First Ukrainian soldiers receive amputee rehab in Malta

Jan 27 2023

Steward Health Care Malta has just welcomed the first two Ukrainian soldiers who will be receiving treatment on the island as part of a Ukrainian amputee rehabilitation program.

The program is called Project Renew, and leading prosthetics provider Medical Center Orthotics & Prosthetics, Steward Health Care Malta, Steward Health Care International and the charitable foundation Future for Ukraine will be assisting up to 24 victims of the war in 2023.

Supported by the Maltese Government and the Ministry for Health, the program welcomed Vitaly Tarusin, 32, and Andriy Konovalov, 45.

They opened up about their wartime experiences and the treatment they are receiving in Malta. However, Vitaly and Andriy are just two of well over 3,000 Ukrainians who lost a limb in the war.

The two soldiers are being treated using an advanced care model developed by SHCM and MCOPi professionals which will provide them with prosthetic legs and therapy and training.

This will allow them to return to full function and even back home to Ukraine.

#MaltaDaily

13,500 objections against ‘monstrous’ Comino Village amassed

Jan 27 2023

Moviment Graffiti revealed that a whopping 13,500 objections have been amassed against the ‘monstrous’ Comino Village development proposal.

Strong opposition has been raised against the plans which aim to create a complex of villas which will disfigure Santa Marija Bay on the island of Comino.

This forms part of the proposed Comino Hotel redevelopment plan, to which many environmental groups are objecting. The Planning Authority is still processing the 13,500 individual objections received from citizens.

The objections mainly came through a custom online form. This is a record number of objections which were submitted for a project proposal within a single representation period.

‘This level of public anger makes it difficult to see how the PA could possibly approve this destructive scheme being proposed by Hili Group’ Moviment Graffiti wrote.

‘If the PA grants permission for this project, it would come at the detriment of a public seeking a peaceful escape – a necessity under serious threat on the Maltese Islands – and the health of our natural environment’ the statement continued.

The activists continue their appeals backed by the resounding public outrage. The abandonment of the idea of sale of ay part of the complex to third parties is also being proposed.

‘The project would destroy intact garigue to push the facility farther from the coast and erect buildings further into the bay in the place of abandoned sports courts.’

‘The visual impact is evident from the renders, also produced by the developers themselves. In addition, it takes very little imagination to foresee the greater congestion and disturbance expected, both on land and at sea, if the bay is effectively transformed into a high-end holiday resort, complete with pontoon’ the statement explained.

What do you make of this?

#MaltaDaily

Andrea ‘Batman’ Calleja continues to push on road to recovery

Jan 27 2023

Following a serious incident during an obstacle course, Andrea Calleja, known as Batman by his loved ones due to his love for the character, has been pushing on his road to recovery.

Currently in Karen Grech Hospital recovering from his spinal injury, videos uploaded to social media show him working closely with his physiotherapists.

A fundraiser aimed at collecting €70,000 to support his physical therapy and recovery has so far gather well over €56,000.

With so little left to collect, the family members continue to share snippets of his journey.

‘With this type of injury, the amount of recovery is an unknown and depends on the individual patient. The first two years are crucial and when most of the improvement happens’ it was explained.

‘These next years will cost a lot. Once he is in a position to leave Karen Grech, he will need a lot of help which, as you can imagine, is expensive.

He also needs equipment to help him become more independent.. there is a lot of technology available now for patient like Andrea.’

People can help contribute by visit the Andrea Calleja Fundraising page to help Batman get back into action down the line!

#MaltaDaily

Official rules for clubs applying to sell cannabis revealed

Jan 27 2023

As of February 28th, cannabis clubs, dubbed Cannabis Harm Reduction Associations, can apply to sell home-grown marijuana and must abide by a list of regulations which were outlined on Friday to do so.

The drug was legalised December 2021, and the clubs can apply for licensing through a non-profit model set up by the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis.

The associations must be non-profit and must sell their own product. This means that only seeds can be imported from abroad and that cannabis legally sold in Malta has to be grown in the country.

Under the new regulations, cannabis clubs must have a maximum of 500 members and cannot be within 250 metres of a school or youth centre. The association also cannot advertise itself, with the word cannabis not allowed in the name of the association.

Two founders with no history of money laundering, an administrator who has lived in Malta for at least 5 years and a legal representative need to apply to create an association. They must also provide a location to grow cannabis and another to sell.

Applicants must pay a registration fee of €1,000 and the license fee starts at €8,750 for the first 50 members. Cannabis sold must also include a label discouraging the use and also provide details.

Plants must be hidden away from plain sight such as in a greenhouse and the seed must be cultivated at any location that is compliant with planning regulations. Anyone over the age of 18 can join a club, but only a single one.

#MaltaDaily