Health « Thurles Information

Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Available Free To Those Under 25 Years.

The Minister for Health, Mr Stephen Donnelly, has confirmed that the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) * vaccine is to be made available free to all women under the age of 25; in an effort to reduce cervical cancer rates.

Mr Donnelly has now communicated with the HSE, informing them to outline a vaccination programme for women and a catch-up programme for girls and boys in secondary schools, latter who may have missed out during the Covid-19 pandemic or initially refused to accept the vaccine.

The advice received from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) seeks to prioritise women under 25 and current second-level students for the vaccine. This advice from NIAC also recommends catch-up vaccination for unvaccinated people under 25 years of age.

The HPV vaccine, which is expensive to obtain privately, will also be offered to those young women who refused or were advised to not take it at the time of offering. Thus the HSE school vaccination teams have already been working with schools to ensure anyone who missed their initial shot, while in first year, are now offered second opportunity to participate.

Some 400 women and men are diagnosed with HPV-caused cancers every year, here in the Irish Republic. It is therefore essential that nobody misses out on the protection against cancer which this HPV vaccine guarantees, thus eliminating HPV cancers.

The Irish Cancer Society urges every eligible person to get the vaccine once the expected new programme is put in place.

* Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a family of very common viruses that are passed on during skin-to-skin contact, particularly sexual activity, including oral sex.
There are over 170 types of HPV and most do not cause any problems. However, certain types are considered high risk and increase the risk of cancer. Nearly all cervical cancer is due to HPV and two strains; HPV16 and HPV18, account for 70% of all cases.

New Gynaecological Health Clinic Opens At Nenagh Hospital, Co. Tipperary.

A specialist regional Clinic focused on women’s gynaecological health; located at a new €1.4m extension at Nenagh Hospital, Co. Tipperary, has now opened.

This regional clinic; the first new menopause clinic to be established outside of our capitol city, includes a specialist menopause clinic, which will give women speedier access to such medical services and hopefully cut drastically hospital admissions.

The new clinic is designed to improve women’s health through a new model of care through the HSE’s National Women’s and Infants health programme, and is expected, later this year, to provide a specialist fertility service, which will be consultant-led.

The clinic at Nenagh will provide ambulatory gynaecology services, including ultrasound and biopsy services, pelvic ultrasound, diagnostic hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy on site, following all referrals by area GP’s, while improving immediate access to diagnostics and treatment.

It will also provide services to teenage girls and adolescents who experience difficult gynaecological conditions in their teenage years.

78% Of Ireland’s Bathing Sites Have Excellent Water Quality.

The quality of Ireland’s bathing water continued to improve in 2021, with 97% (144 of 148) of sites meeting or exceeding the minimum standard.
Of these, 115 bathing sites (78%) had excellent water quality (which is the most stringent standard). This increased from 111 in 2020.
These improvements are a result of enhanced management of bathing waters over many years, combined with investments in treatment of urban waste water.
The number of beaches with poor bathing water quality reduced to two, compared with four in 2020.
Swimmers are encouraged to ask their local authorities to officially identify additional local bathing sites. This will ensure they are managed to protect bathers’ health.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the Bathing Water in Ireland report for 2021, which shows that 78% of bathing sites have excellent water quality, while 97% meet the minimum standard. This is attributed to improved management of bathing waters over many years, combined with investments in treatment of urban waste water.
However, while bathing water quality has continued to improve overall, there are still issues which need to be addressed, to protect and further improve bathing waters. Agriculture, urban waste water and fouling from dogs on beaches still impact the quality of bathing waters. In addition, heavy rainfall can also quickly impact by washing pollution into our bathing waters. Swimmers should always check www.beaches.ie for the latest water quality information for their local bathing site.
Commenting on the report, Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment, said: “Bathing water quality in Ireland is high and last year saw further improvements compared with 2020. This is good news as we approach the summer when we can enjoy our local beaches and bathing areas, which are an important natural amenity for health and wellbeing.
The EPA recognises that swimming is increasingly becoming a year-round activity and encourages the provision of information that will help winter swimmers to make informed choices to protect their health. The findings and outcome of the multi-stakeholder National Bathing Water Expert Group, due later this year, will provide important information in this regard and help identify potential options to better protect bathers who swim year-round.”

The EPA report specifically highlights improvements at Lilliput, Lough Ennell in Westmeath, after three years of poor quality. During 2020 and 2021, the bathing water quality improved significantly due to actions taken by farmers in the surrounding area. This was driven by evidence and science generated by Westmeath County Council, the Local Authority Waters Programme and the Agricultural Sustainability, Support and Advisory Programme working together. As a result, the restriction on swimming has been removed.
The EPA encourages swimmers to engage with Local Authorities to officially identify additional local bathing sites which will ensure they are managed to protect bathers’ health.
Further information on bathing water and updates on monitoring results during the bathing water season (1st June to 15th September) are available at www.beaches.ie.

Allergy Alert Notification Regarding Smoky BBQ Irish Pork Ribs.

The Food Safety Authority Of Ireland (FSAI) and Dunnes Stores have issued an urgent allergy alert over undeclared barley in a batch of meat.

The affected product refers to Smoky BBQ Irish Pork Ribs pack size 500g.

Product Identification: Use by: 13.05.22; Approval number: IE 538 EC.

The FSAI have stated, “The incorrect back label was applied to the implicated batch of Dunnes Stores Smoky BBQ Irish Pork Ribs. The product contains barley which is not mentioned on the label. This may make the batch unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of cereals containing gluten (barley).”

Tipperary Take-Away Operator Jailed For Lack Of Food Controls & A Closure Order.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) have welcomed the outcome of a District Court prosecution yesterday, taken against Mr Domenico Venditti, the former operator of the Domenico Take-Away, in Newcastle village, Co. Tipperary.

The District Court prosecution in Clonmel arose from four separate breaches of a Closure Order and other offences observed at the premises. The Closure Order was served on September 8th 2021 in relation to non-compliance with food legislation, with Mr Venditti pleading guilty to a total of nine charges brought by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. These included:-

Inadequate procedures to control pests.
Failure to keep the premises clean.
Failure to protect food against contamination.
Holding foods at unsafe temperatures.
Lack of adequate hand washing facilities.
No evidence of regular hand washing.
Failure to keep the premises clean on September 8th, 2021 in breach of the EC (Hygiene of Foodstuffs) Regulations, 2006.
Failure to comply with a Closure Order on September 17th, 2021.
Failure to comply with a Closure Order on September 10th, 2021.

The Court found that the premises was run in an unhygienic way and expressed significant concern that Mr Venditti continued to trade in breach of the Closure Order, showing blatant disregard for the function of the FSAI.

The Court imposed the following penalties:-
Failure to keep the premises clean – Imprisonment for a term of three months.
Failure to comply with a Closure Order (17th September 2021) – Imprisonment for a further term of three months to run consecutively with the sentence imposed above.
Failure to comply with a Closure Order (10th September 2021) – Fine of €500 to be paid within 12 months.
Mr Venditti was also ordered to pay €2,500 towards the FSAI’s court costs.

Speaking following court proceedings, Dr Pamela Byrne (Chief Executive, FSAI) stated: “The ruling today sends a strong message to food businesses that non-compliance with food safety legislation will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Consumers have a right to safe food and today’s ruling has a positive outcome for consumers in Ireland”.