WATCH: 226 children died in Ukraine, Zelenskyy reveals during Maltese Parliament address

May 10 2022

As scheduled, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy virtually addressed Malta’s parliament to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine at the moment.

Zelenskyy said that it was an honour to speak in front of the Maltese Parliament, going on to praise Malta for its resilience during World War II – a resilience ‘defined the future of the Mediterranean’. The Ukrainian President went on to state that “the future of Europe is decided on the battlefield”.

He went on to highlight that Russia’s attacks on Ukraine have resulted in the consequent blockade of exports such as wheat, barley, sunflower oil and more, meaning that the people of Northern Africa and Asia will be lacking in resources and as a result, the prices will go up. He also reiterated official statistics that 226 innocent children were killed along with thousands of otheers, 12 million Ukrainians were displaced while 5 million fled.

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In his reply to President Zelenskyy, Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that Malta will continue to assist Ukraine with resources and non-lethal weapons, going on to state that the country will continue to welcome Ukrainian communities seeking refuge in Malta. Abela stated that “no matter how large the conflict, or rather the war is, its effects stretch far and wide.”

Meanwhile, Opposition & Nationalist Party Leader Bernard Grech also expressed support Zelenskyy & the entirety of Ukraine, whilst also supporting Ukraine’s entry into the European Union.

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Government does not care about nurses sector says union

May 10 2022

President of the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses Paul Pace said that the government has clearly shown that it does not care about thee nursing and midwife professions.

As the sector experiences a massive exodus of nurses and other employees, Paul Pace said that the issue is devolving into a national crisis. This is creating difficult working conditions for nurses and midwives and, by extension, a lack of services in hospitals and clinics.

Pace expressed great regret and anger at how nurses have been neglected by the government, particularly with the ‘poaching’ of nurses which is taking place by the government itself. This, Pace said, is taking human resources from private institutions to work with the government due to the shortage.

Paul Pace said that there is a 600-person shortage and that the Health Ministry’s only solution to the issue was to recruit, through poaching, nurses from third world countries and potter private entities such as HealthMark and CareMalta.

Pace highlighted how 15% to 20% of nurses in Malta are foreign nationals. The president also said that the union has found it incredibly difficult to recruit nurses as, upon leaving university, they would have already decided to continue to become doctors.

The working conditions are also so bad that nurses have left the occupation to go int other lines of work. The union said that it will present a sectoral agreement for discussion with the government. This will include proposals to alleviate the problem of staff shortage and better the working conditions.

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Maltese make up 52% of homeless people on the island

May 10 2022

According to YMCA Chief Executive Anthony Camilleri, research has shown that 52% of homeless people are Maltese. The research was conducted the past few months, showing that among those in poverty there are also children.

There are 178 adults living in shelters, along with 58 children living with them. The average age among the younger people in poverty is 5 years old.

Camilleri said that children are the most affected from being in such conditions. He emphasised that this report only shows a small portion of what is happening in Malta as the study can only reach those who sought out help.

YMCA offers specialised programmes to help all those emerging from the trauma and looking to start again. However, the high cost of living is not helping anyone, said the chief executive.

According to the latest research by Caritas, a normal shopping haul for four family members has risen by 18% in costs in the last two years. Medicine has increased by 16%.

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Former PN candidate praised for amazing weight loss journey

May 10 2022

Alan Abela-Wadge, a former PN candidate and councillor, shared his amazing weight loss journey on his social media, receiving a shower of praise in response.

Wadge went on to explain how he began his journey to better health in 2020, revealing that he was a ‘super obese 200kg+, chain smoking 33-year-old that suffered from high blood pressure that couldn’t walk for more than 5 minutes without sitting down.’

However, he has ‘finally hit double digits’ he wrote, saying that for the first time in his adult life, he is wearing under 100kg. ‘What a journey it’s been so far.’

‘I clearly remember going for a routine check up to my doctor and he looked worryingly at me. He told me bluntly that if I continue this path, I wouldn’t live past my 40th birthday.’

Upon hearing this, he threw away his cigarettes and did not touch one since. He went on to research and opted for a gastric bypass and started a pre-op diet. ’This is a way of life now!’

‘This is not a race, this is a marathon. A marathon that never ends. We only have 1 body, let’s ensure that we give it its best chance to last us as long as possible.’

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