Jab for weight loss approved for use in Europe

Mar 21 2022

An injection which is being considered a game changing obesity drug has just been approved for use in EU countries.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirmed that the new drug called Wegovy has been green lit for use. It works by suppressing people’s appetites, leading to weight loss.

The EMA said that those who qualify for the jab will have ‘a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater (obesity) or a BMI of at least 27 kg/m² but less than 30 kg/m² (overweight).’

People who have weight related health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal levels of fats in the blood, breathing problems during sleep called ‘obstructive sleep apnoea’ or a history of heart attacks, stroke or blood vessel problems will be eligible.

The jab would be injected once a week under the skin in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. Only obtained via a prescription, the patients can administer the medicine themselves.

According to the EMA studies have shown that Wegovy is effective in helping people lose weight with a significant proportion of them achieving at least a 5% weight reduction.

As with every drug, the EMA highlighted that side effects are inevitable. Some of them include headaches, nausea, constitutions and even vomiting or diarrhoea. They may effect around 1 in 10 people.

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Tanker on its way to Anchor Bay as anchor has been cut

Mar 21 2022

Tanker Chem P, which veered dangerously close to the coast of Bahar ic-Caghaq on Saturday, is now making its way to be anchored off Anchor Bay.

Tvmnews.mt were informed that the tanker began moving towards the bay at 6am, assisted by two tugboats the Spinola and St Elmo.

The tanker has a 20-member Indian crew on board and swept into Maltese waters early on Saturday morning because of the storm and gale force winds.

As the wind calmed down to a Force 5 easterly wind, it was still possible to cut the anchor which was resting on the interconnected for the tanker to be towed. It is expected to arrive at Anchor Bay at 1pm today.

#MaltaDaily

Votes can be picked up from Naxxar or Rabat, Ghawdex today

Mar 21 2022

Those who have not yet picked up their voting documents can now go to the Electoral Commission’s Naxxar complex or the Identity Card Office in Rabat, Ghawdex to pick them up personally.

The vote can be picked up on:

Monday 21, Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23rd March between 8am and 1pm and between 3pm and 9pm
Thursday 24th March from 8am to 1pm and from 3pm till midnight.

For one to pick up their vote they need to present their identity card (no other document is valid). The document is necessary for one to vote on the 26th of March.

#MaltaDaily

Peppi Azzopardi raises concerns after his mother with dementia was taken to vote

Mar 21 2022

Local TV host Peppi Azzopardi has raised concerns after he discovered his elderly mother who suffers with dementia was taken to a polling booth to vote during the early voting rounds.

Posting to Facebook, the host said that his mother, who is a St Vincent de Paule patient suffered from dementia and could not even recognise her own son.

He said that in every matter which concerns her, Peppi and the rest of his family are always informed about the tiniest of things. However, he revealed that she was taken out of her ward to vote without her family’s consent.

‘How could have done this without us being informed? Can I know what’s going on?’ The post resulted in similar cases being revealed through comments, highlighting a problem of elderly patients who are entitled to a voting document being escorted out of their wards to put in their ballot.

The electoral commission allows families to request the halting of an incapacitated relative’s involvement in the voting process and sign them off the electoral register. However, in cases where patients are still issued a voting document, hospital staff are obliged by the Commission to allow the patients their democratic right to vote.

Voting documents are not held by patients but instead collected by the hospital a day earlier from the Commission.

Azzopardi’s post was replied to by one SVDP staff member, who said that he was present in the hospital wards during the voting. He said that the staff there worked during previous general elections and know their job well. ‘There was no form of pressure on people to vote. But you cannot deny people their right to vote. Rest assured that she was in good hands.’

He also insisted that without a court application for her incapacitation, any patient would have had their voting document issued, giving them voting rights. However, a dementia sufferer would not have been allowed to vote anyway, he said.

#MaltaDaily