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.

RED NOSE DAY -11 AUGUST 2023

Whole School Event – Red Nose Day | Stillness Infants School

Red Nose aims to reduce the number of unexpected deaths of children. Their mission is to continue research into causes and prevention of infant and child death, deliver safe sleep and safe pregnancy education to Australian parents and carers, and ensure free bereavement support is accessible following the death of a baby or child.

Because more than 3,000 babies still die suddenly and unexpectedly each year in Australia. We are losing them to stillbirth, SIDS among other things.

Ways to get involved include:

  • Learning more about Red Nose
  • Fundraising online or offline
  • Volunteering with the organisation
  • Making a donation
  • Raising awareness on social media

For more information, visit:
https://rednoseday.org.au/

Red Nose Grief & Loss 24/7 Support Line: 1300 308 307

NATIONAL STROKE WEEK: 7-13 AUGUST 2023

National Stroke Week 2023 encourages the community to fight stroke together so that you or your loved one’s can continue to enjoy life during and after recovery.

Fighting stroke together aims to bring people together to share knowledge, support and resources to help prevent strokes from occurring and to aid in the recovery process for those who have experienced a stroke.

How do you know if someone is having a stroke? Think… F.A.S.T.

The Stroke Foundation recommends the F.A.S.T. test as an easy way to remember the most common signs of stroke. Using the F.A.S.T. test involves asking these simple questions:

  • Face Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
  • Arms Can they lift both arms?
  • Speech Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
  • Time Is critical. If you see any of these signs call 000 straight away.

For more information, visit: https://strokefoundation.org.au/what-we-do/prevention-programs/national-stroke-week

DENTAL HEALTH WEEK: 7-13 AUGUST 2023

Dental Health Week - Australian Dental Association

Dental Health Week (DHW) is the Australian Dental Association’s (ADA) major annual oral health campaign. In 2023 ,DHW is focusing on the mouth and whole-body connection. Bacteria in the mouth can travel to different sites of the body and inflammation in the mouth can increase the body’s overall inflammation. Six conditions have been explored in how they link with the mouth:

  1. Heart Disease
  2. Diabetes
  3. Alzheimer’s Disease
  4. Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
  5. Lung Conditions
  6. Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The ADA’s main oral health messages and the four key messages of the DHW campaign aim to reinforce the importance of maintaining good oral health to keep your teeth for life.

  1. Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
  2. Clean between your teeth daily using floss of interdental brushes.
  3. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit added sugar intake.
  4. Visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and preventative care.

Get involved this August by:

  • Maintaining good oral care
  • Visiting your dentist if needed
  • Raising awareness on social media
  • Informing the community

For more information, visit:
https://www.ada.org.au/Dental-Health-Week/Home

MS READATHON -AUGUST 2023

MS Readathon

MS Readathon is a reading based fundraising program open to participants of all ages. Read through the month of August, get sponsored and make a difference! All funds raised go towards support and services provided for people living with multiple sclerosis, their families and carers while the search for a cure continues.

THEME OF READATHON 2023 IS MAGIC

Multiple sclerosis is a condition of the central nervous system, interfering with nerve impulses within the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. There are over 25,600 people living with MS in Australia.

Get involved this August by:

  • Being a part of the reading fundraiser
  • Volunteering
  • Donating to the foundation

For more information, visit: https://msreadathon.org.au/

WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK : AUGUST 1-7 2023

World Breastfeeding Week aims to protect, promote and support breastfeeding as the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need.

Objectives of World Breastfeeding Week include:

  • Inform people about the importance of protecting breastfeeding
  • Anchor breastfeeding support as a vital public health responsibility
  • Engage with individuals and organisations for greater impact​
  • Galvanise with individuals and organisations for greater impact​

Get involved this August by:

  • Raising awareness on social media
  • Educating the community
  • Organising a fundraiser
  • Donating to the foundation

For more information, visit: http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/

WORLD HEPATITIS DAY – 28 JULY 2023

In Australia, approximately 220,000 people are living with lifelong Hepatitis B and more than 115,000 people are still living with chronic hepatitis C at the end of 2020  .

There is a safe and effective vaccine to protect you against getting hep B.
There is no vaccine to protect against hepatitis C, but there is an effective cure .

Get Involved this July :

  • Raising awareness on social media
  • Educating the community
  • Informing family and friend.
  • Consult your GP.

For more Information ,please vist:

https://www.worldhepatitisday.org.au/about_hepatitis

DONATE LIFE WEEK 23-30 JULY 2023

DonateLife Week is a key part of the Australian Government’s national reform program to increase organ and tissue donation and transplantation outcomes. Each year, events are held across Australia during DonateLife Week to encourage all Australians to register their donation decision and to discuss their donation decisions with their loved ones.

Get involved this July by:

  • Signing up to be an organ donar
  • Registering for a donation
  • Raising awareness on social media
  • Informing family and friends

For more information, visit: http://www.donatelife.gov.au/donatelife-week

BIRTH TRAUMA AWARENESS WEEK -JULY 16-23 2023

This is going to be BIG! Are you ready to step forward? – Women's  Healthcare Australasia

Birth Trauma Awareness Week (BTAW) is held in July each year. The theme for 2023 is Postpartum Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

1 in 10 women emerges from childbirth with PTSD.  The devastating impacts of this type of trauma suffer from a lack of awareness and progress, meaning that families continue to suffer in silence.

Postpartum PTSD is probably more common than most people realise. For some, symptoms of trauma may be treated as depression or anxiety. For others, ongoing symptoms aren’t noticed until some months after the birth 

Get involved this July by:

Fundraising through an activity

Raising awareness in the community

Raise awareness on social media

For More information visit:

https://birthtrauma.org.au/birth-trauma-awareness-week-2023/

SARCOMA AWARENESS MONTH-JULY 2023

‘Go Yellow Anywhere for Sarcoma Awareness’ this July for Sarcoma Awareness Month in support of the sarcoma community.This year’s theme ‘Go Yellow Anywhere for Sarcoma Awareness’ highlights the word ‘anywhere’ as sarcoma is a really unique cancer that can form anywhere in the body.


Each year, hundreds will be diagnosed with a type of sarcoma and will go through a challenging experience – often a long and hard journey to getting better through gruelling cycles of treatment.

Get involved this July by:

  • Making a donation
  • Fundraising through an activity
  • Volunteering
  • Raising awareness in the community
  • Gathering support on social media

For more information, visit:
https://sarcoma.org.au/news/events/july-is-sarcoma-awareness-month

DRY JULY 2023 – RAISE FUNDS FOR CANCER

Dry July is a fundraiser that encourages you to go alcohol-free in July to raise funds for people affected by cancer.

The funds you raise as part of your Dry July will provide invaluable services for cancer patients, their families and carers. Having a month off alcohol also has great health benefits.

To get involved this July:

  • Sign up for the challenge to go alcohol free in July
  • Ask family and friends to sponsor you
  • Make a donation to someone completing Dry July
  • Raise awareness on social media

For more information, visit: 
https://www.dryjuly.com/