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The Health Directorate is developing its offering of Smoking Cessation support following on from recommendations in the recent survey on Smoke Free Government.
Supporting smokers to quit and creating an environment that supports quitting and deters people from starting is a key strategy under the Island’s Health Promotion Strategic Framework (HPSF).
Residents wanting to ‘get free of smoking’ now have the following expanded cessation options available to them:
Smoking Cessation Clinics
The Health Directorate is now providing Smoking Cessation Clinics at both the Jamestown and Half Tree Hollow clinics.
Clinics in Jamestown will take place at St John’s Villa every other Thursday from 2pm-4pm starting on 7 March 2019.
Clinics in Half Tree Hollow take place every other Tuesday from 2pm-4pm.
Clinics are by appointment only and can be booked via the Medical Records Office at the General Hospital on tel: 22321.
SHG employees who smoke and would like support to quit can attend a smoking cessation appointment during working hours.
The numbers of total Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and cessation advice or support from a health professional is now nearly 140. Data will be available later in the year which will indicate how the cessation support has contributed to the number of people who have quit smoking.
During 2019, further work will be undertaken to strengthen the smoking cessation support available in the community.
Notes to Editors:
Smoking is one of the leading preventable causes of non-communicable diseases such as heart attack, stroke, cancer, type two diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) which are responsible for a large part of the chronic illness, disability and earlier death in the St Helena community. One fifth of Saint adults smoke (census 2016 and 2018 survey data) and the number is higher in certain age groups.
Since introducing ‘Smoke Free Government’ on 1 July 2018, smoking cessation advice and support was started by the Health Directorate and all community member smokers who wish to quit are entitled to a free four-week appropriate Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).
Reduced second-hand smoke and encouraging smokers who want to quit, were described as benefits by people who took part in the recent ‘Smoke Free Government’ survey.
#StHelena #HealthPromotion #HPSF #SmokeFreeGovernment #SmokingCessation #NRT #AltogetherHealthier
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SHG
4 March 2019
Port Control would like to advise the public that Rupert’s Jetty will be closed from 4pm today, Monday 4 March 2019, until 6pm on Wednesday, 6 March 2019.
This closure is due to the current unfavourable sea conditions being experienced around St Helena’s coast.
Port Control will continue to monitor sea conditions and could make further restrictions to affected areas if necessary.
The public is thanked for their continued support and cooperation.
SHG
4 March 2019
https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh
Vice Chairman, Mark Yon, and Clerk, Anita Legg, of the St Helena Public Accounts Committee (PAC) along with Chief Auditor, Phil Sharman, and Anesu Makamure and Blessing Gurure from the Internal Audit Office departed St Helena on Saturday, 2 March 2019, to attend the ‘Oversight of Public Finances Forum 2019’ in Miami, USA.
The Forum, which will discuss good practice on oversight of public finances, will run from 5-7 March 2019 and will be attended by chairpersons of Public Accounts Committees, parliamentary clerks and heads of Internal and External Audit from Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Turks & Caicos Islands, the UK, Virgin Islands (UK) and St Helena.
Nominated by the St Helena PAC Chairman to attend the forum, Vice Chairman Mark Yon, said:
“The value of the support the St Helena PAC has received since the inaugural launch in Miami in March 2017 has been excellent and the 2019 Forum will give PACs across the UK Overseas Territories a chance to collaborate and reflect on what has been achieved, to identify where improvements are still needed, and to plan ahead in our efforts to objectively scrutinise wastage and examine how our respective Governments spend public finances. There is an intense programme of work to accomplish at the forum and I look forward to sharing our successes and learning from the achievements of colleagues in the PAC family across the UK Overseas Territories.”
This is the second forum bringing together key actors to explore the issue of public financial oversight under the banner of the UK Overseas Territories Project. The project is an initiative delivered in partnership by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK), UK National Audit Office (NAO) and the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) along with participating Overseas Territories (OTs).
The Project was launched in 2017 where OTs identified areas where support would be welcome, and activities were tailored to address those areas. These included clerk attachments from the UK devolved legislatures and Crown Dependencies to PACs in the OTs, multilateral training for External Auditors, secondments to the GIAA, and workshops for parliamentarians and officials in the OTs, Westminster, Scotland and Wales.
The Oversight of Public Finances Forum 2019 will explore progress in OTs to date, address some of the common challenges faced by PACs, Internal and External Audit agencies and explore future activities in the next phase of the project to ensure long-lasting impact.
St Helena PAC Chairman, Cyril Gunnell, concluded:
“The St Helena PAC has transformed significantly, with its capability steadily increasing. Our Annual Summary Report dated February 2019 is testament to this and it highlights the work that PAC carries out in the development of ensuring openness and transparency in public financial management.
“We follow very closely the ‘Good practice in effective oversight of public finances in the UK Overseas Territories’ guide, launched in February 2017. At the 2019 Forum, the PAC team will present a ‘case study’ which will be commented on by the other Overseas Territories attending. I have every confidence the St Helena team will do well and look forward to their report when they return.”
#StHelena #PublicAccountsCommittee #OversightofPublicFinancesForum2019
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SHG
4 March 2019
THEFT AT FRANCIS PLAIN
St Helena Police are currently investigating a theft which took place at Francis Plain, whereby 330 litres of fuel from mobile floodlights was stolen, along with a car battery from one of the lights. The theft took place sometime between Monday, 11 February, and Tuesday, 26 February 2019.
These floodlights have been used for many community events including, most recently, by the St Helena Football Association for the District Football Tournament and training the team to compete in Ynys Mon, Wales, in June.
It is for these reasons that a reward of £500 has been offered by a member of the public to any person who can provide information to St Helena Police in relation to the offence, which will ultimately lead to the successful conviction of an offender in court.
If anyone has any information which may assist with this investigation, regardless of how minor it may seem, please contact Coleman House Police Headquarters on tel: 22626 or email: cid@sainthelena.gov.sh.
#StHelena #StHelenaPolice #AppealForInformation
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SHG
4 March 2019
St Helena Government is aware of the article – Saint speaks out about traumatic experience at Pretoria Hospital – printed on pages 4 and 5 of the Sentinel newspaper, dated 28 February 2019.
The Health Directorate has been contacted by Mr Phillips’ family and are taking steps to fully understand what has taken place.
An investigation is ongoing and when completed the Health Directorate will liaise with Mr Phillips and his family.
The Health Directorate continues to take all steps possible to ensure no patient is at risk when undergoing medical treatment in South Africa.
#StHelena #HealthDirectorate
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SHG
1 March 2019
The Emergency Planning Department would like to inform the public that the north-westerly swell currently being experienced at St Helena is forecast to continue through to next Friday, 8 March 2019.
The public is reminded to use caution when accessing the Seafront area and Rupert’s Jetty and advised to refrain from swimming in the bays until conditions improve.
To avoid damage to vehicles, drivers are asked to take care when parking near the safety rails at the Seafront.
Port Control has lifted the closure on the Rupert’s Jetty but will continue to monitor sea conditions and may make further restrictions to affected areas if necessary.
SHG
1 March 2019
https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh
WEDNESDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2019
The monthly meeting of the Education Committee took place on Wednesday, 20 February 2019.
Prince Andrew School’s (PAS) Advisory Maths Teacher, Derek Bower, and English Teacher, Julia Cave-Smith, were invited to share with the Committee feedback and input on their experience in PAS thus far. Both teachers expressed their enthusiasm for teaching, with compliments to PAS Head Teacher, Penelope Bowers, for her management style, and to staff for their personable and intuitive approach to teaching.
Julia reiterated the importance of reading and literacy, emphasising on parental support and engagement in this area. Similarly, Derek noted that students would benefit greatly by practicing Maths more frequently.
The Committee was asked to consider for approval two new policies for PAS – ‘Administering Medicines Policy’ and ‘Pupil Illness Policy’. These policies stipulate the processes and procedures staff must follow when dealing with sick children in school. The Pupil Illness Policy was approved in principle but Committee members felt they needed further guidance before they could approve the Administering Medicines Policy.
A Primary IT Policy and Scheme of Work was tabled but deferred to the next meeting. This policy establishes how IT is taught at primary level and gives guidance on the level of skills to be taught to different year groups.
A briefing was given on the progress made in relation to the St Helena Research Institute and it was noted that, whilst it was hoped that the St Helena Research Institute could be launched during the Environmental Conference in March 2019, this cannot take place due to the work that still has to be developed and approved to ensure the Research Institute and Council can legally operate. The Research Institute will however be promoted during the Conference.
#StHelena #EducationCommittee #MeetingSummary
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SHG
1 March 2019
The Forestry Section of ANRD would like to inform the public that the Highways Authority has given approval for the road at Sea View (from Sea View House to the junction near Putty Hill Road) to be closed on Monday, 4, and Tuesday, 5 March 2019, from 9am to 3pm.
This closure is to allow the Forestry Section to continue with the removal of a eucalyptus tree near Willowdene, Alarm Forest.
Appropriate signage will be in place and, as normal, only Emergency Services will be granted access.
Residents living in areas above Sea View wishing to travel in and out of Jamestown will need to go across country and via Ladder Hill Road.
The Forestry Section would like to thank the public in advance for their continued understanding and cooperation.
SHG
28 February 2019
https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh
Royal Lifesaving Society Trainer/Assessor for Lifesaving & Lifeguarding, Chris Durnford, is currently visiting St Helena with his wife . Whilst here, Chris has held free Basic First Aid, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training with staff from different SHG departments.
This is Chris’ eighth visit to the Island and he has offered training on each occasion, mostly with the lifeguards at the Jamestown Swimming Pool. This time around, Chris was again happy to offer his expertise to staff within SHG.
Chris held sessions with staff from the Environmental Management Division, HM Prison, Customs & Excise, Sea Rescue, Safeguarding, and the Agriculture & Natural Resources Division’s Peaks & Forestry teams.
Chris said:
“It’s been a delight to be able to do these training sessions, it’s the love of my life in respect of outside activities.
“Some of these various divisions in SHG work in remote places and it’s therefore very useful for them to have this information and knowledge just in case there is an incident.”
The training has benefitted all staff participants, especially those which have Basic First Aid, CPR and AED as an essential requirement for their job roles.
Chris has 44 years experience in his field since becoming a Lifesaving Teacher in 1975. He is a member of the Royal Lifesaving Society UK and is a qualified Lifesaving Instructor Tutor and Water Smart Instructor. Chris is also qualified in Open Water Endorsement, NRASTC/ATSPRA (National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers & Coaches/Aquatic Therapy Shallow Pool Rescue Award), Lifesaving, Anaphylaxis, NPLQ 9th Gen (National Pool Lifeguard), ER Pool, Open Water Lifeguard and AED.
SHG thanks Chris for his generosity in taking the time out of his holiday to deliver these courses.
#StHelena #BasicFirstAid #CPR #AED #Training #AltogetherSafer
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SHG
28 February 2019
St Helena Government’s Press Office team has today launched a survey asking ‘What do you think about SHG information?’ The survey is open between 28 February and 21 March 2019.
Head of News, Kerisha Yon, explains:
“We’re running this Public Opinion Survey to gather people’s views on what they think about the information provided to them by Government. We are aware that for various reasons not everyone here and overseas are satisfied with the information we provide. Examples of what we’ve heard are ‘not timely’, ‘we can’t understand it’, ‘SHG is not telling me what I want to hear’.
“Because of this, we would like to know how you receive Government news now, how you would like to receive news going forward, what you would like us to tell you about, and how we can make our information better for you to understand.
“I would encourage people to complete the survey which is available both in hard copy and online. The results will help us to improve our service and ensure that you get the information you need, in a format you can understand, and through a channel that you are comfortable to use.”
Hard copies of the survey can be found in both this week’s Sentinel and Independent newspapers as well as in the Customer Service Centre, Public Library, New Horizons and the Hospital Outpatients and Dental waiting areas.
The survey is also available online at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LRDWY62
We look forward to hearing your views.
#StHelena #SHGInformation #TellUsWhatYouThink
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SHG
28 February 2019