18
APCO joins Food Safety
Supervisor Training
THE
Auburn
City Council in
partnership with
Auburn Small
Community
Organisation Network
Inc (ASCON)
organised a free oneday accredited Food
Safety Supervisor
training at the
Auburn Centre for
Community last
month.
Fifteen participants representing various CALD communities benefitted from this
training excellently delivered
by Julie Mcintosh of South
Western Sydney Institute of
TAFE – Tourism and Hospitality. The Alliance of Philippine
Community Organisations Inc
(APCO) was represented by Dr
Cen Amores, Raphael Amores
and Glorina Papaioannou.
TAFE Teacher, Julie Macintosh discusses one of the modules
The units of competencies covered included: Use hygienic practices for food safety and Participate in safe food
handling practices. Eight topics covered are: Keep food
safe, Maintain personal hygiene, Handle food hygienically, Keep the workplace clean,
Food safety programs. Control
and monitor food safety and
Maintain food safety.
Participants were required
to pass two written and one
hands-on assessments to receive a Statement of Attainment in Food Safety Supervisor from TAFE.
How young is too young for your
child’s first dental visit?
T
aking a child to
Your Mouth, Your Body, Your Health
the dentist is indeed a challenge. Many parents wonder
how young they can start
bringing their kids to see a
[email protected]
dentist. Everyone has different opinions about this
matter. Some bring their
kids when they start school. Others wait until they
start losing their baby teeth or even when they are in
pain. Most of the time, treating kids with toothaches will leave a painful scar in their
memory. This may result
in a bigger oral health issue
when they grow up.
Unpleasant dental experiences for kids can be minimized or avoided. According to recent studies, it is
highly recommended that
children have their first dental visit within six months
of getting their first tooth.
Hence, parents should start
scheduling their kid’s first
treating kids. This will certainly make a big
dental visit at the age of one and every 6
difference in your child’s first dental experimonths after.
ence.
Contrary to many beliefs, baby teeth also
Taking your kids at the recommended age
need special attention. Just because baby
of 12 months will certainly reinforce the imteeth will fall out anyway does not mean they
portance of good oral health but also help redon’t need to be checked by dentists. Kids
move the fear of dentists that many older chilteeth play a major role in their growth process, speech development, confidence and not dren have during their first visit. Positive dento mention, nutrition. Taking your child to see tal experiences at a young age can cut down
dental anxiety in the long term. If you have
a dentist at a young age will also ingrain the
any further questions and concerns about your
importance of looking after their teeth.
kids’ oral health, I highly recommend that
Some pointers on how to make your
child’s first dental visit a pleasant and enjoyyou seek professional dental advice as soon
able one:
as possible.
1. Talk to your kids about their teeth. Play
and count them.
2. Make tooth brushing as playtime. Show Dr. Rouel Vergara, is a general dentist
practitioner focusing on patient-centred
them how you brush, floss and rinse your
dentistry. He is a member of the Australian
teeth.
Dental Association and various dental
3. Make sure your child is well rested beorganizations in Australia and overseas,
fore they see the dentist.
and is also actively involved in providing
4. Schedule your kid’s appointment at a
lectures and workshops for dental health
time of the day when they are fully awake.
professionals in the Asia Pacific region.
5. Reward your child after the dental visit. This will help associate dentist visits with a Dr.Vergara is the principal dentist of New
Leaf Dentists in Erina, NSW.
positive experience.
6. Look for a dentist with experience in
DR. ROUEL
VERGARA
THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA
www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 6 Number 2 | NOVEMBER 2015
FOOD & HEALTH
Viral gastroenteritis outbreaks
Rise of cases in childcare centres,
aged care facilities
“Illness can worsen quickNSW Health is warning the
ly in children and the elderly,
peak of the viral gastroenteriso if people are concerned they
tis season is approaching, with
should see their local GP.”
recent increases in cases in the
During September, 63 outcommunity, childcare centres
breaks in institutions (includand aged care facilities.
ing childcare centres, nursing
Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Direchomes and hospitals) were retor of the Communicable Disported, affecting at least 803
eases Branch, NSW Health,
people. However, the number of
said recently that outbreaks of
outbreaks reported is lower than
viral gastroenteritis occur seathe monthly September average
past month appear to have been
sonally, and this is when rotaviof 73 outbreaks seen in the precaused by viruses that spread
rus and norovirus are commonvious five years.
ly circulating in the community. easily from person to person,”
“The best defence is to
Dr Sheppeard said.
A second peak of viral gaswash your hands thoroughly
“Symptoms can include
troenteritis is usually observed
with soap
at the beand runginning of
ning water
each year,
THE best defence is to wash your hands thoroughly
for at least
coinciding with soap and running water for at least 10 seconds
10 secwith the
before handling and eating food, and always wash your
onds beintake of
hands after using the toilet or changing nappies…
fore hannew childling and
dren to
nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fe- eating food, and always wash
early childhood centres.
ver, abdominal pain, headache,
your hands after using the toilet
“Although the cause of
and muscle aches and usually
or changing nappies,” said Dr
most outbreaks in institutions
last between one and two days,
Sheppeard. [http://www.health.
is not diagnosed, all outbreaks
nsw.gov.au]
occurring in institutions in the
sometimes longer,” she said.
HERNIA
A
Hernia is the
Healthwise
protrusion of
organs, such
as intestines,
through a weakened section of the abdominal wall.
Registered Nurse
COMMON TYPES OF
HERNIAS:
l Inguinal – this is the most common
l Visible lump or swollen area
form accounting for nine out of 10 herl • Heavy or concentrated feeling in
nias. Occurs in the groin wherein a loop
the gut, particularly when bending over
of intestine pushes against the small
l Pain or aching (particularly on exerring of muscle in the groin, eventually
tion, lifting or carrying heavy objects)
splitting the muscle fibres apart. Inguil • Digestive upsets such as constipanal Hernias affect more men than womtion
en and are particularly common in midl Lump disappears when the person is lydle age.
ing down
l Femoral – occurs high on the thigh,
l Lump enlarges upon coughing, strainwhere the leg joins the body. Similar to
ing or standing up
inguinal hernia, intestines force their
l Others: acid reflux, chest pain, difficulway through the weak muscle ring at
ty swallowing
the femoral canal until they protrude.
DIAGNOSIS OF HERNIAS:
Femoral hernias are more common in
The doctor may feel a bulge in the abdowomen.
men or groin that gets larger when the person
l Umbilical – a portion of the gut pushstands, coughs or strains. He will order a Bares through a muscular weakness near
ium X-ray to examine the digestive tract and
the navel or belly button. Overweight
an endoscopy.
women or those who have had several
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR A HERNIA:
pregnancies are also at increased risk.
Whether or not the person needs treatThis type of hernia is more common in
ment depends on the size of the hernia and
newborns.
the severity of the symptoms. The doctor may
l Hiatus – occurs when part of the stomsimply monitor the hernia for possible comach protrudes up through the diaplications. He may order a lifestyle change
phragm into the chest. Hiatus Hernia
(dietary changes; avoiding foods that cause
almost always causes gastroesophageacid reflux; losing weight, giving up cigaal reflux causing a burning sensation.
rettes), medication and surgery.
This type of hernia is most common in
COMPLICATIONS OF AN UNTREATED
people over 50, and if a child has this
HERNIA:
condition, it’s typically caused by a
l Inflammation
congenital (birth) defect.
l Obstruction of a lumen (cavity within a
tubular organ), such as bowel obstrucl Incisional – may occur after abdomition in intestinal hernias)
nal surgery, where the site of repair will
l Strangulation
always be structurally weaker. Somel Hydrocele (accumulation of serous flutimes, the intestines can push through
id in a body cavity) of the hernia sac
the closed incision, causing a hernia.
COMMON CAUSES OF HERNIAS: (VARY
l Haemorrhage
l Autoimmune problems
DEPENDING ON EACH INDIVIDUAL)
l Failure of the abdominal wall to close
l Incarceration – cannot be reduced or
in the womb (congenital defect)
pushed back into place, at least not
l Age
without external effort in intestinal herl Mechanical causes: improper heavy
nias; this also increases the risk of bowlifting, chronic coughing, sharp blows
el obstruction and strangulation
to the abdomen, incorrect posture
REMEMBER TO ALWAYS CONSULT
l Physical: sudden weight gain, straining YOUR DOCTOR AT THE OCCURRENCE
during a bowel movement or urination,
OF ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS MENpregnancy (due to pressure on the abTIONED ABOVE.
domen), chronic lung disease, fluid in
Reference:
the abdominal cavity (ascites)
Better Health Channel – Fact Sheet /Hernias
SYMPTOMS OF HERNIAS: (DEPENDS ON
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia/Hernia
THE LOCATION AND SEVERITY)
Healthline/Hernia
FE
WATMORE