Health News – 08 Jan 2015

Overview

• AMA President, A/Prof Brian Owler, said today that the 2014-15 holiday period road toll is unchanged from last year, with too many lives still being lost on our roads.

• A pro-vaccination group has asked Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to deny a controversial American anti-vaccination campaigner a visa to speak in Australia.

• The children of parents who are in a Canberra drug rehabilitation program will be forced into foster care if federal funding is cut, according to the operators of the program.

News on Health Professional Radio. Today is the 8th January 2015. Read by Rebecca Foster. Health News

https://ama.com.au/media/too-many-continue-die-australian-roads

AMA President, A/Prof Brian Owler, said today that the 2014-15 holiday period road toll is unchanged from last year, with too many lives still being lost on our roads.

“Despite everybody’s best efforts to increase safety on our roads this holiday season, 28* people have died on the nation’s roads this holiday season, the same number as last year,” A/Prof Owler said.

“My thoughts go out to the friends and family of the 28 Australians who lost their lives this holiday season.

“Although the Christmas holiday reporting season might be over, there are still many people winding up their holidays.

“I want to remind everyone to stick to the speed limit, drive to conditions and avoid fatigue.

“Research shows that fatigue can be just as dangerous as other road safety issues, such as drink driving.

“Drivers need to be aware of their tiredness level and plan their trips accordingly, with regular breaks and rests or change of drivers.”

A/Prof Owler said there are far too many deaths and injuries that could and should be avoided.

“People are still making risky decisions on the road that not only have devastating impacts on individuals, but also on their family and friends,” A/Prof Owler said.

“The road toll is devastating at any number, but it does not include the people who sustained injuries as a result of crashes.

“Injuries in road accidents can be very severe and cause permanent harm, including brain damage and paralysis.

“Acquiring a lifelong disability like paralysis or brain damage won’t put you on the road toll, but it will change your life forever.

“We have had a devastating start to the year, so let’s buckle down and make sure the rest of 2015 a safe year for all road users,” A/Prof Owler said.

* As reported by Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency – https://www.anzpaa.org.au/corporate-news-and-publications/news/13260

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-06/calls-to-deny-american-anti-vaccination-campaigner-a-visa/6003322

A pro-vaccination group has asked Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to deny a controversial American anti-vaccination campaigner a visa to speak in Australia.

American osteopath Sherri Tenpenny is planning a speaking tour of the country to lecture against vaccination.

Dr Tenpenny believes vaccines cause autism, asthma, ADHD and auto-immune disorders.

“What is actually in those vaccines? There’s a whole lot more coming through that needle than you can possibly imagine,” said Dr Tenpenny.

The March series of seminars are aimed at parents of babies.

Seminar organiser Stephanie Messenger, of Brisbane, said the doctor was an “excellent speaker”.

“She’s only been to the CDC archives and got a lot of information – that’s the Center for Disease Control in the US, so a government place – and got all the information and I think parents have a right to know what the Government knows and is not telling people,” Ms Messenger said.

She said people calling for Dr Tenpenny’s visa to be denied “clearly don’t believe in freedom of speech”.

“They do believe in censorship and they don’t believe that parents have a right to have information,” she said.
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Stop the Australian Anti-Vaccination Network member Dave Hawkes said he helped to start a petition calling for Mr Dutton to deny Dr Tenpenny a visa.
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National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance director Professor Peter McIntyre said he was concerned Dr Tenpenny was targetting vulnerable parents.
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http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-06/canberra-family-rehab-program-funding-cut/6002016

The children of parents who are in a Canberra drug rehabilitation program will be forced into foster care if federal funding is cut, according to the operators of the program.

The Karralika family program is a residential programs for families, allowing children to stay with their parents while they undertake treatment for drug addiction.

The Karralika centre receives about $280,000 in funding from the Department of Social Services to run the family program.

But the centre was told in December that the funding for their program had been cut.

Karralika chief executive Camilla Rowland said the current program funding will cease at the end of February.
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Ms Rowland said the Canberra region risked losing a vital cross-border service and many of the families using the program were at risk of homelessness if the program was closed.

“Not only is it the only program of its type in the ACT, but it’s the only program of its type in southern New South Wales,” she said.

“We have a lot of families from the ACT, but also from the south coast and the Riverina-Murray area.”

Ms Rowland said while the centre would still be able to offer drug and rehabilitation programs for adults, children and family groups would not be able to be supported from March.
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