So yesterday was a HUGE day for public health, not only in NSW but nationally, with widespread attention on how leaders marked the easing of public health restrictions. #AusPol #publichealth #COVID
It was a day that called for careful, thoughtful messaging, about the ongoing need for caution and preventive efforts with COVID. Politicians could have used the Swiss cheese model of public health as so usefully employed by @K_Eagar in this article
croakey.org/covid-snaps-on…
They could have invested in some public health promotions around how to minimise the risks of opening up – and not only around COVID. How to look after self and others while marking the occasion. Why getting blotto may not be the smartest response.
They could have staged their media events in a way that underscored the need for ongoing precaution and solidarity around looking out people most at risk from the opening up, including health workers and priority communities and populations
So what did we get? The NSW Premier in a pub, toasting "freedom" with nary a thought/mention for those experiencing anything but freedom
abc.net.au/news/2021-10-1… Also, breaking #publichealth regulations. But no fine for him, unlike so many others
And here’s the Federal Opposition leader reverting to 1950s-style politics. skynews.com.au/australia-news…
It would take all day to list all the reasons why this is such disgraceful, unhelpful behaviour by so-called political leaders, not least at a time when COVID has exacerbated alcohol-related harm. What messages are they sending to the community, especially young people.
Meanwhile, COVID was recorded as cause of death for 1,108 people in the UK for the week ending 24 September. And literally millions of people are waiting for vital healthcare as COVID saps the system and workforce. coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/deaths #NotFreedomDay
More on that, via @Meera_Senthi : From England, the message is clear. Address health inequalities, or they will worsen croakey.org/from-england-t… Something for the politicians to focus on, beyond their beers.
Also, as @JudkinsSimon pointed out, *now* is not the time for politicians to be setting the example that will likely increase the load on already-stressed emergency depts: Also it is *never" the time...

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More from @MelissaSweetDr

11 Oct
ICYMI: COVID SNAPS: on the Premier for Sydney, booster shots, and some random plandemic insights croakey.org/covid-snaps-on… By @k_eagar
When govts mislead the public by suggesting opening up means "going back to normal", think of The Swiss Cheese model – "a helpful way to think about how we manage our way out of lockdown and manage living with COVID beyond that".
"It recognises that no single intervention is perfect at preventing coronavirus spreading. No intervention is 100 %, every intervention has holes. Multiple layers of protection help limit spread of the virus. Each layer has holes & the risk of infection ⬆️when the holes align
Read 4 tweets
1 Sep
Many timely reflections in this recent article re the capacity of health systems and workforce now and into the future croakey.org/under-pressure… #AusPol #COVID
On the importance of timely lockdowns & continuing other sensible public health measures, Prof @JBraithwaite1 says: "I would argue for prudence and holding the course. We risk unprecedented cases, deaths, and economic mayhem otherwise...
"I’d go for 90 percent, not 70 percent, vaccination rates, and counsel continuing public health measures, as stringently as possible," says @JBraithwaite1
Read 31 tweets
31 Aug
Lock down smarter, not harder. Excellent article by @engagedpractx croakey.org/lock-down-smar… Thanks @insidestorymag for permission to cross post #publichealth #AusPol
"Instead of putting police and the military on the streets of LGAs with significant migrant populations from war-torn countries, [a smart lockdown] would further invest in building the capacity of affected communities to respond to the outbreak...
"The same interpersonal networks that can transmit a pathogen or misinformation can be harnessed to pass on resources & skills for protecting yourself, your loved ones and your community from the crisis...
Read 4 tweets
31 Aug
What is needed to deliver on the investment in the Medical Research Future Fund? Part 2 of an investigation by @LRussellWolpe croakey.org/what-is-needed… #AusPol
"As previously noted, the $20 billion that makes up the capital of the MRFF is savings from the Health and Indigenous Affairs portfolios.... #MRFFtransparency
Says @LRussellWolpe : "I argue this increases the onus on the MRFF to show that it is privileging research and translation efforts to improve the health of all Australians and especially the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people...
Read 6 tweets
31 Aug
Overdose deaths remain stubbornly high: here are 5 ways to do more to save lives croakey.org/overdose-death… By @dan_lubman & @DrSuziNielsen on #IOAD21
1. Naloxone must be freely accessible everywhere
We must urgently increase access to the life-saving overdose reversal drug naloxone, which is available as an easy-to-use nasal spray. #IOAD21
2. We need more medically supervised injecting centres
Medically supervised injecting centres save lives, help people access treatment, reduce public drug use and related harm, and take the pressure off our health care system. #IOAD21
Read 7 tweets
31 Aug
Interesting to look at some of the connections between these two @CroakeyNews stories, on antibiotic overuse in Australia, and our poor record on addressing health inequities... cc @evelynedeleeuw @ACSQHC
Here's a hint: "On global comparisons, primary care antimicrobial prescribing in Australia continues to outstrip Canada and most European countries, with rates more than double those of benchmark countries such as The Netherlands....
Looking at the connections between these articles reminded me of this 2015 paper: #PLOSONE: Antimicrobial Resistance: The Major Contribution of Poor Governance and Corruption to This Growing ... dx.plos.org/10.1371/journa…
Read 6 tweets

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