September 2014
MULTICULTURAL HEALTH WEEK
Get Healthy at Work program
Joint Release - Multicultural Health Week 2014
The health and wellbeing of workers from culturally and linguistically diverse(CALD) backgrounds is the focus of this year’s Multicultural Health Week, launched today by Health Minister Jillian Skinner.Local MPs Kevin Connolly (Riverstone) and Andrew Rohan (Smithfield) joined Mrs Skinner at the event aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles for multicultural communities.“Multicultural Health Week is a fantastic opportunity for everyone in the workplace to have the conversation about making healthier choices when it comes to food and fitness,” Mrs Skinner said.
Press Release Multicultural Health Week 2014 - Health Minister Jillian Skinner
All workers from multicultural backgrounds are encouraged to be active, eat healthy and be smoke free at work this Multicultural Health Week. Studies show that 96% of working-age Australians had at least one chronic disease risk factor and 72% had multiple risk factors. Research indicates that the greatest disease burdens aretobacco smoking, alcohol misuse, poor dietphysical inactivity andunhealthy weight. This year, Multicultural Health Week focuses on the health of workers urging them to make lifestyle changes, such as eat healthily, increase physical activity and achieve weight loss to help prevent or delay the progression of chronic diseases.
June 2014
Measles outbreaks in South East Asia trigger vaccination reminder for travellers
Measles outbreaks in the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia have prompted an urgent reminder for people travelling to South East Asia to check they and their children are fully immunised for measles before their departure. Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director of Communicable Diseases at NSW Health, said measles is highly contagious among people who are not fully immunised. “Measles is spread through coughing and sneezing, and is one of the most contagious infections known,” Dr Sheppeard said. “Complications can range from diarrhoea and ear infections to swelling of the brain and pneumonia.