Why did pests decrease in Summer and why is it a problem?

Aug 28 2021

Speaking to MaltaDaily, Arnold Sciberras, a.k.a ‘The Exterminator’, reveals why one shouldn’t really celebrate the decrease in pests such as mosquitoes and cockroaches in Malta. He attributes this loss of such organisms to the scorching heat which has been hitting our islands. Despite these species, which many people consider pests, being very resilient creatures, they could not stand the intense heat which enveloped Malta over the summer.

He emphasised why this is such a problem and for us humans, who are often repulsed by such insects, to look at the consequences from an ecological point of view. If such survival expert animals are suffering from the heat waves, then other creatures which might be less resilient are suffering even more. Old trees, agriculture as a whole and even humans are suffering due to this. And importation might not be such a viable option as can be seen, Arnold highlights, by the advent of the current pandemic. Malta is very dependent on the well-being of the world’s ecosystem as a whole and the decrease of such animals must be seen as a wake up call.

Arnold Sciberras ‘The Exterminator’ explains why one shouldn’t celebrate the decrease in pests such as mosquitoes and…

Posted by Malta Daily on Saturday, 28 August 2021

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Training for Maltese pharmacists willing to administer COVID-19 vaccines

Aug 28 2021

Specialised training will soon be offered to pharmacists in Malta who are willing to administer COVID-19 vaccines. The Chamber of Pharmacists announced recently that registration has opened for the first COVID-19 vaccination training programme and it will focus on pharmacist-led life courses. It will also focus on COVID-19 vaccination in community pharmacies, complemented by a hands-on training course on vaccination technique. This includes Basic Life Support (BSL) and CPR.

The Chamber states that it believes that ‘pharmacists can be of added value to the communities they serve through the acquisition of vaccination competencies and widening their information base.’ A comprehensive academic and professional online programme will thus tackle vaccinology, immunology, clinical considerations, policy developments and a Q&A related to pandemic issues.

The Chamber of Pharmacists has appealed for their industry to be involved towards the beginning of the national COVID-19 vaccine campaign this year. The Health Ministry had so far dismissed the calls, but as booster shots are set to begin administration, this initiative could increase the scope of the rollout.

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49 COVID-19 cases registered with 54 recoveries

76 COVID-19 cases registered with 49 recoveries

Aug 28 2021

Malta has registered 49 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours from 3,249 swab tests, while 54 patients have recovered. 1 death was registered in the past 24 hours. This information was announced by the official Facebook page of Malta’s Ministry for Health.

As of Friday 28th August 2021, 795,190 vaccine doses were administered of which 412,948 were 1st doses. 411,798 people are currently fully vaccinated.

To date, Malta has registered 36,039 COVID-19 cases in total, of which: 34,567 have recovered, 440 died and 636 are still active.

Mater Dei Hospital is currently treating a total of 32 COVID-19 positive patients, 1 of whom is in the ITU.

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Former soldier to rescue 200 dogs and cats from Afghanistan

Aug 28 2021

Former Royal Marine and now animal charity boss Paul ‘Pen’ Farthing has had his proposal to rescue dogs and cats out of Afghanistan approved. Okayed by the UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, the operation has since been dubbed ‘Operation Ark’ and is run by the Nowzad animal shelter in Kabul. The shelter campaigned to try and safely remove not just staff, but also around 200 cats and dogs out of the recently Taliban occupied Afghanistan.

Farthing chartered a $500,000 plane to land at Kabul Airport to fly his staff and the rescue animals out of the country. The Defence Secretary said that Farthing could get through the gates as a British passport holder, with his workforce being offered places as entitled personnel. Wallace certified that if all personnel, animals and Farthing can make it to the airport, a slot will be actively sought. Farthing also responded to ‘claims’ that he was prioritising animals over people. He never claimed this, he said, and added that since he cannot park people in cargo holds, he can do so with the rescue animals.

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Photo Source: Nowzad