Category Archives: Waitara Medical News

Waitara Family Medical Practice aims to keep the local community as healthy as possible. We will be posting relevant medical centre news and GP advice.

MND Global Day 2019

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Motor neurone disease (MND) is a global problem. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity or demographic.  June 21 is a solstice – a turning point – and each year the MND foundation undertake a range of activities to express their hope that this day will be another turning point in the search for cause, treatment and cure of MND.

It is a devastating disease that affects over 350,000 of the world’s population, and kills over 100,000 people every year.

  • Volunteering with the foundation
  • Raising awareness on social media
  • Informing family and friends

For more information, visit: https://www.mndaust.asn.au/Get-involved/Global-Day.aspx

Red Apple Day 2019

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A highlight of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is Red Apple Day (Wednesday, 19th June 2019), when Australians are encouraged to support the vital work of Bowel Cancer Australia through the purchase of a Bowel Cancer Awareness Ribbon and apple themed fundraising activities.

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

Get involved this June by:

  • Organising a fundraiser
  • Raising awareness on social media
  • Purchasing merchandise

For more information, visit: https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/bowel-cancer-awareness-month#RedAppleDay

Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2019

Australian Association for Infant Mental Health  is a national organisation of professionals from many fields who work with infants, young children and their families. They organise this week in a mission to work towards  improving professional and community recognition of infancy and early childhood as a critical time for the development of emotional, physical and mental health.

In the long term, poor infant mental health may negatively impact language acquisition, school performance, cognitive and social development, and emotional regulation.

To get involved:

  • Organise a fundraiser
  • Volunteer with the foundation
  • Make a donation
  • Raise awareness on social media

For more information, visit: https://www.aaimhi.org/

World Blood Donor Day 2019

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This is a day designed to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood and to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need. These donations can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life

Transfusion of blood and blood products helps save millions of lives every year.

To get involved in this initiative:

  • Volunteer to make a blood donation
  • Raise awareness on social media
  • Organise a blood donation drive
  • Inform your family and community members

For more information, visit:
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day/2019

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month 2019

BCAM 2019 Bowel Cancer Australia

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is an annual initiative of Bowel Cancer Australia running throughout the month of June (1-30 June), to raise public awareness of a disease that claims the lives of 80 Australians every week.

Bowel cancer is Australia’s second biggest cancer killer.

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month has a positive message – saving lives through early detection – as bowel cancer is one of the most treatable types of cancer if found early.To get involved:

  • Raise awareness in the community
  • Organise a fundraiser
  • Volunteer with the foundation
  • Make a donation

For more information, visit: https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/bowel-cancer-awareness-month

Heart Rhythm Week 2019

Fainting or syncope is relatively common and in some cases it can be a sign of an arrhythmia (heart rhythm disorder) and should not be ignored. Arrhythmias can affect people of all ages and for some, fainting may be the first indication of a problem. Heart Rhythm Week aims to raise awareness about this disorder and encourage individuals to seek help if required.

“39% of children and 30% of adults are misdiagnosed with epilepsy – many of whom have an underlying, potentially fatal arrhythmia”

Get involved this June by:

  • Organising a fundraiser
  • Making a donation
  • Raising awareness on social media

For more information, visit:
http://www.heartrhythmalliance.org

Haemochromatosis Awareness Week

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This week allows a time to focus attention on haemochromatosis and for people to raise awareness of the condition in the community. Haemochromatosis is still diagnosed far too late for many people. Others struggle for years with unexplained symptoms while the condition is overlooked

Haemochromatosis is the most common genetic disorder in Australia.

People with haemochromatosis absorb too much iron from their diet.  Over time this leads to iron overload. If undetected and untreated, the excess iron can cause organ or tissue damage and can potentially result in premature death.

Join the action this June by:

  • Raising awareness on social media
  • Making a donation
  • Putting up posters about the cause

For more information, visit:
https://haemochromatosis.org.au/whw/

World Day for Safety and Health at Work

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World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an international campaign to promote safe and healthy work ethics. These are crucial in moving ahead in our fast paced society to maintain quality of life and working standards.

Every year some two million men and women lose their lives through accidents and diseases linked to their work.”

Get involved this April by:

  • Learning about the safety and healthy protocols
  • Donating to the foundation
  • Raising awareness on social media
  • Informing family and friends of the risks

For more information, visit: https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-day-for-safety-and-health-at-work-2019/

World Malaria Day 2019

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World Malaria Day is a chance to shine a spotlight on the global effort to control malaria. It highlights the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control. Malaria remains both a major cause and a consequence of global poverty and inequity.

“According to the World Malaria Report 2016,  there were 212 million new cases of malaria and 429,000 deaths. One child dies from malaria every two minutes.”

Fight against malaria this April by:

  • Raising awareness on social media using #EndMalaria
  • Donate to the foundation
  • Organise your own fundraiser
  • Volunteer
  • Inform family and friends of the harms

For more information, visit: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news/events/world-malaria-day

Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2019

I ask Sexual Assault awareness Month 2019

Sexual Assault Awareness month is a campaign designed to raise awareness in the community regarding the harms of sexual assault. This is a major problem in society and action needs to be taken to prevent further damage.

“17% of women and 4% of men have experienced sexual assault since the age of 15 in Australia”

Fight against sexual assault this April:

  • Change your profile picture on Facebook in support of the cause
  • Buy merchandise
  • Donate to the foundation
  • Organise your event
  • Hand out flyers and posters in support of the cause
  • Spread the message on Instagram or twitter
  • Inform family members and friends

For more information, visit: https://www.nsvrc.org/saam