself Ways you can protect yourself include:    

Staying inside Avoiding exercise, especially outdoors, to reduce the intake of particles into your lungs Adhering to your medication schedule Activating your asthma management plan.

Staying safe on the roads during a dust storm Dust storms can reduce visibility. Extra caution should be taken when driving a vehicle. If visibility is very low, park in a safe place to avoid collisions.

If your car has air conditioning, reduce the incoming dust by switching the air intake to recirculate.

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Women’s Bush Trip Women’s bush trip was held in September 2018. UTHSAC CEO, Female staff & Female clients participate on this event. It was a great opportunity for UTHSAC new staff and other participants to get to know each other and to talk about aboriginal culture. The below photos show the activities of the bush trip.

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Movie Night

WHITE RIBBON DAY

The motive of the movie night is to educate the client’s on the impact of Alcohol and Other drugs and awareness on Mental health. We play an awareness video before the movie in order to achieve our motive. The movie night is happening every Friday 3.30pm onwards. Though this program was started recently, increasing number of enthusiastic clients can be seen every week.

As a community, we play a vital role in standing up, speaking out and ending all forms of violence against women.

If we can set the standard for respectful behaviour and gender equality in the community, at home and in the workplace, we can eliminate violence against women and children. We do this by standing up, speaking out and acting when it comes to violence against women.

“Together we can intervene and prevent violence against women and children in our community.”

As Part of White Ribbon Day UTHSAC DAS Staff at The IGA store took time as a team to be a part of supporting the promotion in stopping Domestic Violence.

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Mental Health Awareness

Men’s Music Program

Mental Health Week is an annual, international event that aims to improve community awareness and interest in mental health and wellbeing. As World Mental Health Day is marked every year on 10 October, all are encouraged to consider their own mental health as they would in their physical health. The Mental Health Week events and activities in Coober Pedy were coordinated by Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation. The main aim was to increase community awareness and to encourage access mental health and wellbeing

The UTHS music program has an integral part in transmission of the human experience throughout the community. We have devised extensive pedagogical methods to promote the preservation of musical traditions within the cultural system. This is a rewarding and a challenging program for the local community and its a vibrant and widespread phenomenon enriching the life of people. UTHS music program provides community with viable options in improving leisure time activities and promoting cultural development.

services available to the people of Coober Pedy and surrounding places.

This year the Mental Health Week was celebrated from 7th to 13th October. We have celebrated ‘World Mental Health Day’ on 10/10/2018 with a public event at Rotunda, Hutchison Street in Coober Pedy including stalls, discussions and more.

The diversity of the participants was one of the impressive features of the event, as some of them were local while others were the enthusiastic travellers. The stall and the free health checks were offered to all with free of cost and reminded them about the saying “Healthy mind in a Healthy Body”. The communities were encouraged to think about mental health which is often ignored throughout the life until they are affected. The stalls were covering almost all aspects of mental health, physical health and drug and alcohol and other specific public health service information. It has enlightened many with the motto that ‘you are not alone - help is available’. Though there were more than 50 participants, some of them were hesitant to talk about mental health, while others took courage to share their

experiences of their loved ones. People with a lived experience of mental health issues, and their families and carers, hold unique insights into how timely services can best respond to the mental health recovery. Now it’s the time to break the barriers of mental health, first is ‘social stigma’. Be encouraged and encourage others to seek help towards ‘Strong and Resilient Community’.

The below photos show the activities of the Mental Health Awareness Week!

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H4L Gym Program The Healthy for Life (H4L) gym program is designed to help clients get fit and become healthier. Clients are also educated on healthy easting and nutrition during and after these programs as healthy living is mostly healthy dieting than training. The program is conducted on Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays for men and Tuesdays and Thursdays for women.

AOD effects on mental health Discussion was based on the harmful effects of Alcohol and Other Drugs on mental health for Aboriginal People. Dr Michael Edwards, the visiting Psychiatrist emphasized more on highlighting the high risk stages of Alcohol and other drugs.

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Oodnadatta Youth Program The main aim of the Oodnadatta youth program was to educate the youth on competencies, values, taking responsibility for their safety and well-being, helping to steer them in the right direction, and social skills that will carry them forward to successful adulthood. We believe Through the program It helped them to avoid choices and behaviours that will limit their future potential. We had lot of support from local Parents and families in organizing the young for this program. We look forward to do more youth programs at Oodnadatta with the support of the Oodnadatta community.

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What is Harm Reduction?

A position statement from Harm Reduction International Harm reduction refers to policies, programmes and practices that aim to reduce the harms associated with the use of psychoactive drugs in people unable or unwilling to stop. The defining features are the focus on the prevention of harm, rather than on the prevention of drug use itself, and the focus on people who continue to use drugs.

Men’s Camp Umoona Men’s camp emerged out of recognition of unmet needs and needs among our local men in Coober Pedy and surrounding areas. Men’s camp is a community and cultural driven program which provides a safe way for aboriginal men to come together to support each other. The last men’s camp was held in October 2018. The below photos show the activities of the men’s camp.

Harm reduction complements approaches that seek to prevent or reduce the overall level of drug consumption. It is based on the recognition that many people throughout the world continue to use psychoactive drugs despite even the strongest efforts to prevent the initiation or continued use of drugs. Harm reduction accepts that many people who use drugs are unable or unwilling to stop using drugs at any given time. Access to good treatment is important for people with drug problems, but many people with drug problems are unable or unwilling to get treatment.

Furthermore, the majority of people who use drugs do not need treatment. There is a need to provide people who use drugs with options that help to minimise risks from continuing to use drugs, and of harming themselves or others. It is therefore essential that harm reduction information, services and other interventions exist to help keep people healthy and safe. Allowing people to suffer or die from preventable causes is not an option. Many people who use drugs prefer to use informal and non-clinical methods to reduce their drug consumption or reduce the risks associated with their drug use.

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UPCOMING DOCTORS & SPECIALISTs february 2019

December 2018 SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SUN

SAT

MON

TUE

WED

THU

1

2

3 GP

4 GP

5 GP

6 GP

7 GP

3

8

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

10 GP

11 GP & 9AM-4.30PM Dietitian

12 GP &

13 GP &

14 GP

Dietitian

Dietitian

9AM-4.30PM

17 GP

19 GP

10

15

23

18 GP

20 CLINIC

21 CLINIC

9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM CLOSED

CLOSED

24 CLINIC

25 CLINIC

26 CLINIC

27 CLINIC

28 CLINIC

CLOSED

CLOSED

CLOSED

CLOSED

CLOSED

1

2

8 GP

9

4 GP &

5 GP &

6 GP

Podiatrist

Podiatrist

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

11 GP

12 GP

13 GP

14 GP

SAT

15 GP

16

9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 17

16

7 GP

FRI

22

24

29

18 GP &

19 GP &

20 GP &

21 GP &

22 GP &

Dentist

Dentist

Dentist

Dentist

Dentist

27 GP & Dietitian

28 GP & Dietitian

25 GP

26 GP & 9AM-4.30PM Dietitian

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january 2019 SUN 30

6

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

31 CLINIC

1 CLINIC

2 CLINIC

3 CLINIC

4 CLINIC

CLOSED

CLOSED

CLOSED

CLOSED

CLOSED

7 GP

8 GP

9 GP

10 GP

11 GP

SAT 5

12

9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 13

14 GP

15 GP

16 GP

17 GP

18 GP

19

9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 20

21 GP

22 GP

23 GP

24 GP

25 GP

26

9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM 27

28 GP

29 GP

9AM-4.30PM 9AM-4.30PM

30

31

12

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