Puttinu Cares president Dr. Victor Calvagna passes away

Puttinu Cares president Robert Calvagna passes away

Jan 4 2022

After a tragic accident which rendered him brain dead, Puttinu Cares president Victor Calvagna has sadly passed away.

Puttinu Cares took to social media to announce the passing, describing him as a humble man who gave his entire life to help children suffering and their parents whom he loved dearly.

‘He taught us how to be of service to others without expecting anything back’ the post said. Puttinu Cares went on to thank him for the example and values he set for many people and the NGO itself.

Calvagna was hit by a car in Qawra and after intensive medical care, MRI tests confirmed that he was unfortunately brain dead. His wife Carmen later stated that treatment will be stopped in order to let nature take its course.

Rest in Peace Dr Calvagna. Your service to society and all those in needs will never be forgotten.

#MaltaDaily

Can weight loss help protect against COVID-19?

Jan 4 2022

During the holiday season, it’s quite common for one to far more freely indulge in their favourite foods. Some experts are also saying that another reason to pay attention to weight is to protect against COVID-19. One new study suggests that losing weight can reduce the risk of severe disease and even death from COVID-19 as being overweight or obese can allegedly place one at higher risk.

With obesity being a massive health threat in many countries, Malta included, COVID-19 makes it alleged more dangerous. One US based study found that 30% of COVID hospitalisations were people with obesity. According to another study from August shows that people with obesity are 46% more at risk of getting infected. Severe sickness is also more likely, with a whopping 113% higher chance of being hospitalised, 74% of needing ICU treatment and a dangerous 48% risk of death.

This increased risk has led many to wonder if losing weight might prevent infection. The problem would be that it is ethically impossible to do randomised controlled trials to determine whether this is true. A large retrospective study published in JAMA surgery suggests that substantial weight loss does make a difference. It looked at records from 21,212 people for more than six years and tracked progress.

The weight loss among the group that had surgery was associated with lower risk of hospitalisation, need for supplemental oxygen and severe symptoms. This suggests obesity can be a modifiable risk factor for the severity of infection. Obesity is a problem with COVID because of various biological reasons. Fat cells create chronic inflammation and likeliness of blood clotting, whilst also making it harder to breathe. Infection with COVID could make all these worse.

Many experts state that any weight loss is positive at nearly any weight level. However many scientists also highlight that weight loss itself is not protective enough, unlike vaccination against the virus. Weight loss simply adds an extra benefit.

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No need for obligatory vaccination in schools reveals education minister

Jan 4 2022

Education Minister Clifton Grima revealed that government is not considering making vaccination against COVID-19 obligatory for educators or students.

Grima said that due to the uptake of vaccinations among educators and students was already considerable and thus ‘draconian measures’ were not necessary.

Speaking on TVM News Plus’s Xtra, Grima said that ‘we are not looking at obligatory vaccinations. The numbers give us enough comfort because almost everyone involved in schools is vaccinated. We have to continue urging people to take the vaccine and the booster dose to protect themselves, their families and the rest of society.’

He also highlighted how educators were prioritised in the vaccination programme last year and the administration of the booster. Young children receiving the vaccine was also encouraging he revealed.

With the programme to vaccinate children between ages of 5 and 11 opening in December, the age group joined the race against COVID-19 after the European Medicines Agency gave its clearance to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Apart from agreeing with unions to physically reopen schools on Monday 10th January as his first decision as Minister, Grima also held talks with stakeholders which were given a detailed explanation by Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci.

Grima pointed out that apart from agreeing that there will be an ongoing evaluation to react to circumstances as they develop, the Superintendent’s explanation of the number of school infections, protective measures and vaccine uptake satisfied him as a father that his children are going to school with existing protocols.

The response by opposition spokesperson Clyde Puli was that government’s problem over the past two years was lack of foresight and planning which caused unpreparedness given circumstance changes.

Puli disagreed with making COVID vaccinations obligatory, insisting that imposing such a policy would conflict with an individual’s right to receive an education. He also said that the PN said that the best education is achieved in the classroom but there may circumstances where online learning becomes a necessity and thus we should not vilify it.

#MaltaDaily

Lawyer Andy Ellul to become a Labour MP

Jan 4 2022

Lawyer Andy Ellul’s co-opting to parliament through Prime Minister Robert Abela’s nomination was approved by the Labour parliamentary group.

The nomination was also approved by the Labour’s executive, with Ellul having had a past in several legislative forms especially those concerning social and familial spheres.

Head of Malta’s delegation at the Council of Europe’s Lanzarote Committee, he was born in 1975 and will be contesting the upcoming general election on the 3rd and 4th districts.

He will be replacing former MP Silvio Grixti who resigned from parliament in December after being interrogated by police over an investigation into irregular medical sick notes.

Ellul became a lawyer in 2007 and specialised in administrative law. He also thanked the Prime Minister for the co-option, saying he would ‘work tirelessly for the national good.’

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Andy Ellul FB