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Tuesday 21st February 2012
A good thing:
Plan International has teamed up with the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) to provide emotional support sessions to children affected by Typhoon Sendong, which has killed 1,470 and left 1,074 unaccounted for. As of January 27, Plan has given psychosocial help to some 715 children. It is expecting to reach an additional 1,000 children and 160 adults as it embarks on future psychosocial sessions with the help of 75 nurse volunteers
Read more: http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/plan-works-with-philippine-nurses-association-to-console-typhoon-affected-children/
A bad thing:
Fiji’s military regime may have lifted emergency rule after three years but press freedom has not been restored. Last month, the government led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama also introduced a decree that exempts him and ministers from defamation suits - but not other people.
Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2012/feb/16/press-freedom-fiji
A thing to change:
Oxfam: Last week the Close the Gap Campaign and the Close the Gap Shadow Report were released on the Australian government’s progress towards closing the gap on Indigenous Health. While some progress on commitments has been made, there’s a real need to maintain the pressure so that government stays on track. There is a need to:
- Ensure the government approach to partnership ensures Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have a real say in decisions about their health
- Ensure closing the gap health programs continue to be adequately funded past 2013
- Develop a capacity building plan for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services
- Ensure stronger monitoring of what progress is being made
Write to the Minister for Indigenous health and his opposition counterpart, asking them to help maintain their commitment to Closing the Gap within a generation.
http://www.oxfam.org.au/act/take-action/close-the-gap/2012-02-maintain-commitment-to-close-the-gap
