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NACCHO Media Release

Aboriginal communities are encouraged to use their local knowledge of what will work to promote healthy living in the new Live Longer* community health campaign says Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Mr Justin Mohamed.

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Learn more about WAMS 25th Anniversary Celebrations.

NSW is currently experiencing a significant measles outbreak and I am seeking your assistance in preventing the spread of measles by checking that all children in your centre are fully vaccinated.

I would be grateful if you could undertake the following actions as soon as possible, consistent with the NSW Public Health Act 1991:

1. Ensure that your childcare centre has a system to rapidly identify children for whom an immunisation history statement has not been provided.

2. Request that parents who have not provided an immunisation history statement do so as soon as possible.

3. Inform parents about the current outbreak and advise that if they have not provided an immunisation history statement, their child may be excluded from the centre if a case of measles is detected.

Parents can obtain an immunisation history statement by contacting Medicare Australia on 1800 653 809 or by visiting their local Medicare office.

Please use the letter attached as the basis of information provided to parents.

In addition, the National Health and Medical Research Council recommends vaccination with MMR for childcare workers and preschool staff who are not immune to measles. Many adults who were born during or after 1966 will not be immune unless they have received two doses of vaccine. I recommend that you encourage your staff who may not be immune to see their GP for vaccination.

Your local public health unit contact details are available on the attached documents.

A measles fact sheet is available at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/infectious/measles.html

Import Information for childcare centre directors (DOWNLOAD PDF)

Important information for parents of children at childcare (DOWNLOAD PDF)

Key points for GPs

1. MEASLES in patients presenting with a febrile rash illness
2. Isolate suspected cases
3. Call the public health unit and arrange urgent tests

In the past four weeks NSW Health has been notified of 29 cases of measles in metropolitan and regional areas of NSW. Only seven of these of these cases were associated with travellers returning from overseas.

Who is at risk of measles?

• Children or adults born during or since 1966 unless they have received two doses of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine or had confirmed measles in the past.
• Adults and children planning or returning from overseas travel who have not received two doses

Details: Download (PDF)

Aboriginal Affairs NSW

Aboriginal Affairs NSW congratulates the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service on 25 years of service delivery for the community of Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Collarenebri, Goodooga and Brewarrina.  We look forward to working with WAMS so we can achieve strong outcomes that close the Gap in Aboriginal disadvantage in health, education and economic participation.

As a Department we are committed to working with Aboriginal individuals, families and organisations to Close the Gap.  We are strong partners with the Australian Government in delivering the Remote Service Delivery in Walgett.

If you wish to contact us in Walgett, our number is 6817 9903

2010 WINNER GOLD RHINO DUBBO’S MOST OUTSTANDING BUSINESS
2010 WINNER Dubbo Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Awards
- Excellence in Products and Service
- Excellence in Presentation and Marketing
- Excellence in Customer Focus
2009 WINNER Dubbo Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Awards – Business Development

AS per the NH&MRC it is recommended that the following people be immunised:

Influenza vaccine is strongly recommended for the following:

• Everyone aged 65 years and older
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and older
• Pregnant women
• Everyone from six months of age with a medical condition that increases the risk of influenza complications such as:

• Heart disease
• Chronic lung and kidney disease
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Diabetes, low immunity and other chronic illnesses requiring regular medical follow-up or hospitalisation

• Residents in nursing homes and long term care facilities
• Staff, volunteers and frequent visitors to a hospital, long term care facility or nursing home
• A person living or caring for someone who has a chronic illness or is aged
• People providing essential services
• Workers in other industries
• Workers in the commercial poultry industry
• Travelers visiting parts of the world where flu is circulating or travelling in a group.

If you would like to have this vaccine – please come in and see me on Tuesdays when I conduct my immunisation clinic – if you are unable to come on a Tuesday, email or come and speak with me and I am more than happy to come to your office at a designated time to vaccinate you.

Please spread the word around to your family and friends so I can immunise as many people as possible before I commence my maternity leave in April.

Regards
Skye Duncan
Health Service Co-ordinator H4L (RN)

Background
Murray valley encephalitis (MVE) has been detected in sentinel chickens in the Macquarie Marshes area in Western NSW. This indicates that the virus is currently circulating in mosquito populations in this region. People most at risk include residents of and recent visitors to this area. The incubation period is between 5 ? 26 days.

Read the full report (PDF)

What are sentinal chickens?
Sentinel chickens are used to help researchers monitor certain viruses in different communities. They place the chickens in several places in a county and test their blood regularly for certain antibodies. This helps public health researchers to determine what types of viruses are present in the environment at that point in time. Source

Learn more about WAMS 25th Anniversary Celebrations.

Walgett Shire Council’s vision is to maximise opportunities for the community to improve their quality of life whilst embracing their own culture and social diversity for the benefit of all.

Want to know what’s going on in your community? Council’s What’s On calendar can tell you. In Addition residents can attend Council meetings held at 10.00am on the fourth Tuesday of each month, other than the month of January.

To find out what’s up for discussion, download Council’s Business Papers at www.walgett.nsw.gov.au or view a  copy at the Administration Centre, Walgett and Lightning Ridge Libraries, Collarenebri Agency and Council’s Depots at Walgett, Lightning Ridge and Collarenebri.

Below are Council Meetings details for the remainder of 2011:

COUNCIL MEETING DATE FOR 2011

Shire Libraries

Have you seen what’s happening in the Library lately? You may be surprised. Story time, Teen after school programs, Babies & Books –song and rhyme.

Opening Hours Walgett Library

Mon : 1pm-5pm
Tues : 10am-1pm , 2pm-5pm
Wed : 1pm-5pm
Thurs : 9am-12pm , 1pm-5pm

Fri : 1pm-5pm
Sat : 10am-1pm

Opening Hours Lightning Ridge Library

Tues : 9am – 2pm
Wed : 1:30pm – 5:30pm
Thurs : 1:30pm – 5:30pm

Fri : 9am - 1pm
Sat : 9:30 – 1:30pm

See where you and your family have come from – recall the history of your community – remember when significant events occurred – see how fashion trends changed and the developing social growth of Walgett.
The exhibition is a compilation of photos from the ‘treasure chests’ of both the Walgett District Historical Society and the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Co-operative Limited

Walgett District Historical Society – www.walgett.org.au

Learn more about WAMS 25th Anniversary Celebrations.