Miscellaneous News

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Increased Australian assistance for Sudan and Chad

In response to the ongoing crisis in Africa, Australia will provide an additional $10 million to help relieve the suffering of people in Darfur, Sudan and in Eastern Chad. $7 million has been allocated for Darfur and $3 million for Eastern Chad. This brings Australia's total assistance to the Sudan/Chad crisis to $30 million.

14 Dec 2004

Realistic expectations make holidays happier

'Tis the season for spending time with family, friends, and for many – a therapist. But holiday blues, nagging family stress and overindulgence can be avoided if you set realistic expectations, according to a psychology professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.

13 Dec 2004

BMA Scotland welcome research showing majority of Scots welcome ban on smoking

BMA Scotland today welcomed research published on the Scottish Executive's smoking in public places consultation showing that the majority of respondents support a law to make enclosed public places smoke free.

13 Dec 2004

No need for mass burial of flood victims

The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised that the bodies of people who die in floods and other natural disasters do not normally pose a risk of infection and there is no need to dispose of them in mass graves.

7 Dec 2004

FDA protects U.S. human and animal food supply

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued final regulations on the establishment and maintenance of records to protect the U.S. human food and animal feed supply in the event of credible threats of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals.

7 Dec 2004

The land of the long white cloud will soon be smoke-free

From 10 December 2004, all enclosed public places in New Zealand will be smoke-free zones.

6 Dec 2004

Sexologist unveils a formula for a better sex life

After centuries of human sexual relations, a leading expert today unveiled the 'Sexual Quotient' (SQ), a formula to help couples assess and improve their sex lives.

6 Dec 2004

300 million people in the developing world are seriously ill from intestinal worms

300 million people in the developing world are seriously ill from intestinal worms. Treatment is cheap and effective—and if successfully delivered with other public-health measures could make a substantial contribution to achieving many of the world’s Millennium development Goals (MDGs), concludes the lead editorial in this week’s issue of THE LANCET.

4 Dec 2004

Report finds Listeria Rule sparks major industry changes

A report outlining the impact of the interim final rule designed to further reduce the incidence of Listeria monocytogenes (LM) in ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products and making recommendations for possible future actions was released for public comment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

3 Dec 2004

Disturbing new trend in cybersuicide is emerging

A disturbing new trend in suicide pacts involving strangers meeting over the internet (cybersuicide) is emerging, warns a consultant psychiatrist in this week's BMJ.

3 Dec 2004

Tobacco companies target U.S. immigrants

Tobacco companies have engaged in three distinct marketing practices aimed at gaining U.S. immigrants as customers, according to an analysis of major tobacco industry documents.

29 Nov 2004

Tobacco giant penetrated Asian markets via smuggling and political influence

British American Tobacco (BAT)'s strategy for global expansion combined complicity in smuggling with high level political influence across Asia, new research reveals.

29 Nov 2004

Guatemalan Congress repeals law that restricted access to medicines

The Guatemalan Congress's repeal of a law that severely restricts people's access to affordable essential medicines is a positive step forward.

29 Nov 2004

Cord blood registry sees FDA regulation as good for consumers and industry

Beginning in May 2005, cord blood banks must meet new federal safety standards mandated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

24 Nov 2004

New allergen working group in New Zealand

Food Industry and Consumer representatives and regulators have met in Auckland and Christchurch to set up an Allergen Working Group in New Zealand.

24 Nov 2004

CDC admits obesity stats flawed - pharmaceutical and weight loss industry at fault

A Wall Street Journal bombshell report that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has admitted to serious statistical errors in calculating that obesity kills 400,000 Americans each year is only the tip of the iceberg of gross exaggerations and miscalculations, according to The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF).

24 Nov 2004

BMA calls for safeguards on ID cards

Responding to yesterday's Queen's Speech (Tuesday 23 November 2004), Mr James Johnson, chairman of the British Medical Association, warned that legislation to introduce national ID cards must not lead to vulnerable groups being denied access to the NHS.

24 Nov 2004

PAHO book receives British Medical Association award

The British Medical Association (BMA) presented a special award to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for its publication, Building Better Health: A Handbook of Behavioral Change.

23 Nov 2004

Survey shows need for conservative, drug-free options

A new survey showing that nearly half of all Americans are concerned about the safety of the medical care they receive should send a strong signal to the health and insurance industries that safer non-drug, non-surgical treatments should be considered whenever possible, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).

20 Nov 2004

Call for elimination of processed trans fats in the Canadian food supply

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada has expressed its support for the debate in the House of Commons on the important issue of effectively eliminating processed trans fats in the Canadian food supply.

19 Nov 2004