MERRY CHRISTMAS 2019

The staff at

Waitara Family Medical Practice

Wishes

You and Your Family

a Joyous and Healthy Christmas

Travelling Soon?

It is important to stay safe and healthy on your holidays:

• Visit doctor 4-6 weeks before your travel to any destination – you may need vaccinations or medication
• Prevent bug bites
• Reduce your exposure to germs
• Avoid sharing body fluids
• Avoid non-sterile medical or cosmetic equipment
• Eat and drink safely
• Keep away from animals

Waitara Family Medical Practice can help you with any of your travel requirements. Our GPs can provide travel advice and administer any vaccinations you may require, on-site.

To book an appointment, call 02 8038 1070 or visit www.waitaramedical.com.au

DineSmart is an initiative to raise awareness about the prominent issue of homelessness in Australia. Dine at a participating Dine Smart restaurants and help out local grassroots community groups attempting to aid the homeless or at risk.

On any given night 26,238 Australians aged 12-24 are homeless.

To get involved:

• Make a donation
• Dine out
• Volunteer
• Raise awareness on social media

For more information: https://streetsmartaustralia.org

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls. The campaign runs every year from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, the Human Rights Day.

In 2019, the UNiTE campaign will mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, from 25 November to 10 December, under the theme, “Orange the Wold: Generation Equality Stands Against Rape!”.

On the basis of data from 2005 to 2016 for 87 countries, 19 per cent of women between 15 and 49 years of age said they had experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in the 12 months prior to the survey. 

Get involved this December by:

• Raising awareness on social media
• Donating
• Organizing events in your local community
• Sharing photos, videos and messages on social media about how you are participating

For more information, visit:
https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/take-action/16-days-of-activism

Now in its seventh year down under, December is Decembeard for Bowel Cancer Australia.

A hair–raising fundraiser held during the month of December (1-31 December), Decembeard encourages men to grow a beard or some chin stubble in the final month of the year to raise awareness and much needed funds for bowel cancer.

Bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) is the third most common type of newly diagnosed cancer in Australia.

15,253 Australians are told they have bowel cancer each year, including 2,186 people under the age of 55.

Australia is the leading national charity dedicated to prevention, early diagnosis, research, quality treatment and the best care for everyone affected by bowel cancer.

You can get involved by

• Volunteering
• Fundraising
• Participating in organised events

For more information, please visit:
https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/decembeard

World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year. It raises awareness across the world and in the community about the issues surrounding HIV and AIDS. It is a day for people to show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died.

“HIV continues to pose serious challenges around the globe.”

HIV still exists in Australia. There were 833 new HIV diagnoses in Australia in 2018.

HIV can affect anyone. There is no vaccine or cure for HIV, however there is highly effective treatment. People living with HIV take medications on a daily basis to maintain their HIV at an undetectable level and to keep themselves healthy. Today, HIV is considered a chronic but manageable condition, and people living with HIV can lead long and healthy lives, with a similar life expectancy to a person who does not have HIV.

Like other conditions, HIV can be prevented. By being informed about what HIV is and how it can be transmitted, we can take measures to look after ourselves and others.

So take the first step-inform yourself about HIV.

To get involved this December:

• Donate to the foundation
• Volunteer
• Raise awareness on social media

For more information, visit: 
http://www.worldaidsday.org.au/internet/wad/publishing.nsf/Content/Home

Miracle Babies Foundation is Australia’s leading organisation supporting premature and sick newborns, their families and the hospitals that care for them.

For families, the experience of having a baby come into the world not as expected or planned is life changing. Every year in Australia around 48,000 newborn babies require the help of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Nursery (SCN). 27,000 of these babies are born premature and up to 1,000 babies lose their fight for life.

Since 2005, Miracle Babies Foundation has been passionate in developing and providing vital programs and resources to support and enhance a family’s experience from a threatened pregnancy, hospital journey with a premature or sick newborn, the transition to home and beyond.

You can contribute by

• volunteering
• fund raising
• getting involved in their events

To find out more, please visit https://www.miraclebabies.org.au

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics is increasing the problem of antibiotic resistance. We are all part of the problem and the solution. Antibiotic resistance is impacting us now – we all have a role to play.

Did you know…?

• Australia has one of the highest rates of antibiotic use in the world. We’re ranked 8th among 29 countries evaluated by the OECD.
• Just because symptoms last a long time, doesn’t mean children need antibiotics. Most children get better in about 2 weeks.
• Regular hand washing (using soap and running water) keeps your hands clean and can help stop the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Things you can do

• Take the prescribed dose and complete the whole course of treatment prescribed by your doctor.
• Don’t share antibiotics with another person.
• Don’t keep leftovers.

You can also take the pledge and join the 50,000+ Australians who have promised to preserve the power of antibiotics.

For more information please visit:
https://www.nps.org.au/medical-info/clinical-topics/reducing-antibiotic-resistance

With two in three Australians diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70, the action week is an important reminder of the risks of exposure to UV radiation, the need for sun protection and early skin cancer detection for all Australians.

Did you know:

• More than 2,000 people in Australia die from skin cancer each year
• Cancer Council estimates that Australia spends more than $1 billion per year treating skin cancer
• Most skin cancers can be prevented by the use of good sun protection, yet too many Australians still have a tan.
• Despite many Australians referring to a “healthy tan”, a tan is not a sign of good health or well being. In fact, tanning is a sign that you have been exposed to enough UV radiation to damage your skin. This will eventually cause premature aging – including sun spots, wrinkles and sagging. Worst of all it increases your risk of skin cancer.

Make the pledge today to protect yourself from UV radiation and abstain from tanning.

During National Skin Cancer Action Week and throughout summer, use the five forms of sun protection by:

• slip on sun-protective clothing
• slop on SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen
• slap on a broad-brimmed hat
• seek shade
• slide on sunglasses.

A combination of these measures, along with getting to know your skin and regularly checking for any changes, are the keys to reducing your skin cancer risk.

For more information, please visit:
https://www.cancer.org.au/preventing-cancer/sun-protection/campaigns-and-events/national-skin-cancer-action-week.html

Pneumonia is caused by an infection of the lung. Most infections are either due to bacteria or viruses, although often a cause is never found. This is a dangerous disease which can have severe effects on any individual who contracts it. World Pneumonia Day brings people from all over the world together, uniting to demand that something be done to fight the pneumonia illness. It helps to highlight the severity of pneumonia and encourages more organisations to look at ways of combating the disease.

Pneumonia is one of the most solvable problems in global health and yet a child dies from the infection every 20 seconds.

To get involved:

• Organise you own fundraiser
• Donate to the foundation
• Volunteer
• Raise awareness on social media

For more information:
https://stoppneumonia.org/latest/world-pneumonia-day/