News – March/April 2022

News

Floods highlight need for climate change action: AMA

The recent floods in NSW and Queensland is further evidence that climate change is directly impacting the health of Australians.

“Direct and indirect health impacts of the floods in NSW and Queensland include community mental impacts, risks of gastrointestinal infections from tainted and unsafe drinking water, drownings, rising risks of contracting COVID-19, and of course the impacts of a lack of access to medications and medical services experienced by displaced communities,” AMA President, Dr Omar Khorshid said.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released its sixth assessment report on climate change, which found governments and institutions are slow to respond to climate change impacts and events.

“More needs to be done to meet the challenges of climate change. There are practical and tangible things Australia must do to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change,” Dr Khorshid said.

“Comprehensive short and long-term planning is needed and preventative and anticipatory action is required over a reactive approach to climate change events.

“As doctors we see and understand health threats posed by climate change and Australians are experiencing these impacts on an increasingly regular basis.”

The AMA has called for immediate practical action, across the economy and including the healthcare sector, to start tackling climate change while graphic images of the devastating floods are demanding public attention.

“We all need to do our bit to address this challenge. In healthcare, we want to see the development of a national Sustainable Health Unit to co-ordinate efforts to reduce emissions and increase the sustainability of the health sector, which contributes seven per cent of Australia’s carbon footprint.

“Events such as these devastating floods demonstrate that there is a real human cost to a changing climate. It should not be left to communities to respond to these events alone. We need a unified national approach to mitigation, preparedness and response to climate change events,” Dr Khorshid said.  

NSW Floods: Donations for colleagues in crisis

 The full extent of the damage in NSW is yet to be seen; however, we have already heard distressing accounts from colleagues who have lost everything as a result of the NSW floods. 

If you are looking for ways to assist colleagues whose lives, homes, properties, and practices have been affected by this severe weather event, please consider donating to the Medical Benevolent Association of NSW (MBANSW).

The MBANSW is an independent organisation established in 1896 by doctors to support colleagues and their families through times of crisis. In more recent years, the MBANSW has supported doctors who have lost homes or practices during bushfires and other natural disasters. AMA (NSW) has been proud to support the work of the MBANSW. 

Donations can be made online or via EFT:

Account Name: Medical Benevolent Association of NSW

Bank: Commonwealth

BSB: 062-272

Account Number: 00901952

Ref: Please use email address (for receipt purposes)

If requested, MBANSW can ear-mark donations for doctors who have experienced loss due to the NSW Floods.

If you, or a fellow colleague, are in need of counselling or financial support, please contact MBANSW on 02 9987 0504 or support@mbansw.org.au.

National Obesity Strategy launched

The Commonwealth launched Australia’s first National Obesity Strategy on World Obesity Day to halt the increasing prevalence of obesity in adults and reduce overweight and obesity in children and adolescents by at least 5% by 2030.

The AMA is supportive of the strategy and notes the openness to ‘explore and implement use of economic tools to shift consumer purchases towards healthier food and drink options.’

The AMA’s #SicklySweet campaign, launched in 2022, aims to encourage Australians to think about the amount of sugar they and their families are consuming, and to seek further support for a tax on sugary drinks.

The AMA has undertaken original economic modelling to assess the impact of a tax on select SSBs. This indicates that a tax of 40 cents per 100g of sugar would reduce sugar consumption from soft drinks by 12 to 18 per cent and raise annual government revenue of $814 million to $749 million. There would be minimal impact on the domestic sugar industry. Reduced sugar consumption and improved diet would likely lead to a reduction in the prevalence of obesity and substantial healthcare savings.

Dr Ahmed celebrates his ‘Big Fat Gay Greek Pakistani Wedding’ and you’re invited

If your social calendar is suffering from long-COVID, Dr Ahmed Kazmi has the cure. Join the GP-Dermatologist for his part-stand up/part cabaret comedy ‘Dr Ahmed Gets Hitched: My Big Fat Gay Greek Pakistani Wedding’ at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

This ‘citizen of the world’ was born in the UK and is based in London and Perth and shares his story of a cross-cultural, same sex, inter-faith, inter-racial, Greek-Pakistani wedding with audiences for three days only (31 March to 2 April).

You can participate in the show by coming dressed in your wedding best. The theme is ‘BAFTAs meets Bollywood and there is a price for the best dressed.

Book your tickets online here.