Latest news with #MDH
CBS News
a day ago
- Health
- CBS News
Maryland releases plan to strengthen youth behavioral health system amid "urgent need for reform," health officials say
The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) released a plan to strengthen the state's youth behavioral health system amid an "urgent need for reform," officials said. The guide aims to expand crisis services for children, address staffing shortages and provide more support for families. The five-step plan comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 30% of Maryland middle and high school students report feeling sad or hopeless. According to the MDH, more than 100 young people die each year from drug or alcohol overdoses, and suicide is the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 24. "The roadmap is a vital next step in our response to the urgent needs of Maryland youth," said Alyssa Lord, the Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health. Strengthening Maryland's youth behavioral health system The plan identifies several goals to strengthen Maryland's youth behavioral health system. MDH hopes to increase partnerships with other agencies and organizations to expand services. Currently, the system has a number of resources, including the 211 hotline and 988 hotline, which families can use during crises. Maryland is also one of 11 states to have a Youth Mental Health Corps, which connects young people with trained personnel. Despite this, MDH said families have reported that resources are not easily accessible or widely shared. The department plans to expand and streamline resources for families, adding them to a web portal and investing in additional outreach efforts. Through the plan, the MDH also aims to bolster early intervention programs to help identify behavioral and mental health issues earlier on. The department will look at data from other states to determine whether services should be provided even before a diagnosis is given. Officials will also work with Medicaid to encourage follow-ups after screenings. According to the department, the earlier intervention could help families save money in the long term. According to the guide, it could take Maryland longer to adopt these changes due to the shared responsibility across several agencies. The plan also includes strategies to increase a diverse and sustainable workforce to ensure the system is effective. "Nationally, even as the need for behavioral health services continues to rise, 122 million individuals live in a mental health professional shortage area," the MDH said in its guide. In Maryland, nearly 80% of behavioral health programs for youth have staffing vacancies, according to the department. MDH hopes to combat this by identifying gaps in training and investing in the development of health providers. The plan aims to expand in-home care to address the needs of children with disabilities, those in the LGBTQ+ community, and those who are in foster care or are part of military families. The MDH also plans to engage more with families who use youth behavioral health services. This will help the department determine new policies and develop a more effective system. In its long-term plan, the department acknowledges that reform will not happen overnight. "...While some parts of the PBHS are currently working well, there is significant room for improvement to ensure that services are family-centered, easy to navigate and access when needed, and that the system is person-centered and culturally responsive," the Department of Health said.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Health officials alarmed by unprecedented July spike in West Nile-infected mosquitoes in 2 major cities
Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have reached one of the highest numbers ever recorded in Minnesota during the month of July, and authorities caution citizens to stay inside at dusk and dawn. The blood-sucking bugs in all seven counties of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area tested positive for the disease, according to the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD). MMCD ecologists processed nearly 200 mosquito pools and found Culex tarsalis mosquitoes, the species most blamed for spreading the West Nile virus, were "active in some of the highest numbers" ever recorded, according to FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul. Of 133 pools tested, 34 tested positive for the virus, showing a rate of more than 25% positivity, MMCD reported. The rate is one of the highest recorded in the month of July, more in line with numbers seen in late August, when mosquito populations wind down. Positive West Nile virus samples were also found in mosquitoes in other states, including Georgia, where they were confirmed in three different areas of Atlanta. Though the city is working on coordinating insect control, officials asked residents near affected areas to protect themselves from bites and eliminate standing water to prevent mosquito breeding. The West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that can cause encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Originating between mosquitoes and birds in Africa and Europe, the virus spread to the U.S. in 1999 when an outbreak in New York sent nearly 60 people to the hospital over two months. Most of the patients had clinical signs of brain swelling, and seven patients died, according to a report from the National Institutes of Health. While the disease can be more detrimental to older patients and those with muscle weakness, MDH officials said most people bitten by infected mosquitoes experience either mild symptoms or none at all.
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Sapura Energy's final push
KUALA LUMPUR: Sapura Energy Bhd –soon to be renamed Vantris Energy Bhd – is calling on shareholders to support its high-stakes regularisation plan at its EGM on July 30, marking one of its final milestone in its multi-year effort to exit Practice Note 17 (PN17) status. Its chief executive officer (CEO) Muhammad Zamri Jusoh told StarBiz that the group has done 'the heavy lifting' with its lenders and even secured a white knight investor, leaving shareholder approval as the last piece of the puzzle. 'We've gone so far into this journey. The lenders now believe this company is worth restructuring. Having that much interest and confidence in us speaks volumes about the company,' said Zamri, who was appointed CEO in January this year. 'If shareholders support the plan, they'll be able to hold on to value. If they don't, the alternative is liquidation.' Zamri, previously helmed the now-divested SapuraOMV Upstream Sdn Bhd, said shareholders will vote on four resolutions at the EGM. This includes a special resolution to cancel RM11.85bil in share capital – a 99.99% reduction – followed by a 20-to-1 share consolidation. This move is to clear out accumulated losses, clean up the capital base and prepare for fresh equity issuance. The other resolution is on debt restructuring, which aims to slash Sapura's borrowings from RM10.8bil to RM5.6bill, saving an estimated RM521.2mil in annual interest – equivalent to more than 60% of total interest costs. According to chief financial officer Ganesh Gunaratnam, the group's annual interest cost is about RM800mil now, down from close to RM200mil in the first quarter alone. 'Even though the business is generating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda), that interest load is not sustainable. 'Post-restructuring, once interest costs come down, the path to profitability becomes clearer,' Ganesh said. The debt restructuring plan involves multiple components with about RM784mil owed to unsecured creditors will be written off. Meanwhile, around RM2.25bil will be settled through the proceeds from the divestment of SapuraOMV. To settle the remaining dues, creditors will receive RM1.77bil worth of redeemable convertible unsecured Islamic debt securities (RCUIDS), and RM1.37bil in new shares, effectively swapping debt for equity. Another RM5.23bil will be retained as 'sustainable debt', with repayments stretched over time and tied to future project cash flows. On top of that, Malaysia Development Holding Sdn Bhd (MDH) – a vehicle under the Minister of Finance (Inc) – will inject up to RM1.1bil via redeemable convertible loan stocks (RCLS), with a coupon rate of between 2% and 4%. These funds are earmarked specifically for paying debts to Malaysian oil and gas service vendors. MDH will become a strategic investor with over 33% shareholding upon full conversion of the RCLS and will seek exemption from making a general offer, subject to shareholder approval. While Ganesh addressed the dilution of shareholding, he explained that 'it's about owning a smaller slice of a much larger, deleveraged cake. If the company performs well, the overall value to shareholders improves.' On the company's proposed name change to Vantris Energy Bhd, Zamri said this reflects the culmination of a broader transformation rather than a pivot. 'If you look at our journey, the reset really began in 2022. That's when the major shift happened and since then, we've been gradually implementing changes in how we operate and how we see the business evolving,' he said. 'The name change isn't the start – it's a reflection of everything we've done to get here.' ''Van' comes from 'vanguard', meaning to lead from the front. 'Tris' stands for the power of three – our three business segments, three guiding principles, and three core values. Together, these define the way we operate.' Sapura Energy, which has long operated in engineering and construction (E&C), operations and maintenance (O&M), and drilling, is recalibrating how it runs each division. For E&C, the focus has shifted to transportation and installation jobs, which are mostly reimbursable or day-rate contracts. 'These jobs are less risky and capital-intensive compared to engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning (EPCIC) contracts, which require large upfront commitments,' Zamri said. Drilling remains a strong contributor, with nine of 11 rigs in operation. 'Drilling has always been a high-yield, cash-intensive business — it's all about utilisation. The recent contracts we've signed came with much-improved day rates.' The O&M segment, meanwhile, has also seen a turnaround, with Ebitda surging to RM144mil in FY25 from RM23mil in the previous year. 'It's a steady business. Last year, it turned the corner — Ebitda grew more than six times. Today, they're actually growing.' Sapura Energy's target is to grow the O&M segment into a billion-ringgit revenue contributor, with gradual expansion across South-East Asia. Over the years, Zamri said the company has shifted its strategic focus towards the Eastern Hemisphere in a bid to de-risk its operations and build on regional familiarity. 'Our concentration now — both in the bid book and order book — is very heavily skewed towards the Eastern Hemisphere. This was a conscious decision we made in the past couple of years. We're essentially hunkering down and focusing on geographies we know well, and where we've been actively operating,' he said. As at April 30, Sapura Energy's order book stood at RM7.9bil, with 78% or RM6.2bil from the Eastern Hemisphere. Of the total orderbook, 49% is from the drilling segment, followed by E&C at 28%, and O&M at 23%. These figures exclude RM4.8bil in orderbook under its joint ventures (JVs) and associates, particularly the Seabras Sapura JV in Brazil with Paratus Energy Services Ltd, where Sapura Energy holds a 50% stake. Zamri said the order book would be progressively recognised with 40% slated for FY26, 22% in FY27, and the remainder in FY28 and beyond. 'That JV has always been healthy and continues to be a very significant contributor to the group. While we only recognise our share of profit, they remain an important part of our overall portfolio,' he added. On tenderbook, Zamri said the group's active bids currently total RM29.9bil, with 81% or RM24.1bil also concentrated in the Eastern Hemisphere. 'Despite the challenges we face — limited working capital, fundraising constraints — our order book has consistently stayed above RM6bil (excluding JVs) over the past five years. This remains a viable and sustainable business,' he said. For the first quarter ended April 30, 2025 (1Q26), Sapura Energy's topline dropped to RM801.37mil from RM1.18bil in 1Q25. Bottomline slipped into the red, recording a net loss of RM477.96mil from a net profit of RM82.13mil in the previous corresponding quarter. Zamri said Sapura Energy's first quarter was marked by a typically slow period, impacted by seasonal and structural factors. 'One of the challenges is that clients are only just starting their business plans for the year, so contract awards have been slow. We're also coming out of the monsoon season, which limits mobilisation and offshore activity,' he said. He added that a project in Angola had also weighed on performance due to a mismatch between cost and revenue. 'We're making progress. By progress, I mean we are spending money. Some variation orders have yet to be formalised, and we're in active discussions with the client to reflect those changes.' Sapura Energy has no plans to re-enter the exploration and production (E&P) space in the near term, despite Zamri's own E&P background. Instead, the company is eyeing two adjacencies – asset decommissioning — through its Kita Solutions JV — and renewable energy, particularly engineering services for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS). Addressing the oil price cycle, Zamri noted that Sapura is less sensitive to short-term swings. 'Our clients make decisions based on long-term oil price scenarios. Investment will continue because energy demand continues to grow.' Operationally, Zamri said the company now focuses on discipline and margin preservation over chasing revenue growth. 'We're no longer aiming to be a giant like before,' Zamri said. 'We're taking baby steps. It's now a margin game, not just top line.' 'Can we grow back to the giant we were before? The real question is: do we want to?' he added. Chief restructuring officer Andy Chew Seng Heng acknowledged the role of the corporate debt restructuring committee (CDRC) in securing a balanced deal. 'Through CDRC mediation, we had a bigger voice to sell our story. In the end, figures speak for themselves — in liquidation, lenders would've gotten less than 30%. With this plan, they're getting well over 60%, plus equity, 'Chew said. Ganesh added if that scenario [liquidation] happens, the shareholder basically gets nothing. Concluding the interview, Zamri underscored the importance of shareholder backing, noting that it would reinforce the company's ability to move forward with greater confidence. 'Please, stand up at the EGM and vote in favour of the plan. The stronger the support, the stronger we move forward.'
The Star
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sapura Energy to convene EGM for shareholders' approval of regularisation plan
KUALA LUMPUR: Sapura Energy Bhd (SEB) will convene an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on July 30, 2025, for shareholders to vote on its proposed regularisation plan aimed at restoring the company's financial health and exiting Practice Note 17 (PN17) status. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia today, SEB outlined four key components of the plan, which include capital reconstruction, debt restructuring, fundraising, and a proposed exemption for Malaysia Development Holding Sdn Bhd (MDH) and its partners from making a mandatory general offer. SEB said the capital reconstruction exercise involves a 99.99 per cent reduction and a 20-to-1 share consolidation, but neither exercise will affect the percentage shareholding of existing shareholders. The company also plans to reduce its borrowings from RM10.8 billion to RM5.6 billion under the debt restructuring proposal, which is expected to cut annual interest costs by 60 per cent or more than RM500 million. Meanwhile, MDH will subscribe up to RM1.1 billion in redeemable convertible loan stocks (RCLS) to help settle outstanding vendor payments in the local oil and gas ecosystem. The final component of the plan seeks to exempt MDH and its persons acting in concert from making a mandatory offer should they fully convert their RCLS. SEB said a dedicated shareholders' help desk will be set up from July 15 to assist with queries regarding the proposed regularisation plan. With shareholders' approval, the company aims to strengthen its equity position, improve liquidity and contract execution, restore market credibility, and eventually apply to exit its PN17 status upon recording two consecutive quarters of profit post-restructuring. Group chief executive officer Muhammad Zamri Jusoh described the proposals as a decisive step in shaping the company's future and determining whether it can transform into a resilient, profitable enterprise. "By addressing legacy liabilities, enhancing our equity base and securing strategic support, we are rebuilding the foundation for future profitability and shareholder returns. "We recommend that all shareholders vote in favour of these proposals and support SEB's recovery and value creation journey,' he added. - Bernama
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Urgent health warning as most contagious disease on Earth is detected at Mall of America
An urgent warning has been issued following the discovery of world's most infectious disease at America's largest shopping mall. Health officials have revealed that a child who visited the Mall of America - which is about the size of 78 football fields - in Minnesota on May 24 has tested positive for measles. The unvaccinated child from Dakota County, who has not traveled outside of Minnesota in the last month, visited the mall's theme park and they were infectious at the time. People who were at the mall on May 24 between 5pm and 9pm may have been exposed as a result. The state's health department warned symptoms of measles - including a blotchy rash, fever and cough - could develop as late as June 14 in those who were exposed. They highlight that unvaccinated people are most at risk and should watch for signs of the viral disease. Another case of measles has also been confirmed in Minnesota but it is not said to be related. This case involves a Washington County adult whose vaccination status is unverified. The individual was exposed to the virus during domestic air travel outside of Minnesota and is currently recovering at home, as is the child who was infected. These incidents bring Minnesota's confirmed measles cases up to four in 2025. The Minnesota Department of Health is now working with local health departments and other Twin Cities locations to contact those who were exposed to either case. Jessica Hancock-Allen, the infectious disease division director at MDH, says the case detected at the Mall of America is particularly concerning as there is currently 'no known source'. She explained: 'Anytime we confirm a case of measles unrelated to travel that has no known source it is worrying. 'This is because it could be a sign that measles is spreading in the community undetected by public health and healthcare systems. 'It is uncertain where the child was exposed and whether others may have been exposed.' The Minnesota cases come as measles cases in the US continue to spike. Currently there have been 1,088 confirmed measles cases and at least three deaths reported by 33 states. Of these cases, three-quarters are in children under the age of 19. In an updated advisory, the CDC is warning that people can get infected with measles during travel or at crowded events, unless they are fully vaccinated or have had the disease. The notice reads: 'Travelers can catch measles in many travel settings, including travel hubs like airports and train stations, on public transportation like airplanes and trains, at tourist attractions, and at large, crowded events. 'Infected travelers can bring the disease back to their home communities where it can spread rapidly among people who are not immune.' The government agency recommends that all travelers be fully vaccinated against measles before traveling to an international destination. The last time measles was this rife in the US was in 2019, when there were 1,274 cases reported for the entire year. Prior to that, the biggest outbreak was in 1990, with numbers spiking to more than 27,000. Measles was officially eradicated in the US in 2000 amid a successful vaccination campaign. At the time, the CDC described achieving measles elimination status in the US as a 'historic public health achievement'. However, a recent study found uptake of the vaccine among children declined in eight in 10 US counties last year, which is being signaled as the cause of the measles resurgence. Overall, vaccine rates fell three percent across the country. It means that merely 91 percent of children are vaccinated against measles, which is well below the 95 percent need to prevent the disease from spreading and causing death. The Johns Hopkins University researchers warned that if vaccination rates continue to fall, measles is likely to completely return and become a common infection among Americans. A majority of those infected as well as the all of the deceased had not received their MMR vaccine - primarily due to vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, experts say. Without the MMR vaccine, which is 97 percent effective at stopping infections, measles is thought to be the most infectious disease in the world. It causes tiny white spots inside the mouth, flat red spots on the neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet, ear infections and an intense fever. In terms of when to get vaccinated, experts say children need two doses of MMR vaccine: the first dose at age 12-15 months, and the second dose at age 4-6 years. Babies ages 6-11 months should get an early dose if traveling internationally. Adults should also check to see if they are immune to measles.
