World Malaria Day and UK statistics for 2013

Yesterday was World Malaria Day - always on the 25th April and this week the World Health Organization published a new malaria video lasting just 4 minutes 16 seconds.  It's a very interesting clip stating that half the world's population is at risk of malaria. The video is an introduction to this disease with a few key facts about its global epidemiology, symptoms, mode of transmission through infected mosquitoes, its diagnosis and treatment and the main means to prevent its transmission and limit its spread.  To view, just click on the image below.

Yesterday Public Health England also published their figures for imported malaria infections reported in the UK in 2013.  There were 1501 cases which was a rise of nine per cent on 2012 when there were 1378 cases. Seven people died from malaria in the UK in 2013 and 79% of malaria cases were due to thew dangerous and sometimes fatal Plasmodium falciparum.  For more information see here and  for more detail see here

Raffles Landing in Singapore!

I'm in Singapore speaking at an International School Nurse Conference and have been meeting some wonderful and interesting nurses from all over S.E. Asia - see here.  There's been a little time for sightseeing and yesterday Peter and I came across an elephant in the grounds of the Raffles Hotel.  The elephant was part of the Elephant Parade, a charity for the conservation of Asian elephants see here.  This particular elephant is called 'Raffles Landing' designed by Diana Francis and was part of the Elephant Parade in Singapore in 2012.  In London we had an Elephant Parade in 2010 which I've blogged about before and enjoyed seeing so many of them!  However a UK National tour is also happening in 2014 so for more details see here

Here's a picture of Raffles Landing! 

World Health Day 2014 and a great poster!

World Health Day is on 7th April 2014 this year.  The World Health Organization have published a great poster on their website about vector-borne diseases.  It would be an intersting one to print off and put on a noticeboard for your travellers!  Click on the image to access this poster.  To find out more about World Health Day click here.  There are some additional great resources on there.

How strange is that?!

I was teaching a great group of nurses yesterday for the Barking and Dagenham CCG and on my way back into London I was travelling on the tube to go into the RCN to work in their library - a great facility!  The tube was very crowded and a couple were standing in front of me.  I looked down and there the gentleman was carrying this bag as illustrated in the photo below!  He was using his conference bag from the Conference of the International Society of Travel Medicine, held in Maastricht last year!  He was deep in conversation, I didn't like to interupt, and its not the 'done thing' to speak to people you don't know on the tube .... but then my tube stop came up so I had to get.  To see my presentation at that event see here!

Safe Storage and Handling of Vaccines

Although this subject is perceived as very 'boring' I think it's vitally important to ensure vaccines are administered in optimum condition for maximum protection.  I've written a CPD article due to be published in Nursing Standard this Wednesday (19th February 2014) on the topic - and have tried hard to also make it interesting.......well I thought it was anyway!   And check out 'time out' activity no. 3.  To access Nursing Standard see here

Below is an NHS poster to help you keep your vaccines healthy as well.  Click on the link below to obtain the PDF.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/294388/Keep-your-vaccines-healthy-poster-March2014.pdf

A RETURN TICKET

The first joint RCN and Travel Health Training Ltd. conference and exhibition.

I was delighted when the Royal College of Nursing asked me to work with them to create this conference.  Those of you that remember the highly successful RCN Travel Health Forum conferences that were held from 2000 to 2010 will hopefully be pleased to read of the return of this style of meeting once more.  To view the conference flyer, click on the image below. The exciting programme can be seen on page 2 and the booking form on page 3. The link to the RCN website to book a place online is HERE

To view the detail on my website click here

Supporting the delivery of immunisation education

I've now had time to read this RCN publication thoroughly and find it to be an excellent document.  As stated in the guidance in section 3, its purpose is to provide a framework for adopting the National Minimum Standards for Immunisation Training and the Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training to assure commissioners, health boards and providers that the trainig provided for staff meets appropriate standards.  Information regarding travel health training is also included.  The document also includes a detailed competency framework for use in a workplace. The intention of its design is to support staff and help managers assess competence and knowledge. To download the document click on the image below.  This and the other documents as mentioned above are also illustrated and obtainable from going to my immunisation resources page by clicking here and then scroll down to the bottom of the page to view.