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New Zealand Greens secure funding for antiobiotic surveillance system

New Zealand Green MPs have secured $4 million funding over 4 years to establish an antiobiotic-resistance surveillance system.

Health spokesperson Sue Kedgley says, "Many antibiotics have lost their power against common bacteria. Common strains of salmonella, E.coli and staphylococcus are becoming resistant to a wide variety of antibiotics. Scientists say it is only a matter of time before antiobiotics will become ineffective in treating many human diseases. If we don't move swiftly and antibiotic resistance continues to spread at its current rate, microbiologists warn we will squander the greatest medical advance of the 20th century".

Sue added, "To keep antibiotics working for people who need them, it's vital to stop feeding antibiotics that are significant to human medicines to millions of healthy animals".

UK Green Party Health spokesperson says children's future must not be held to ransom over MMR jabs

UK Green Party Health Spokesperson Stuart Jeffery said today he was concerned by a Labour MP's proposal of freezing child benefits and school attendance, if children do not receive the MMR innoculation.

Stuart says, "Child benefit is a life line for poorer families. Reducing this for whatever reason simply increases child poverty, and will serve only to penalise children for the actions of their parents. A child's acces to education is a fundamental human right, and one that must not be based on any external conditions, such as medical intervention. This proposal would effectively be holding a child's future to ransom.

An effective programme of vaccination is a key plank to improving public health, and should be achieved through good clinical evidence, scientific persuasion and public trust".

New Zealand Health spokesperson calls for action on hair dyes

The New Zealand Green Party's Health spokesperson Sue Kedgley MP has asked the government to remove over 100 ingredients found in most hair dyes sold across the counter, and for mandatory labelling of ingredients. Sue says, "The chemical PPD is classified as an extreme skin sensitiser in Europe, and New Zealand customers have a right to know that using it regularly could provoke allergic reactions. An estimated 70% of women and 20% of men use hair dyes, and most are completely ignorant of the potential risks and adverse reactions. Does someone actually have to die before ERMA acts to protect the health of the many New Zealanders who colour their hair? The lack of controls on many of these dyes, or information about their potential effects, is a tragedy waiting to happen".

She continues, "One of the problems is that people can use hair dye apparently safely for many years, before having a sudden allergic reaction to it. One of my friends almost died from an anaphylactic reaction to a hair dye she had used for many years. The toxins slowly build up in your body, but it's not until you cross an unspecified threshold that you run the risk of a reaction which, as has been reported, can be very severe indeed". Ms Kedgeley says ERMA is investigating hair dyes but it could be several more years, at the rate their enquiry is proceeding, before any action is taken.

Irish TD asks ministers to introduce reading scheme for health

Mary White TD, Ireland's Green spokesperson for the Arts, has asked ministers to introduce a reading scheme for those with mental and physical health issues (including prisoners) akin to similar schemes in the UK that have had such success, there are now GP referrals.

Mary says, "In ancient Greece, hospitals and health sanctuaries were often situated next to theatres. Dramatica performances were deemed part of the cure... such investment would see a huge return in social capital".