Latest news with #UNW
AsiaOne
01-08-2025
- Health
- AsiaOne
'If the baby could speak, she would scream': The risky measures to feed small babies in Gaza, World News
GAZA/CAIRO/JERUSALEM — In a makeshift tent on a Gazan beach, three-month-old Muntaha's grandmother grinds up chickpeas into the tiniest granules she can to form a paste to feed the infant, knowing it will cause her to cry in pain, in a desperate race to keep the baby from starving. "If the baby could speak, she would scream at us, asking what we are putting into her stomach," her aunt, Abir Hamouda said. Muntaha grimaced and squirmed as her grandmother fed her the paste with a syringe. Muntaha's family is one of many in Gaza facing dire choices to try to feed babies, especially those below the age of six months who cannot process solid food. Infant formula is scarce after a plummet in aid access to Gaza. Many women cannot breastfeed due to malnourishment, while other babies are separated from their mothers due to displacement, injury or, in Muntaha's case, death. Her family says the baby's mother was hit by a bullet while pregnant, gave birth prematurely while unconscious in intensive care, and died a few weeks later. The director of the Shifa Hospital described such a case in a Facebook post on April 27, four days after Muntaha was born. "I am terrified about the fate of the baby," said her grandmother, Nemah Hamouda. "We named her after her she can survive and live long, but we are so afraid, we hear children and adults die every day of hunger." Muntaha now weighs about 3.5 kilogrammes, her family said, barely more than half of what a full-term baby her age would normally weigh. She suffers stomach problems like vomiting and diarrhoea after feeding. Health officials, aid workers and Gazan families told Reuters many families are feeding infants herbs and tea boiled in water, or grinding up bread or sesame. Humanitarian agencies also reported cases of parents boiling leaves in water, eating animal feed and grinding sand into flour. Feeding children solids too early can disrupt their nutrition, cause stomach problems, and risk choking, paediatric health experts say. "It's a desperate move to compensate for the lack of food," said UNICEF spokesperson Salim Oweis. "When mothers can't breastfeed or provide proper infant formula they resort to grinding chickpeas, bread, rice, anything that they can get their hands on to feed their children... it is risking their health because these supplies are not made for infants to feed on." Baby bottles without milk Gaza's spiralling humanitarian crisis prompted the main world hunger monitoring body on Tuesday to say a worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding and immediate action is needed to avoid widespread death. Images of emaciated Palestinian children have shocked the world. Gazan health authorities have reported more and more people dying from hunger-related causes. The total so far stands at 154, among them 89 children, most of whom died in the last few weeks. With the international furore over Gaza's ordeal growing, Israel announced steps over the weekend to ease aid access. But the UN World Food Programme said on Tuesday it was still not getting the permissions it needed to deliver enough aid. Israel and the US accuse militant group Hamas of stealing aid — which the militants deny — and the UN of failing to prevent it. The UN says it has not seen evidence of Hamas diverting much aid. Hamas accuses Israel of causing starvation and using aid as a weapon, which the Israeli government denies. Humanitarian agencies say there is almost no infant formula left in Gaza. The cans available in the market cost over US$100 (S$129) — impossible to afford for families like Muntaha's, whose father has been jobless since the war closed his falafel business and displaced the family from their home. In the paediatric ward of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah, the infant formula supply is mostly depleted. One mother showed how she poured thick tahini sesame paste into a bottle and mixed it with water. "I am using this instead of milk, to compensate her for milk, but she won't drink it," said Azhar Imad, 31, the mother of four-month-old Joury. "I also make her fenugreek, anise, caraway, any kind of herbs (mixed with water)," she said, panicked as she described how instead of nourishing her child, these attempts were making her sick. Medical staff at the hospital spoke of helplessness, watching on as children's health deteriorated with no way to safely feed them. "Now, children are being fed either water or ground hard legumes, and this is harmful for children in Gaza," said doctor Khalil Daqran. "If the hunger continues... within three or four days, if the child doesn't get access to milk immediately, then they will die," he said. [[nid:720855]]
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UNW appoints new chief finance and operations officer
UK-based accountancy firm UNW has appointed Fran Rutherford as its new chief finance and operations officer (CFOO). A seasoned chartered accountant, Rutherford, joined UNW in April, enhancing the firm's strategic and financial operations. In her role as CFOO, Rutherford is responsible for overseeing UNW's central support functions, including finance and IT. She plays a pivotal role in the firm's strategic planning as a member of the executive team, focusing on enhancing operational foundations to support the firm's expansion. UNW's decision to appoint a new CFOO is part of the firm's commitment to strengthening its internal infrastructure. UNW managing partner Andrew Wilson said: 'As we look ahead, it's crucial that we continue investing in the strength of our infrastructure – not just to support growth, but to attract and develop great people and deliver the quality and consistency our clients expect. Fran's experience and leadership make her a fantastic addition to the team. "She brings both strategic insight and a collaborative approach, and we're delighted to have her on board as the firm continues to evolve." Based in Newcastle, the firm has seen its workforce grow by more than 65% in the last five years, now boasting a team of more than 200, including 19 partners. Rutherford's career began with an audit role at KPMG in Newcastle, followed by a significant tenure with The Vardy Group of Companies, where she worked alongside Sir Peter Vardy as finance director at Sonik Sports. Her journey continued at Hay & Kilner, a North East law firm, where she held the position of finance director, managing finance, IT, HR, and compliance during a period of substantial growth. Rutherford said: 'I was drawn to UNW because of its clear ambition, strong local reputation, and commitment to its culture. It's a firm that not only delivers for clients but genuinely invests in its people. This is an exciting time to be joining UNW, and I'm looking forward to working alongside a talented team to help deliver on its ambitions.' "UNW appoints new chief finance and operations officer" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Connectez-vous pour accéder à votre portefeuille
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The Independent
14-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
MRI warning as study says injection could cause deadly material to form in body
A chemical injected before MRI scans to help create sharper images may cause some patients to experience a potentially deadly complication in rare cases, a new study suggests. Researchers from the University of New Mexico found that gadolinium – a toxic rare earth metal used in MRI scans – could mix with oxalic acid found in many foods to precipitate tiny nanoparticles of the metal in human tissues. The research, published in the journal Magnetic Resonance Imaging, assessed the formation of these nanoparticles associated with potentially deadly health problems in the kidneys and other organs. Scientists say gadolinum-based contrast agents may cause nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, a rare condition leading to the thickening and hardening of the skin, heart, and lungs with painful contracture of the joints. 'People have succumbed after just a single dose,' said Brent Wagner, an author of the study from UNW. When injected, gadolinum tightly binds to other molecules and is excreted from the body, and most people experience no adverse effects, researchers say. However, even in those without symptoms, the metal particles have been found in kidney and brain tissues, and has been detected in the blood and urine 'years after exposure', scientists say. The latest study probed why some people get sick while most don't and how gadolinium particles get pried loose from the other molecules in the contrast agent. 'This nanoparticle formation might explain a few things. It might explain why there's such an amplification of the disease,' Dr Wagner said. 'When a cell is trying to deal with this alien metallic nanoparticle within it, it's going to send out signals that tell the body to respond to it,' he said. Scientists particularly probed the role of oxalic acid – found in many foods like tomatoes, spinach, nuts and berries – as the molecule binds with metal ions and is implicated in the formation of kidney stones. Oxalic acid also forms in the body when people eat food or supplements containing vitamin C, researchers say. They found that oxalic acid caused small amounts of gadolinium to precipitate out of the contrast agent and form nanoparticles that infiltrated the cells of various organs. Some patients may be more susceptible to this kind of nanoparticle precipitation due to their metabolism, researchers say. 'It might be if they were in a high oxalic state or a state where molecules are more prone to linking to the gadolinium, leading to the formation of the nanoparticles,' Dr Wagner said. 'That might be why some individuals have such awful symptoms and this massive disease response, whereas other people are fine,' he explained. Researchers suggest some ways to mitigate risks associated with MRI scans. 'I wouldn't take vitamin C if I needed to have an MRI with contrast because of the reactivity of the metal,' Dr Wagner said. 'I'm hoping that we're getting closer to some recommendations for helping these individuals,' he added.
CBC
19-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Yellowknife nurse supports move to give her profession its own collective agreement
Union executive says a recently tabled bill sets a dangerous precedent Caption: Sheila Laity, a nurse practitioner, talks to a patient before administering the second dose of the Moderna vaccine in Nahanni Butte, N.W.T. Laity is a longtime nurse who says she supports a private member bill to establish a separate collective agreement for nurses in the N.W.T. (Anna Desmarais/CBC) A longtime Yellowknife nurse says her profession needs its own collective agreement in the N.W.T. to address the current nursing shortage the territory is experiencing. Sheila Laity, who has worked as a nurse in the N.W.T. since 1992, said a private member's bill raised last week could address issues that current nurses are facing and help recruit more staff. Yellowknife North MLA Shauna Morgan tabled the private member's bill last Thursday to change the N.W.T. Public Service Act to allow nurses to form their own bargaining unit. N.W.T. nurses, along with the vast majority of unionized government employees, are represented by the Union of Northern Workers (UNW), which is set out by the Public Service Act. Laity said the current collective agreement — negotiated by the Union of Northern Workers and the territorial government — doesn't take into account the unique situations nurses face. The bill is still in its early draft stages. If there's support for it, there would be formal public hearings and consultations with stakeholders about it. Challenges tough to address through current bargaining Laity said recruiting nurses to the North has always been difficult, and with an international nursing shortage it's become even harder. "The average Canadian wants to live within 100 kilometers of the U.S. border in a large metropolitan centre. We're in small places, it's winter a lot of months of the year," she said. Laity was once the UNW's first vice-president and then later a regional vice-president, and she remembers discussions about a separate collective agreement for nurses dating back to 1993. She said addressing the barriers nurses face in the collective agreement is a challenge with bargaining in its current form. She said every local unit, which is a group of unionized employees, sends representatives to a bargaining conference. Each local unit brings a few priorities and all the attendees at the conference then vote on which priorities to move forward with. Laity said she's been to conferences in which there are only two nurses in a room of about 40 people – making it hard for nurses to advance their priorities. Laity said even though they would have a separate collective agreement, the nurses' bargaining unit could still be a part of the UNW. Union exec says changing legislation a 'threat' to northern workers An executive with the Public Service Alliance of Canada North — which the UNW is a part of — said she's not opposed to nurses having their own collective agreement, but she does take issue with Morgan's bill. Regional executive vice-president Josée-Anne Spirito said giving that power to the legislature would open a "door that is dangerous for every worker across the territory." A representative of workers in all three territories, she also calls it a "threat" to all northern workers. Spirito, who has been a nurse for 15 years herself, took particular issue with the timeline of the bill. Morgan's proposal says the territory has a seven-month window to make change before collective bargaining between the territory and the UNW resumes. It says making legislative changes during negotiations would be politically challenging. "This now-or-never type of attitude is definitely a big concern," said Spirito. "Rushing it with the current documents that are being tabled raises a lot of red flags in terms of the implementation of this bill and the end result and the impact on our members. "We want nurses to be better supported. We know that the working conditions right now, especially at Stanton [Territorial Hospital], are less than acceptable. We know how desperate it is, how important it is that we make these changes as soon as possible." But, she said, rushing a bill could have the potential to make things worse down the line.
CBC
15-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
N.W.T. MLAs to discuss separate collective agreement for nurses
An N.W.T. MLA has brought forward a proposed bill for public discussion that would allow nurses to have their own bargaining unit when negotiating a collective agreement. Yellowknife North MLA Shauna Morgan introduced the private member's bill on Thursday. N.W.T. nurses, along with the vast majority of unionized government employees, are represented by the Union of Northern Workers (UNW), which is set out by the Public Service Act. Morgan said nurses have been asking for decades to have their own separate agreement that would take into account the specific challenges and needs of the health-care profession. "It would allow for an opportunity to put conditions in a collective agreement that relate to workplace safety, that also relates to patient safety — for example, safe staff-to-patient ratios," Morgan said. N.W.T. and Nunavut are the only jurisdictions in Canada without separate bargaining units for nurses. The closest thing to one in the territory is UNW Local 11, which represents government Stanton Hospital workers. "There's a local in Inuvik that includes gravel truck drivers and nurses, so there's no one union or group that is the voice or the one representing nurses in the territory," Morgan said. Morgan addressed how nurses are not the only N.W.T. government employees with unique challenges and safety considerations. In her proposal, she stated the way the Public Service Act is currently structured "makes it impossible for a non-Cabinet MLA to make comprehensive changes to the Act that would satisfy all groups of workers who may have good reasons for wanting their own separate collective agreements." The private member's bill is still in the early draft stages. Morgan said she has introduced it now so that the public can discuss it with their MLAs and have time to consider it. If there is public support, the bill will be brought forward during the May and June sitting for a first and second reading. If the bill makes it to that stage, there would be formal public hearings and consultation with stakeholders about it. In a statement, UNW president Gayla Thunstrom said they have not received or seen copies of the documents. "As we have not had an opportunity to properly review all the information, we cannot provide comment at this time, other than confirm that at no point did MLA Morgan reach out to the union for information or consultation," wrote Thunstrom. Morgan said in a text message that formal consultation can only begin once the bill passes second reading in the legislature. She said she has been taking the lead from nurses and informally consulting with UNW member nurses across different N.W.T. communities. Motion passed to strengthen support of health-care workers Morgan also brought forward a motion — separate from the bill — on Thursday, to hold a comprehensive review of the challenges nurses and health-care workers face. It was unanimously passed by regular MLAs. The decision follows discussions during 2024 over the territory's use of agency nurses, which have caused significant additional costs and repercussions for workers. The UNW Local 11 was outspoken at the time about senior management having inconsistent leadership, making misguided decisions and refusing "to work with union members to proactively implement obvious solutions to fixable problems." Morgan said she's continued to hear concerns from nurses over the use of agency nurses, the impacts of staffing shortages and worker safety. "We rarely put health-care workers themselves at the centre of the solution. We rarely give them a platform to have their voices heard," Morgan said. The review will look at health-care management practices, bargaining structures, hiring retention and labour policies. "From the perspective of workers, to hear from them directly so our recommendations can better reflect the realities of front-line workers," Morgan said. Management practices of the Northwest Territories health-care system are currently under a separate internal government review, following the appointment of a public administrator. The current public administrator is Dan Florizone, whose role replaced the N.W.T. Health and Social Services Leadership Council in December last year. The review discussed in the motion will focus on concerns raised by front-line workers and will be taken on by the Legislative Assembly and referred to the standing committee on social development for further analysis and study. Thunstrom said that the UNW is glad to hear a comprehensive review will be taking place. "We look forward to engaging with members of the Assembly to convey the concerns, ideas, and feedback we've received from our members across the health-care system," wrote Thunstrom. Solutions must account for nurses' unique role, association says In a statement to CBC News, Megan Wood, the CEO of the College and Association of Nurses of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, said the regulatory body is encouraged by opportunities that the motion for review presents. "We aim to ensure that nurses are supported in providing safe, high-quality care to residents across the territories," wrote Wood. Wood added that by better understanding the contributing factors, practical solutions can be developed — solutions that could help address nurse shortages, which are a growing concern in the N.W.T. as well as Nunavut. "Data consistently shows that nurses nationwide are experiencing higher levels of burnout, and we see similar challenges in northern regions," Wood said. As for bargaining and labour practices, Wood said the association cannot speak on specifics but that there needs to be an emphasis on solutions that recognize the unique needs of nurses.
