UTHS Newsletter Feb 2016

Issue 11 February 2016

02 Page STDS 04 Page Healthy for Life programs 

Dr. Judy McDonald



Dr.Jodie Whillas



Dr.Helen Sage Dr.

Carlier

06 Page Welcome new staff 07 Page Cricket & Soccer 08 Page GP & Specialists visits

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Dentist

 

Physician

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Podiatrist Deitician

10 Page DAS programs 12 Page Take good care of your Kidneys 14 Page What is Binge drinking?

16 Page Feeling distressed or no hope of living?

17 Page Lets cook chicken Koftha 18 Page Christmas Party 20 Page Semi Finalist

Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are common all around the world. They may be caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. You may think that only other people get STIs and that you are not at risk of catching one, but anybody who is sexually active can get an STI if they do not practice safe sex.

Sexually transmissible infections include chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital herpes, scabies, pubic lice (crabs), hepatitis and HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).

Symptoms of STIs There are many different STIs and there are many signs that mean you may have caught one, but sometimes, there are no signs at all. When STIs do produce symptoms, they usually develop on the genital area.          

Generally, the symptoms of STIs can include: unusual discharge from the penis, vagina or anus pain during sex or urination sores, blisters, ulcers, warts or rashes in the genital area itchiness or irritation in the genital area persistent diarrhoea fever or flu-like symptoms abnormal or unusual vaginal bleeding, especially after having sex pain in the scrotum or testicles lumps and bumps on the genitals.

Remember that many people who have an STI do not develop any symptoms and may not be aware they have an infection that can be passed on to their sexual partners, which is why check-ups are so important.

STIs are passed on during sex The most common sexual activities that can spread an STI from one partner to another include: •vaginal sex – the man’s penis in the woman’s vagina •anal sex – the man’s penis in the partner’s anus (the partner can be either male or female)

•oral sex – the man’s penis in the partner’s mouth, or the partner’s mouth or tongue in the woman’s vagina •oral-anal sex – one partner’s mouth or tongue on the other partner’s anus.

Diagnosis of STIs The only way to find out if you have a sexually transmissible infection is to have a sexual health checkup. Doctors deal with sexual health problems on a daily basis, so don’t be embarrassed to ask for help.

Sexual health check-ups are easy to do. In most cases, it involves only a simple urine test. Some infections can be diagnosed on the day and treated at the time of your visit. Other results may take up to a week.

How to reduce the risk of STIs It is not difficult to avoid catching STIs. You can prevent most STIs by using barrier protection such as condoms, female condoms and dams (a thin piece of latex placed over the anal or vulval area during oral sex).

Where to get help •Your

doctor

•Your local hospital.

•Youth worker, welfare worker or social worker •Your local community health centre.

Things to remember •Anyone who is sexually active can catch an STI. •Correct use of condoms and dams can help reduce the risk of catching an STI. •Medical treatment can cure some STIs or help relieve symptoms for others

REFERENCES https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/sexually-transmissible-infections-stis Sexually transmissible infections, Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Surveillance, Department of Human Services, Victorian Government.

•Sexual health plus, NSW Health.

2016 Healthy For Life at the Moment Monday Wednesday Thursday afternoon at the clinic doing ATSI sign off, immunisations, hearing assessment, development health assessments.

These are appointments booked on communicare.

On Thursday mornings Kunga’s Group - I will be giving 4 sessions at the Kunga group from 10am – 12pm. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder FASD – Causes, effects on children. Circle of Security, Health and Resilience. Strong Family caring. I will be advised by Suhara when these are to occur. When possible I will also be there to support with any health assessments.

Tuesdays Janine has organised that I will be at the H4L shed.

There is a variety of programs running on that day.

Literacy –Reading - parent and child Trish or Sarah to read with the child and another worker to connect with and provide health information to the mother. Cycle of 8 sessions Booking required. 1 hour appointments. 

Parenting – Interagency AFSS . Cycle of 8 sessions Bookings required. (Trish)



Parenting – Antenatal clients and their partners. Becoming a parent. (Trish)



Literacy – Health Referred from Kwa Cycle to be determined by Kwa. (Trish)

Friday I will be going once a month to Tji Tjapu Tjuta for 1 hour for health checks. Bookings preferred.

School Screening is on in the afternoons at the school the following 

Monday 29th February – Thursday 3rd March

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Monday 30th May – Thursday 2nd June

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Monday 1st August – Thursday 4th August

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Monday 24th October – Thursday 27th October

Healthy 4 Life will be working with Australian Hearing at the clinic on the following dates; 10th – 11th March 11th – 12th August 3rd – 4th November

Healthy 4 Life will also be working with the following when the dates are known; ENT Specialist Dr Trish McFarlane; Audiologist Craig Fisher, Occupational Therapist Jenny Biven.

Ramazan Hassani Facilities Officer/Activities Support Officer

Sun

7 14 21

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1 GP

2 GP

3 GP

4 GP

5

6

8 Dentest,

9 Dentest

10

11

12

Psychiatrist

Psychiatrist

15 Endocri- 16 Endocri- 17

Dentist

Dentist

13

Audiologist

Audiologist

18

19

20

25 GP

26

27

nologist

nologist

22 GP

23 GP

24 GP

Physician

Physician

Physician

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

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1

2

3

4

5

Hepatologist

Hepatologist

8 GP

9 GP

11

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28

29

Sun

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6

Dentest

7 GP

Dentist

Dentist

Dentist

10

GP

Dentist

Audiologist

Audiologist

13

14

15 GP

16 GP

17 GP

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21 GP

22 GP

23 GP

24 GP

25 Close 26

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2 9

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4 GP

5 GP

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18 GP

Dentist

Dentist

19 GP

20 GP

ENT for Kids

24

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Dentist

27

Dentist

Dentist

21 GP

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Endocrinologist

Endocrinologist

28

29

16 23 30

www.uths.com.au

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Address

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Lot 8, Umoona Road, Coober Pedy, South Australia 5723

Appointments are required for all consultations and can be made by contacting our receptionist on 8672 4000 between the hours of 8.30 am - 5.00 pm, Monday -Friday

Camp September 2015 Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Drug and Alcohol had a great camp from 6 th-9 th September 2015 down at Thuruna Bay, where 9 men and 4 staff drove down to do some fishing, sightseeing, bike riding, cooking and engage with Drug and Alcohol DVD’s talks, messages and discussions. It was a great time and the men attending all wanted to get to the next one and develop a men’s Group in Coober Pedy. On the way back we stopped off at the Footsteps Road to Recovery Residential Rehabilitation Centre. The Men visited, looked around, spoke to staff and thought it was a great place to have a break from grog.

Planned Pitstop 24the March 2016 Umoona Health DAS are planning a Men’s Pit stop on the 24th March 2016 where men can come and visit the GP and have all Health checks done so they are feeling fit and well.

Planned Apology Day Tuesday 22nd March 2016 Umoona Health DAS are also planning the Apology Day to be held at the Activity Centre on Tuesday 22 nd February 2016. This will be a time when the School children attend and people of the Stolen Generation and the past actions acknowledged and remembered.

Planning of Men’s health Expo 17th May 2016 Umoona Health DAS are working closely with other service providers to develop a Men’s Health and Wellbeing EXPO for Tuesday 17th May 2015 at a venue to be arranged where all sorts of information, promotional packs, activities and resources will be developed.

New Innovations at Youth Programs.

Umoona Health have two new Youth Initiatives with Youth Indoor soccer at the Coober Pedy Area School gym on Tuesday nights 5pm to 7pm where young people play competitive soccer and enjoy sandwiches together while listening to cool music and receiving Drug and Alcohol messages.

On Thursday nights from 7pm to 9pm the Young people are out again enjoying outdoor cricket at the Coober Pedy Town Oval, whilst enjoying a barbecue and Drug and Alcohol information about substances effects on the body, mind and spirit.

Oodnadatta Health Expo Last year Christine Lennon of the Oodnadatta Substance Misuse program worked with Clinic, School and aged care to develop an innovative Health Expo.

DAS Manager to attend a peak conference on ICE In late February 2016 the Umoona Health DAS Manager will be attending the ‘Eradicating Australia’s Ice Epidemic Summit, Workshops and Conference. This conference involves the top minds in the field and this will be a great opportunity to bring information, plans of action and strategies back to Coober Pedy.

ISO Accreditation Veggie Garden Umoona Health DAS are developing a Garden plot as part of a program to teach sustainable gardening in the next few months.

We have had excellent attendance at programs which include Daily Hygiene and Breakfast program; Harm Minimization group (Mondays); Women’s Art and Craft Tuesday and Thursdays; Men’s Music group Wednesdays; Men’s fortnightly Bush Trips; Leather work programs; Thursday and Fridays.

TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR KIDNEYS SO YOUR KIDNEYS CAN MAKE YOU HEALTHY

W

e are your kidneys and we love you. We love to keep you healthy by providing so many functions for you. Some of the our functions are as follows;

We filter your blood by removing all the waste products out into your urine and keep all the good nutrients back into your body to make you healthy We regulate fluids in your body

We regulate your blood pressure by releasing hormones that have the ability to control your blood pressure We maintain your body temperature We provide your body with a special vitamin D (erythropoietin) which is vital to your health Without us, you cannot survive unless you are hooked to the dialysis machine which cannot even work as better as we do

H

owever, we can easily be damaged if you do not take good care of us. The filter that

we use in filtering your blood has very tiny capillaries. Blood is filtered through very small holes which only allow waste products to pass through leaving behind blood cells, proteins and other nutrients that your body needs. Blood cells and proteins are too large to be removed through the kidneys’ filter unless the filter is damaged and the holes become bigger. This can happen when you consume too much alcohol or when your blood pressure is high for a long time or your blood sugar is high for a long time and you do not take your medication to improve it.

T

his is because, whenever you have too much alcohol in your blood or when your

blood sugar is high, we try to work overtime to (filter) remove it out of your blood to make you healthy. We do this because we do not want to make you sick. However, by working overtime, the holes in our filter get bigger. This makes it possible for the blood cells, proteins and other nutrients to enter through the filter. This in turn makes you unhealthy because they are not supposed to come out of your blood. The more blood cells, protein and sugar come out through your urine, the more the holes in your kidneys’ filter become bigger. The blood cells and proteins that pass through the filter, go into your urine together with the waste products. This is what is usually measured in your urine test as ACR

(albumin creatinine ratio). When your ACR gets higher, it means the holes in your kidneys’ filter are getting bigger because they are overworking to get too many things such as alcohol and sugar out of your body. You will need to see the nurses and the doctors at UTHS to get your kidneys improved before it is too late. If it is not improved, the more the holes get bigger, the more your kidney function (eGFR) will reduce. With constant reduction in your kidney function, you may end up hooked to the dialysis machine as your kidneys may stop working all together.

W

e your kidneys would like to inform you that the dialysis machine cannot do the

amount of work we do for you. It can only do part of it just to keep you alive. It cannot balance your electrolytes as well as we do, your nutrients absorption will be poor with the dialysis machine; it is very uncomfortable, you will be restricted to the machine and your fluid intake will also be restricted; you will not have continuous filtration as we do for you and you can be very sick if you miss your dialysis. You can also be very sick just after dialysis.

W

hy would you like to be hooked to this ugly machine instead of letting your natural

kidneys do the job for you. All you have to do is to cut down on alcohol consumption, take your medications and visit Umoona Health to see the doctors, nurses and health workers; do all the urine and blood tests and go for all your appointments.

K

eep your kidneys healthy so that you can be healthy.

Kwa—UTHS Clinic Manager

What is Binge Drinking?

Alcohol is a drug widely used in Australia. According to Western Australia Alcohol and Drug Authority (2013), people consume alcohol for various reasons. Some of the reasons include: To relax To be sociable To celebrate and enjoyment Feel sad Bored Assist them to cope with their problems To be more confident and A sense of well-being However, the above excuses are not worth the damage associated with excess alcohol consumption. Consuming alcohol in excess within a short time leads to binge drinking. The practice whereby a person consumes large quantities of alcohol on a single occasion producing extreme intoxication is called binge drinking. A man binge drinks if he consumes more than 6 standard drinks on a single session and a woman binge drinks if she consumes more than 4 standard drinks on a single session.

Your age, gender, size and how much alcohol you consume has influence on how alcohol affects you. Notwithstanding this, the dangers of binge drinking are the same for each person. The National Health and Medical Research Council (2009) maintains that a maximum of 2 standard drinks on any day for a healthy adult minimises the possibility of developing a disease or injury from alcohol throughout your life. It also states that consuming no more than 4 standard drinks on a single occasion diminishes the likelihood of immediate injury from alcohol. It goes on further to say that if you consume more than 4 standard drinks on a single session your chances of getting injured in the next 6 hours’ doubles.

What then is a standard drink?

Standard Drink Any drink that contains 10 grams of pure alcohol is a standard drink. A standard drink always contains 10 grams of pure alcohol no matter the size of the container or type of alcohol.

It pays to know how much alcohol is in your drink to avoid binge drinking. The liver on average processes 1 standard drink per hour. If it goes over this your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) increases and this leads to alcohol poisoning and possibly death.

Binge drinking has its harmful effects.

Harmful effects of binge drinking In the short term binge drinking causes the following: Nausea Hangovers Shakiness Vomiting Memory loss Shame and embarrassment Loss of valuable items Loss of income Constantly falling down

In the long term binge drinking causes the following: Damage to the brain Damage to the liver Depression and suicidal ideation Heart problems Sexual problems Family and relationship problems Alcohol dependency Cancer of the mouth, throat, breast and rectum If you have a problem with alcohol, please come to the Drug and Alcohol Services and talk to the Counsellor.

Peter Boafo Counsellor

Feeling distressed or not hope of living??

If you or a family member is feeling distressed or feel like hurting him or herself, start at step 1. Go through each step until you or family member is safe. Remember: suicidal thoughts can be very strong. It may seem that they will last forever. With support and time, these thoughts will usually pass. When they pass, you can sort out problems that have contributed to you feeling so badly. The hopelessness you may feel now will not last forever. It is important to reach out for help and support. You can get through this difficult time. It can be hard to focus and think clearly when you feel hopeless.

Please copy this and put in places where you can easily use it, such as your purse, wallet or on the phone.

(Working with the client who is suicidal: a tool for adult mental health and addiction services)

Safety Plan Calm or comfort yourself Remind yourself of your reasons for living Call a friend or family member Name : Contact Number: 4 . Call a backup person if person above is not available: Name: Contact Number: Call a care provider Name: Contact Number: Call a friend or family member Name:

Contact Number:

Call my local crisis line Phone: Go somewhere you are safe Go to Hospital or call 000 If you feel that you can’t get to the hospital safely, call 000 and request transportation to the hospital.

Mrs Priscilla Larkins (CEO)

Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation With Hon Susan Close MP