Malta lost 960 people to cancer in 2019

Nov 19 2021

Around 80 people die per month due to cancer in Malta. In 2019, up to 960 people died of the disease on the island. Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne revealed this somber news in parliament as a response to a parliamentary question by PN MP Hermann Schiavone.

The most common cancer in men which lead to the loss of life was lung cancer. For women, the deadliest form of cancer was breast cancer. Compared to the amount of people who died of cancer from the year 2006, 2019 proved to be the deadliest in terms of cancer loss. The second worst year was 2015, with 936 deaths registered.

Last Tuesday, the Health Ministry announced that the treatment Pembrolizumab, used to treat TNBC breast cancer, is currently in the process of being included in the Government’s formulary and thus be administered freely.

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Photo Source: Tincture

ODZ Dingli cliffs hotel permit to be refused

Nov 19 2021

A planning authority board has indicated signs of refusing a permit to convert a disused explosives factory in Dingli into a hotel.

The developments included plans for an expansive complex on an approximately 6,275 square metres site. The complex proposed is split into 14 bungalows, each with its very own swimming pool. It also includes a management block ancillary facilities and a cesspit.

The former Pulvich fireworks factory is situated in an area known locally as il-Qaws. It is a designated Natura 2000 site. A planning board meeting on Thursday indicated it would be refusing the permit.

A report outlining the reasons for refusing the permit will be drawn up by the board. Another board meeting will then be held to ratify the decision to refuse, as per protocol.

Moviment Graffiti welcomed the decision to refuse, saying that it came about following massive pressure by the public.

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Photo Source: Moviment Graffiti

Attending a sports club should be mandatory for kids says Labour MP

Nov 19 2021

Labour MP Jean Claude Micallef proposed making it mandatory for all children to join a sports club to improve wellness and fitness in Malta. Speaking during a parliamentary meeting last Wednesday, he said that ‘just like its mandatory for parents to send their children to school, with fines if they refuse, we must look at enrolment of five to 15-year-olds at sports clubs.’

He said that this would help create a new economy that Malta is ‘crying out for’, help children become more competitive, athletic and fit, and also guarantee sustainability. He also highlighted how these are the magic years when it ‘comes to choosing talent ahead of progress to elite sport.’ Micallef called for a small tax to be levied on high-fat foods, with the proceeds going to the sports industry.

Apart from this he proposed allocating a percentage of revenue from sports books towards sports, ensuring the gaming industry can aid the sporting sector. ‘Through these measures, along with a dedicated budget, we can move towards a political direction that will help build the sporting sector, as well as a culture of excellence through which our children will adopt a more active lifestyle and become disciplined enough to refuse harmful things.’

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COVID booster side effects ‘nothing to worry about’ say doctors

Nov 19 2021

Doctors have observed that many of those who received the COVID-19 booster shot experienced stronger side effects than they did when receiving the first doses.However, the same medical professionals are stating that these side-effects are nothing to worry or stress about. They should be instead seen as a reassuring sign that the vaccine is working.

Edward Zammit, the president of the Malta College of Family Doctors, and Tanya Melillo, head of the Public Health Response Team, both confirmed more people complaining about side effects than they did when the first shots were administered. The side effects mainly consist of fever and aches lasting no longer than 12 to 24 hours. Side effects are also a sign that the immune system is responding well to the booster by fighting back.

According to research, giving a booster jab made by a different manufacturer to the first two doses results in a stronger boost. Malta’s booster campaign kicked off in September, when residents in care homes for the elderly started receiving the third dose. The booster shot is currently being administered to healthcare workers and teachers before being rolled out to over-12 population.

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Photo Source: National Council on Ageing, Wikipedia