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As at mid-October 2009, there were 500 remaining referrals to Paediatricians...

Getting fit and staying active will help decrease the risk of a fall. That's the key message at today's launch of the Department of Health and Families (DHF) 'Healthy Active Ageing' strategy.

Territorians are being urged to make home food safety a top priority all year round...

All Territorians aged 10 years and over are being urged to get vaccinated against H1N1 Pandemic Influenza...

A new NT program will help mothers and their families deal with depression during pregnancy and in the first year following childbirth...

Today's launch of the 2009 Nursing and Midwifery Recruitment Campaign marks the latest phase in boosting the Northern Territory's team of skilled nurses and midwives.

Top End residents are advised to take precautions against an expected annual peak in biting midge activity this week...

Territorians will this evening (Friday 30 October) rally for survivors of sexual assault.

NT Department of Health and Families (DHF) and the Melbourne- based Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute will tomorrow (October 30) host over 100 health professionals for the inaugural two- day 'Diabetes at the Centre: The How, Where and Why- an Educational Symposium'.

Time is running out for Top Enders wishing to attend the next round of Quit Smoking courses starting 27 October.

Top End communities will have new role models to look up to this week when nine of Australia's best athletes and musicians visit Wadeye and Daly River to meet with Territorian kids and conduct workshops in their fields of expertise.

The Wurrimiyanga Well Being Centre at Nguiu, Bathurst Island was opened today (Thursday 8 October).

Royal Darwin Hospital's (RDH) highly regarded General Manager, Dr Len Notaras AM, will take up his new position as Executive Director of the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) on Monday 5 October 2009...

Territorians will begin receiving the new H1N1 Pandemic Influenza (swine flu) vaccine from today, Wednesday 30 September...

A free forum in Darwin will address workplace mental health problems, which cost Australian businesses over $20 billion a year in lost productivity and labour force participation...

The Department of Health and Families (DHF) has engaged the services of Rural Health Education Development (RHED) Consulting to assess the education and training of Nurses and Midwives in the Top End and Central Australia.

11 confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been reported in the Northern Territory since Friday 11 September...

About 30 students from Nhulunbuy High School with influenza-like illness have been absent from school this week...

A series of free forums across the Territory in the coming weeks will seek community input on the planning and provision of Palliative Care services...

The Department of Health and Families has confirmed that four patients at Royal Darwin Hospital have been identified with Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE). Stringent measures are being implemented to manage the situation in accordance with Infection Control Policy.

10 confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been reported in the Northern Territory since Friday 4 September...

Children in Alice Springs town camps are benefiting from a three-week additional dental service outreach by the Central Australia Oral Health Service...

The outstanding achievements of NT health professionals working in the area of chronic disease were recognised at an awards ceremony held in Darwin....

A national conference in Darwin this week will address the importance of focusing on preventative measures in dealing with the rising incidence of chronic disease...

Local residents will get a close-up look at Alice Springs Hospital's Rehabilitation Unit and the work of its Allied Health team this Thursday 10 September between...

17 confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been reported in the Northern Territory since Friday 28 August...

The Department of Health and Families (DHF) has launched a new web site aimed at improving community access to vital information on domestic and family violence, including legislation about mandatory reporting...

Players from NBL star side the Perth Wildcats visited Royal Darwin Hospital today to spread some cheer among patients...

Fruit juice and soft drinks are contributing to significant dental problems and other health issues amongst young children, according to a major report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare showing that in the decade to 2005 around one-in-five children aged 5-11 years had not...

Funding is now available to provide creative school holiday activities and projects for NT youth aged 12 - 25 years but applicants need to be quick. The Youth Holiday Vibe Grants program is sponsored by the NT Department of Health and Families (DHF) Office of Youth Affairs, and aims to encourage the development of youth skills, self-esteem, cooperation and trust...

Northern Territory health worker Graeme Beasley has been commended for 30 years of loyal service to the...

Top End residents are advised to take precautions against an expected increase in biting midge activity...

A seminar in Darwin tomorrow will address female/male wage disparity, highlighting the fact that Northern Territory women working full time are paid just 83 per cent of male earnings...

21 confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been reported in the Northern Territory since Monday 24 August...

A 21-month old boy died at Royal Darwin Hospital earlier this week as a result of Pandemic (H1N1) Influenza 2009...

Speaking and/or hearing problems affect many people's ability to communicate. This can cause personal embarrassment and affect family, social and working life. Speech Pathologists from the Department of Health and Families are holding a two-day "Sing and Sign" workshop from 10.00 am today at Central Australian Aboriginal Congress to make communication easier for people who find it difficult. DHF Speech Pathologist Louise Taylor said the workshop coincides with...

13 confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been reported in the Northern Territory since Friday 21 August....

46 confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been reported in the Northern Territory since Monday 17 August....

Central Australians requiring eye treatment will have greater access to care following the appointment of a second eye nurse at Alice Springs Hospital (ASH). The new ASH Eye Nurse, Cathryn Skipsey, joins the eye health team run by Dr Tim Henderson and Nurse Maryanne Cooke. Alice Springs Hospital General Manager Vicki Taylor said, "We've substantially enhanced our capacity to provided quality eye care and treatment to the people of Central Australia. There is now greater scope for...

A Darwin woman in her early 40s died at Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) on Saturday night (15 August 2009) following admission on 22 July 2009 with medical conditions that included H1N1 Influenza...

A survey is being conducted by a team of Top End youth to gauge public perceptions and examine the effectiveness of current approaches to preventing illegal graffiti and creating street art...

95 confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been reported in the Northern Territory since Monday 10 August...

If you can't wait until December for Christmas you're not alone: a merrymaking group of Alice Springs seniors will be celebrating Christmas in August as part of the NT Government's Seniors Month 2009. "Christmas is such a fun time that we thought we should celebrate it twice this year," said the event organiser, Pat Pate. Seniors Month, coordinated by the Department of Health and Families, is held every...

19 confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been reported in the Northern Territory since midday on Friday 7 August...

Reducing homelessness in the Northern Territory is the goal of the NT's first community street soccer match. The game will be held today from 4.00 to 6.00 pm at Chrisp Street Oval in Rapid Creek. The public are encouraged to attend. Street soccer sees homeless males and females of all ages and abilities meeting once a week for training and matches. Permanent pitches, equipment and a dedicated coach are...

93 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory since 1.00 pm on Tuesday 4 August....

Improving babies' sleep and their immune, digestive and nervous systems is as easy as giving them daily massages, according to an Alice Springs nurse. But you need to know what you doing, and that's why Flynn Drive Community Health Centre is holding a free Baby Massage session for parents. The session, held to coincide with Infant Massage Awareness Week, is the first...

Flynn Drive Community Health Centre today hosted a morning tea for families of multiple births between 10.00 am and 12.00 noon today. The event recognised that multiple births come with unique issues, challenges and joys. The gathering was for parents of twins, triplets, or even quadruplets who are...

4 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory since 1.00 pm on Friday 31 July...

The NT Department of Health and Families (DHF) will celebrate National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day...

A middle-aged female Territorian with a number of serious medical conditions as well as confirmed H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) died in Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) late yesterday...

66 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory since 1.00 pm on Monday 27 July....

Every 30 seconds, somewhere in the world, a person loses a leg because of the effects of diabetes, according to Alice Springs Hospital's Dr Jacob Ollapallil who is helping to host more than 100 surgeons who will converge on the Central Australian town for a two-day conference on 'Infections in Surgical Practice'.Many of the attendees will undertake a special workshop on the management of high risk diabetic foot problems with one of the...

Patients with facial trauma and cancer will be the ultimate beneficiaries of a Churchill Fellowship awarded to Department of Health and Families (DHF) employee Wendy Guscott....

There's no better time than now to quit smoking, and no better way than a professionally run course that's free of charge...

116 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory since Friday 24 July...

8 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory in the past 24 hours...

In a first for the Northern Territory, Katherine Hospital will celebrate the opening of a new cultural area...

A top English language expert from Indonesia will hold talks today with Royal Darwin Hospital staff about training Indonesian nurses in clinical English. Pak Niclaus Daryanto, who is also scheduled to meet with Indonesian nurses who work at RDH, is the managing director of IEC, Indonesia's largest independent English language training institution. The group operates...

22  cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory in the past 24 hours...

41 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory in the past 24 hours...

Teachers at Yeperenya School in Alice Springs are learning good tooth-brushing techniques that they can use to encourage better oral health among their students. Today's session is the latest of the Department of Health and Families Central Australia Oral Health Services tooth-brushing programs that have run in remote Central Australian schools around for...

Effective tomorrow (Tuesday 21 July) the number of confirmed NT cases of H1N1 influenza (human swine flu) will be circulated...

101 new cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory in the past 48 hours...

35 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory in the past 24 hours...

With the NT's third school term starting next week, families are being advised to keep a close eye on the health status of children, especially regarding influenza. Director of the NT Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Vicki Krause, said it is important for staff and students who develop...

28 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory in the past 24 hours...

104 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory in the past 24 hours...

More than ten per cent of Central Australian residents have Type 2 Diabetes, and the number could be higher, according to the NT Department of Health and Families. National Diabetes Week (12-18 July 2009) aims to raise awareness of diabetes around the country and educate Australians of the risk factors involved with the disease. Diabetes is caused when the body no longer produces...

53 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory in the past 24 hours...

3  cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory in the past  24 hours...

109 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory in the past 48 hours...

48 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory...

Ten young people from Central Australia took their first steps back into town after a three-week intensive circuit-breaker camp. The camp, run by Tangentyere Council and funded by the Department of Health and Families, gave the participants a chance to build on their...

Young Territorians are being encouraged to have their say in the annual Mission Australia Youth Survey, which closes on 14 August...

A nationally-recognised expert in oral health will perform a soft tissue biopsy on a camel tongue as part of an oral health medicine workshop for dentists in Alice Springs today--Friday 10 July 2009. University of Melbourne's Dental School Associate Professor in Oral Medicine, Michael McCullough, will hold the workshop in the conference room of Flynn Drive Dental Clinic between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm. The workshop will cover topics including...

26 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory...

66  cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory...

11 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory...

17 cases of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory...

The total number of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) cases in the Northern Territory...

The total number of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) cases in the Northern Territory is 324...

The total number of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) cases in the Northern Territory is 270...

The total number of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) cases in the Northern Territory is 222...

If you have influenza don't go to the Alice Springs Show and risk spreading it to other--that's the advice from the Department of Health and Families Centre for Disease Control (CDC) as H1N1 influenza '09 cases increase around Australia. "We are trying to protect those who are most at risk of bad outcomes from getting sick from the flu," CDC Acting Coordinator for Central Australia Cate Coffey said. "The best way we can prevent the flu from spreading widely is by...

The total number of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) cases in the Northern Territory is 189...

From Wednesday 1 July 2009 all Northern Territory Department of Health and Families (DHF) premises will be designated as Smoke Free...

As part of the new Child  & Family Health Service a new support program for parents of children aged 0 to 8 weeks--Early Birds--has begun at the Flynn Drive Community Health Centre every Monday afternoon from 1.00pm to 3.00pm. Early Birds began in January this year and is a friendly environment where parents from Alice Springs and the surrounding region can...

The total number of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) cases in the Northern Territory is 177, with 17 cases being confirmed in the past 24 hours. The main areas where cases have been identified are Alice Springs (9) and Darwin (3)...

The number of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) cases in the Northern Territory is 160, with 35 cases being confirmed over the weekend ...

The number of H1N1 Influenza (human swine flu) cases in the Northern Territory is 125...

The number of human swine influenza (H1N1) cases in the Northern Territory is now 115...

The NT Department of Health and Families (DHF) today confirmed the Northern Territory's preparedness in relation to the spread of H1N1 Influenza (Human Swine Flu) in remote areas...

Staff at Alice Springs food outlets are being offered free food hygiene workshops courtesy of the Department of Health and Families Environmental Health Program in Central Australia. The two-hour food safety presentations, to be held on Wednesday and Thursday 1  - 2 July, are an ideal opportunity for cooks and service staff to update their...

The number of human swine influenza (H1N1) cases in the Northern Territory is now 96*, with 18 cases being confirmed today. Five are from the Alice Springs area, 5 from the Warlpiri area, 6 from Lajamanu, 1 from Gove, and 1 from Darwin...

The number of human swine influenza (H1N1) cases in the Northern Territory is now 78, with 17 cases being confirmed today. The majority of cases were recorded in Central Australia, including the Warlpiri area, and two were in Darwin...

Alice Springs residents doing a household clean-up are being asked to donate unwanted materials to Central Australia Supported Accommodation (CASA) for turning into wearable art. CASA's Art Coordinator Simone Guascoine said the organisation's CASArt program started twelve months ago as a way of preventing isolation among the accommodation's residents and helping them to become more involved in...

There are now 60 confirmed cases of H1N1 swine influenza in the NT...

The total number of human swine flu cases in the NT is now 44...

The Northern Territory's total number of confirmed cases now stands at 41...

The Northern Territory recorded no confirmed cases of H1N1 Human Swine Influenza (swine flu) today, leaving a present total of 31 confirmed cases.Pathology testing on samples from three students at Wallace Rockhole School in Central Australia returned negative today.

Time is running out for young women aged 13-26 years to receive the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for free.Young women need to start the course before June 30 and finish all 3 doses by 31 December to be eligible for the free vaccine. HPV is a very common virus, which can cause skin warts, genital warts and if left undetected may lead to cancer of the cervix.

The Northern Territory has a total of 31 confirmed cases of H1N1 Human Swine Influenza (swine flu), the latest new cases identified in various locations, including...

The Northern Territory health system is meeting the challenges of H1N1 Human Swine Influenza (swine flu), as cases are identified across Australia, including in the NT where confirmed cases now total 17 (see details below).The NT is well prepared to face anticipated needs, with access to ample stocks of antiviral medications such as Tamiflu, personal protection equipment for clinical staff and patients, and swabbing material...

With plummeting temperatures in Alice Springs the best way to really turn up the heat is at the Drovers Ball this Saturday 13 June from 6.30 pm. Since 2007 'The Drovers' has been Alice Springs Hospital's volunteer service, with members providing support, information and assistance to patients throughout their stay in the hospital. The Drovers Ball, held annually as a major fundraising event for the hospital's volunteers, allows the group to...

Four new cases of human swine influenza (H1N1) have been confirmed in the Northern Territory...

A conference to discuss improving rehabilitation service delivery for Territorians begins in Darwin today. Health practitioners and stakeholders are invited to attend the free two-day Physical and Cognitive Rehabilitation with an Aboriginal Perspective Conference, which is being held at Charles Darwin University's Casuarina campus.

A positive test result for Human Swine Influenza (H1N1 Influenza 09) has been returned from an Alice Springs woman who visited a General Practitioner after experiencing flu-like symptoms last Friday following a recent visit to Melbourne...

All of the suspect and probable cases from Ross Park Primary School in Alice Springs that were initially tested have returned negative for human swine influenza (H1N1).As of 7.30 pm Monday 8 June there have been a total of six confirmed cases of Swine Flu in the Northern Territory. One woman is from the Alice Springs region and four women and one man are from the Darwin region. There are also two people with probable cases.

The regular seasonal 2009 influenza (flu) vaccine is currently available and Territorians, especially those at greatest risk, are urged to get vaccinated now. "There has been an increase in routine seasonal influenza notifications in the Northern Territory in the last three weeks," reports Dr Vicki Krause, Director, Centre for Disease Control, NT Department of Health and Families...

A positive test result for Human Swine Influenza (H1N1 Influenza 09) has been returned from a Top End resident who experienced flu-like symptoms after returning from a visit to Queensland last weekend...

A positive test result for Human Swine Influenza (H1N1 Influenza 09) has been returned from an NT resident who visited the USA recently. The woman is in home isolation in Alice Springs and her contacts are being traced. This is the NT's second confirmed H1N1 case. Two high school aged girls from Alice Springs who returned recently from Melbourne have tested negative to H1N1...

A woman who travelled from Melbourne four days ago remains in isolation in Darwin, with the pathology result for Human Swine Influenza (H1N1 Influenza 09) testing expected tomorrow morning (Wed. 3 June)...

A woman is being tested for Human Swine Influenza (H1N1 Influenza 09) after experiencing flu-like symptoms following travel from Melbourne.The results of the pathology testing are expected to be available early tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday 2 June). The woman is in home isolation in Darwin. A woman who tested positive for...

Pathology on swabs taken from a passenger arriving in Darwin from Melbourne on Friday 29 May on Virgin Blue flight DJ 1457 has shown positive on first testing for H1N1 influenza (human swine flu). The woman had been in Melbourne for the previous two weeks. On Thursday 28 May she experienced a runny nose and sore throat, and by Friday morning had progressed to high fevers, muscle pain, cough, runny nose, diarrhoea and vomiting. She attended a GP surgery in Darwin on Friday night and later...

Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) General Manager Dr Len Notaras today offered his condolences to the family of Declan McConville and expressed sadness at the baby's death, following the release of the findings of the Coronial inquest conducted in February this year. Dr Notaras said RDH accepted all of the recommendations made by the Coroner and in fact had implemented these clinical changes prior to his report being handed down. He said it was now routine for...

A specialist dental surgical team visiting Alice Springs and a mobile dental clinic in the remote community of Kintore are just two of the initiatives improving the oral health of Central Australians. The specialist dental team will care for forty Aboriginal children from across Central Australia in surgery at Alice Springs Hospital from 25 to 29 May. The visiting surgical team, from Westmead Hospital in Sydney, includes three Dentists, an Anaesthetist and Registrar, Nurses, and Dental Assistants.This week's surgery is the fifth time...

A negative pathology result has been returned from Influenza A testing on a young man who recently travelled on the cruise ship Pacific Dawn and showed flu-like symptoms after returning home. There have been confirmed cases of the disease amongst passengers who disembarked in Sydney.The man contacted a doctor at the NT Department of Health and Families (DHF) Centre for Disease Control with flu-like symptoms. He was tested for influenza and advised to remain within his home environment.The pathology testing has shown negative to...

The Northern Territory has recorded a second Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) death, highlighting the importance of the ongoing public health warnings issued by the Department of Health and Families (DHF) urging people to take precautions against mosquito-borne diseases. DHF had not previously released the man's details in accordance with the family's specific instructions. The family has now instructed DHF to release some of his details. The deceased is an 83-year-old man from Queensland. He was a...

Local individuals, families, friends and organisations will gather at the Esplanade Cenotaph in Darwin on Friday 29 May to mark national Palliative Care Week (24-30 May 2009). The memorial service will be open to the general public. Palliative care is a particularly important topic considering that half a million Australians experience the impact of terminal illness each year. This year's theme is 'If only I knew -    finding answers to questions that help us to live and die the best we can.'    "The memorial service will provide a supportive place where loved ones and families can...

Central Australian residents in both urban and remote areas are set to benefit from the appointment of three key Primary Health Care professionals. Catherine Fisher, Margie McLean, and Steve Putz have joined Central Australia Remote Health as Area Service Managers (ASMs) for the Central Australia and Barkley regions. Their appointments come as part of a reform in remote health and continued efforts to Close the Gap in Aboriginal health outcomes. The new ASMs will oversee a more coordinated system for managing 29 remote health centres spread over 900,000...

Children in the Top End will benefit from Paediatric Rehabilitation Specialists visiting Royal Darwin Hospital from 27 to 29 May. The specialists will be in Darwin three times a year for three days at a time. Paediatric rehabilitation services are designed to improve the abilities of children and young people following major injury, illness, or medical procedures which affect day to day functioning. The specialists will be available to...

Territorians have again been warned to take precautions against mosquitoes after a recent suspect case of Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) was confirmed as positive by the NT Centre for Disease Control. The confirmation takes the number of MVE cases in the Northern Territory to two this year, one of them resulting in the death of a Territory man in mid-March. Western Australian health authorities have also reported their...

The NT Department of Health and Families has been notified of a suspect case of Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) in the Darwin region of the Top End. If confirmed, this would be the second reported case of Murray Valley Encephalitis acquired in the NT this year after a Territory man died of the disease in mid-March. Murray Valley Encephalitis is a potentially fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Usual symptoms of the disease include...

A Department of Health and Families (DHF) staff survey on tobacco smoking shows three-quarters of respondents support the Department's new Smoke Free Policy, which takes effect on 1 July 2009. The smoking ban includes all DHF facilities such as hospital campuses, community and remote health centres, NT Families and Children offices, and DHF vehicles. Hospitals will have an option to provide a designated outdoor smoking area. There were 1,710...

A rehabilitation nurse at Royal Darwin Hospital is one of six national finalists for a prestigious nursing award to be announced in Melbourne tomorrow. A special commitment to the patient who became part of her family has won Kay Stevens a place in the finals of the HESTA Australian Nursing Awards in the Nurse of the Year category. HESTA is one of...

The first Nurse Practitioner to be appointed in the Northern Territory will commence at Royal Darwin Hospital today, International Nurses Day 2009.A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a Registered Nurse who has completed advanced nursing education (usually a master's degree or doctorate) and has undergone training in the diagnosis and management of common as well as complex medical conditions. They are licensed to order...

The Tennant Creek water supply is once again safe to drink.The Environmental Health branch of the Department of Health and Families has lifted the Precautionary Advice for Drinking Water (Water Boil Alert) for Tennant Creek after samples from the community's water supply were confirmed today as being free of any harmful bacteria.

2008 notifications of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBVs) showed a number of improvements, according to the latest Surveillance Update from the NT Department of Health and Families Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses Unit. The notification rate for syphilis decreased by 16.8% in 2008 when compared with 2007 and against a mild increasing trend seen in 2005-2007. Notifications for gonorrhea have...

A precautionary advice for drinking water (water boil alert) was issued today for the Tennant Creek Community following the detection of the E.coli bacteria in the community's water supply. The Department of Health and Families today confirmed that precautionary measures were being taken to ensure that the water supply was safe to drink again as quickly as possible. DHF Environmental Health Senior Policy Officer Karen Beirne said that in the meantime, as a precautionary measure...

Alice Springs resident and Department of Health and Families (DHF) employee Valmai McDonald has received the Northern Territory Administrator's Primary Health Care Individual Medal.

A negative pathology result has been returned for Influenza A testing on a Darwin man who recently visited the USA and reported flu-like symptoms after returning home. The man attended a local GP clinic yesterday and pathology sampling was undertaken. He returned home with advice to remain within the home environment. The testing indicated that...

A negative pathology result has been returned for Influenza A testing on a Darwin woman who recently visited the USA and reported flu-like symptoms after returning home earlier this week. The woman's health status is now clear and she may safely move about the community. A positive test for Influenza A would have...

The following may be attributed to Dr Vicki Krause, Director of NT Centre for Disease Control and Chair of the Communicable Diseases Network Australia: At this time there is no intention to recommend cancellation of the Arafura Games, due to start in Darwin on 9 May 2009, because of concerns about the Swine Influenza A strain. The situation is being continually monitored. The Centre for Disease Control is liaising with the Games organisers and will continue to do so in the lead-up period and throughout the events of 9-17 May. As stated by the Health Minister yesterday, the Northern Territory is...

The Nyrippi water supply is once again safe to drink. The Environmental Health branch of the Department of Health and Families (DHF) has lifted the Precautionary Advice for Drinking Water (Water Boil Alert) for Nyrippi after samples from the community's water supply were confirmed today as being free of any harmful bacteria. DHF Senior Policy Officer Karen Beirne said the water boil alert was issued on 9 April 2009 as monthly samples taken from the community identified the presence of E.coli. The bacteria are an indicator of...

A precautionary advice for drinking water (water boil alert) was issued today for the Nyrippi Community following the detection of the E.coli bacteria in the community's water supply. The Department of Health and Families today confirmed that precautionary measures were being taken to ensure that the water supply was safe to drink again as quickly as possible. DHF Environmental Health Senior Policy Officer Karen Beirne, said in the meantime as a precautionary measure...

Youth Week in the Territory has a new face! Tim Reilly, an active member of the youth community, has been appointed as the Territory's Young Member for 2010. As the new Young Member, Mr Reilly will play a large part in the success of National Youth Week by providing a youth perspective in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the week. Mr Reilly is an advocate for...

The NT Department of Health and Families has issued a clear warning to 'cover up' against the mosquito borne diseases Murray Valley encephalitis virus and Kunjin virus diseases for the Easter holiday period and the next three months. Historically, March to June is the peak period for the Kunjin virus and potentially fatal Murray Valley encephalitis virus throughout the NT, with activity continuing in higher risk areas until July. Senior Medical Entomologist Peter Whelan said there had been several indicators that...

The Department of Health and Families (DHF) advises of an increase in gastroenteritis-type illness in urban and remote areas around Alice Springs. "It's timely to remind people that good hygiene and food preparation practises reduce the risk of gastroenteritis," said Mrs Cate Coffey, Acting Director of DHF's Centre for Disease Control. The increase in gastroenteritis-type illnesses includes rotavirus. Rotavirus is a viral infection that causes...

Falling down might seem harmless enough, but a Darwin doctor says falls have become the second most common cause of injury and fifth most common cause of death for Territorians. Dr Steven Skov from the NT Centre for Disease Control said preventing falls in hospitals, community, and residential aged care centres is the focus of April Falls Day tomorrow (1 April). He said that during 2005-2006 approximately 1200 people were...

Territorians are being encouraged to nominate an outstanding nurse or midwife for the 2009 Northern Territory Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards. The awards have been held annually since 2004 to recognise the skill and contribution of the Nurses and Midwifes -now totalling more than 2000 - employed across the Territory in areas ranging from maternity to aged and disability, hospitals and community health. All nurses and midwives currently employed in the NT who hold a current practising certificate with the NT Nursing  & Midwifery Board are...

The winners of this year's NT Young Achiever Awards were announced last Saturday night at the annual gala presentation dinner held at the Holiday Inn Esplanade. Nine category winners were awarded and the overall 2009 Channel Nine Young Achiever of the Year was announced. Brilee Jaques, 18, of Bayview is the winner of the...

The winners of this year's NT Young Achiever Awards were announced last Saturday night at the annual gala presentation dinner held at the Holiday Inn Esplanade. Nine category winners were awarded and the overall 2009 Channel Nine Young Achiever of the Year was announced. Nathan Frick, 23, of Nhulunbuy is the winner of the...

Forty Aboriginal children from across the Barkly region will receive specialist care from a dental surgical team visiting Tennant Creek Hospital from 30 March to 3 April. The dental outreach complements Central Australian Oral Health Services that provide regular dental checks and referrals for children and adults. The team, from Westmead Hospital in Sydney, includes...

Developing further strategies to address the single most preventable cause of serious disease is the aim of the NT Tobacco Summit, which entered its second day in Darwin today. The Summit, hosted by the NT Heart Foundation, represents the first time...

A 13-year study of heart attacks (acute myocardial infarction  - AMI) in the Northern Territory has shown survival prospects improving steadily for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. A total of 3419 new cases of AMI, or heart attack, in NT residents were identified in the 13-year study period, with 59 per cent of the patients being non-Indigenous. The findings included...

NT residents are advised to cover up and protect themselves from mosquito bites following suspected cases of Murray Valley encephalitis in the Top End and northern WA. Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) is a potentially fatal disease transmitted by the common banded mosquito, Culex annulirostris, which bites after sundown, particularly in the first two hours of the night. About one person in 1000 bitten by infected mosquitoes will...

The Department of Health and Families (DHF) announced today that its recently completed Smoke Free Policy will be implemented organisation-wide from Wednesday 1 July 2009. The policy will result in a smoking prohibition at all departmental services, including...

The Areyonga water supply is once again safe to drink. The Environmental Health branch of the Department of Health and Families (DHF) has lifted the Precautionary Advice for Drinking Water (Water Boil Alert) for Areyonga after samples from the community's water supply were confirmed today as being free of any harmful bacteria.

A precautionary advice for drinking water (water boil alert) has been issued for the Areyonga Community following the detection of the E.coli bacteria in the community's water supply. The Department of Health and Families today confirmed that precautionary measures were being taken to ensure that the water supply was safe to drink again as quickly as possible.

The 2009 influenza (flu) vaccine is now available and Territorians, especially those atgreatest risk, are urged to get vaccinated now. Monday 2 March kicked off Adult Immunisation Week and the launch of the 2009 Flu campaign "Make sure you are protected against the Flu".

The Elliott water supply is once again safe to drink. The Environmental Health branch of the Department of Health and Families (DHF) has lifted the Precautionary Advice for Drinking Water (Water Boil Alert) after samples from the community's water supply were confirmed today as being free of any harmful bacteria.

Precautionary advice for drinking water (water boil alert) was issued today for the Elliott Community following the detection of E.coli bacteria in the community's water supply. The Department of Health and Families today confirmed that precautionary measures were being taken to ensure that the water supply was safe to drink again as quickly as possible.

If you knew that you could save someone's life by giving them something you no longer needed, would you do it? Statistics released during Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week (21-28 February) show almost 17,000 Territorians are registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register but more are needed to meet demand. Every organ donor can save or improve the lives of up to ten people by opting to donate their heart, lungs and kidneys, liver, pancreas, eyes, skin and bone.

The Palumpa water supply is once again safe to drink. The Environmental Health branch of the Department has lifted the Precautionary Advice for Drinking Water (Water Boil Alert) Palumpa after samples from the community's water supply were confirmed today as being free of any harmful bacteria.

More Aboriginal children in Central Australia will receive much-needed dental outreach services in Laramba, Tennant Creek and Ti Tree over the next two weeks. Three teams of dental professionals completed their orientation in Alice Springs, supported by the local Central Australian Oral Health Service, before travelling to communities to treat children under the age of 16 years. They are part of the Helping Hands Project funded by the Commonwealth Government Intervention's follow-up for children who have had health checks or are eligible for them.

Precautionary advice for drinking water (water boil alert) was issued on 16 February 2009 for thePalumpa Community due to the high level of floodwaters surrounding the community's water supply. The alert was lifted on 19 February 2009.

Territorians are being asked to be alert for measles following a confirmed case of the disease in Darwin this week. The person acquired the measles overseas and returned to Darwin on Jetstar flight JQ74 from Ho Chi Minh City at 6.15 a.m. on Wednesday 4 February 2009. The person visited Casuarina Square shopping centre on the afternoon of 5 February and again on 9 February.

A milestone agreement between Alice Springs Hospital and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (the "Eye and Ear") will enable the better delivery of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) services in Central Australia. The agreement enables teams of specialists from the Eye and Ear to regularly visit Alice Springs in 2009 to provide ENT care in the Hospital and at some specialist clinics in remote Aboriginal communities. The specialist teams from the Eye and Ear will visit for one week each month throughout 2009.

With well-publicised epidemics of dengue fever currently affecting far North Queensland, the NT Department of Health and Families (DHF) has reassured the public that there is no risk of dengue being acquired in the NT. "Transmission of the dengue virus from mosquitoes to humans has not occurred in the NT since the late 1950s," explained DHF Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Steven Skov. "This is largely due to meticulous surveillance and mosquito control programs being run by the Entomology Unit in the Department".

A Melbourne-based husband and wife dental team have begun providing an increased level of oral health services to Tennant Creek residents. They are working locally this week, then returning in early March to operate on a two weeks on-two weeks off timetable that will include a week in Borroloola about every three months. The arrangements are a result of the Department of Health and Families' flexible contract and recruitment policies developed to meet clinical skill shortages in regional and remote locations.

Reducing the likelihood of crime recidivism by addressing issues around substance abuse is the aim of a new rehabilitation service which is providing short-term Darwin prisoners with alcohol and other drug assessment, counselling and group work programs. The 'Alcohol and other Drugs Prison In-Reach Program' is located at the Darwin Correctional Centre and provides intervention and treatment to the men's, women's and juvenile detention centres.

The NT Department of Health and Families (DHF) has issued a warning for the potentially fatal Murray Valley encephalitis virus disease for the whole of the NT. Recent evidence from sentinel chicken testing carried out by the Berrimah Farm Veterinary Laboratories in Darwin indicated the start of the Murray Valley encephalitis virus season. Historically, February to June is the peak period for Murray Valley encephalitis virus activity in the NT.

The Rotary Club of Darwin North will honour the first baby born on Australia Day 2009 at Royal Darwin Hospital on Monday. The baby will receive the Auntie Billy christening cup named in honour of the late Norma "Billy" Pitscheneder.

Health authorities have raised concerns about people handling bats and risking exposure to the potentially fatal disease, Australian Bat Lyssavirus, following a recent segment on the television program, "Outback Wildlife Rescue". Lyssavirus is a close relative of the rabies virus and may be carried by Australian fruit or insectivorous bats. Lyssavirus is usually transmitted to humans via bites or scratches that provide direct access of the virus in bat saliva to breaks in the skin and exposed tissue and through mucous membranes.

Residents in the Barkly region are being urged to protect themselves against mosquitoes after the recent rain to prevent cases of Ross River virus (RRV) and Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) disease. The main mosquitoes that transmit RRV and MVEV in the Barkly region area are the common banded mosquito and the floodwater mosquito while the receptacle breeding mosquito is also known to potentially infect humans with RRV.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released a report that details both significant health improvements and challenges for the Northern Territory's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Report is entitled "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2008 report: detailed analyses".

The Daly Waters water supply is once again safe to drink. The Environmental Health branch of the Department of Health and Families (DHF) has lifted the Precautionary Advice for Drinking Water (Water Boil Alert) for Daly Waters after samples from the community's water supply were confirmed today as being free of any harmful bacteria.

Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) is experiencing significantly higher than usual demand for emergency services over the holiday period. There have been up to 190 Emergency Department attendances per day, compared to an average of 150 per day last year. As a consequence, more emergency surgery has had to be performed and admissions to acute beds have also increased significantly.

Getting the medicine you need is now safer and easier with the introduction of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to public hospitals in the Northern Territory. The PBS was developed by the Australian Government to ensure that all Australian residents and eligible visitors have access to the necessary and life-saving medicines at an affordable price.

Having regular mammograms and being 'breast aware' is improving women's chances of surviving breast cancer according to breastscreenNT Manager Christine Tyzack. The message comes as the Department of Health and Families breastscreenNT service announced it is taking bookings for a free mammogram from women in the Darwin region.

A precautionary advice for drinking water (water boil alert) was issued today for the Daly Waters Community following the detection of the E.coli bacteria in the community's water supply.

The Department of Health and Families is renewing its warning to Top End residents and visitors to protect themselves from the potentially life-threatening disease melioidosis. DHF Centre for Disease Control Director, Dr Vicki Krause, said melioidosis is an environmental bacterium and a common cause of serious pneumonia and blood poisoning in the Top End.

The Department of Health and Families has warned Territorians of the dangers of taking medications or tablets that have not been prescribed for them personally. The warning comes as three people in the last 2 months have become ill and been admitted to Royal Darwin Hospital after taking a Chinese medication, Nangen Zengzhangsu, which is claimed to enhance sexual function.

The Cornish review was commissioned by the Department of Health and Families to consider and provide advice on improving the aeromedical services in the Northern Territory. The review made several recommendations including implementing a centralised system to coordinate aeromedical retrievals and reviewing the current contract with the company who provides the aircraft for the service.

In early 2008, Australian Health Ministers, through the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council, commissioned Deloitte to develop a strategic framework and plan to guide national coordination and collaboration in E-Health. As part of this process, Deloitte conducted a series of national consultations which included Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments, general practitioners, medical specialists, nursing and allied health, pathology, radiology and pharmacy sectors, health information specialists, health service managers, researchers, academics and consumers.

Five nurses (the largest group ever) are graduating from the Flinders University External Education Critical Care Course this week with an overall mark of distinction. Ms Bronwyn Taylor, Nursing Director Clinical  & Recruitment said the result is outstanding and demonstrates the commitment the Alice Springs Hospital has to professional development and standards of excellence for Intensive Care Unit patients. All five nurses were originally recruits to Alice Springs from overseas and interstate.

Rabies has been diagnosed in dogs on the Indonesian island of Bali and the Department of Health and Families is warning Territorians visiting the island of the increased health risk. The disease was found in two dogs from the Kuta area - a popular region for Australian tourists. Bali had previously been considered free of rabies. Acting Director of the Centre for Disease Control Dr Peter Markey said Bali authorities have taken steps to control the situation.

Territorians are again being warned against entering the water after a three-year-old girl from a remote community was stung by an adult box jellyfish. The girl collapsed after becoming severely envenomated in shallow water and was rushed to the local health centre by her family. Dr Paul Spillane, a visiting GP to the community, said she was lucky to survive.

An updated poster from the NT Centre for Disease Control gives child care centres, schools and preschools a list of all infectious diseases and their exclusion periods from school and childcare for children and staff. The exclusion periods are based on National Health and Medical Research Guidelines and also apply to children who may have come into contact with an infected child.

A precautionary advice for drinking water (water boil alert) was issued today to Palumpa following the detection of the E.coli bacteria in the community's water supply. The Department of Health and Families (DHF) today confirmed that precautionary measures were being taken to ensure that the water supply was safe to drink again as quickly as possible.

A doctor who will provide clinical, academic and research leadership has been appointed to the position of Director of Medical Services and Education at Royal Darwin Hospital. Royal Darwin Hospital General Manager Dr Len Notaras, AM, said Dr Peter Satterthwaite will take up the position from today.

Death rates from cervical cancer have plummeted among Territory women according to a new report released by the Department of Health and Families (DHF). 'Cancer Incidence and Mortality, Northern Territory 1991-2005' provides information on the trends in cancer rates over a fifteen year period. During that time there was a 64% decline in cervical cancer death rates among non-Indigenous women and an even greater 92% decline among Indigenous women in the Territory.

A Nhulunbuy midwife has been recognised nationally - receiving the 2008 "Hospital Midwife Excellence Award" in Adelaide earlier this month. The award recognises the significant contribution that Ms Louise Pool as a rural midwife has made and the strength she has shown in overcoming the challenges of practicing outside a big maternity hospital.

Residents in the Alice Springs region are being urged to step up protection against mosquitoes after the recent rain to prevent cases of disease caused by Ross River virus (RRV), Barmah Forest virus (BFV), Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) and Kunjin virus (KUNV). The main mosquito that transmits RRV, BFV, MVEV and KUNV in the Alice area is the common banded mosquito, Culex annulirostris. The floodwater mosquito, Aedes normanensis can also transmit RRV, BFV and MVEV, and the receptacle breeding mosquito, Aedes notoscriptus, is a potential vector for RRV.

Several Northern Territory doctors and nurses have travelled to the town of Oe-cusse in East Timor to help screen the local population for leprosy. The NT team attended a leprosy workshop sponsored by The Leprosy Mission International, World Health Organization and East Timor Ministry of Health and then assisted in community screening programs.

Traditional indigenous art is being used by health professionals in Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) to teach local people about essential body systems and good health. The art was commissioned by the Department of Health and Families and painted by artists from the Injalak Arts and Crafts Association in Gunbalanya - approximately 300km East of Darwin.

A team of nine dental clinicians are in Gove this week as part of the Helping Hands Oral Health Project.The project is part of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) to assist with the current demand for dental treatment in the Territory. It follows a week of dental surgery at Gove in September, Katherine in June and July and Alice Springs in May and August.

Top Enders are being reminded not to enter the sea because of the risk of box jellyfish and Irukandji stings after seven people with sting injuries were treated at Gove District Hospital in the last two weeks. In separate incidents one adult and one child were stung by Irukandji jellyfish while one adult and four children were stung by box jellyfish.

Territorians in the Top End are being warned to cover up and protect themselves against a predicted increase in the number of salt marsh mosquitoes between October 22 and November 3. The warning comes as the recent rains combined with the highest tide so far this year have resulted in high numbers of salt marsh mosquito breeding in coastal swamps around Shoal Bay.

A recent neap tide and a full moon will launch a week-long plague of bloodthirsty biting midges across the north coast of the Territory. The coming plague has prompted the Department of Health and Families (DHF) to urge Territorians to avoid problem areas and take self-protection measures during next week.

The Papunya water supply is once again safe to drink.The Environmental Health branch of the Department of Health and Families (DHF) has lifted the Precautionary Advice for Drinking Water (Water Boil Alert) for Papunya after samples from the community's water supply were confirmed today as being free of any harmful bacteria.

A precautionary advice for drinking water (water boil alert) was issued today to Papunya following the detection of the E.coli bacteria in the community's water supply. The Department of Health and Families (DHF) today confirmed that precautionary measures were being taken to ensure that the water supply was safe to drink again as quickly as possible.

A new initiative is being launched to encourage Registered Nurses who are interested in renal nursing to obtain a postgraduate qualification and to improve the recruitment and retention of nurses in the Northern Territory. The program is being offered in partnership between the Department of Health and Families and Charles Darwin University.

The annual influenza season has arrived in the NT and health authorities are encouraging the public to get vaccinated. The Director of the Centre for Disease Control, Dr Vicki Krause, said: "Our surveillance systems looking at Emergency Department visits, GP attendances and laboratory data have seen a rise in influenza cases across the NT."

A Katherine Hospital doctor will undertake his penultimate trial when he runs across the Sahara Desert in seven days during October for the "4 Deserts" challenge. The "4 Deserts" race is an international sporting event consisting of a series of seven-day, 250-kilometre footraces across four of the largest, most forbidding deserts in the world - Atacama, South America; Gobi, China; Sahara, Africa; and Antarctica.

A new campaign urging young Territorians to practice Safe Sex in a bid to reduce the rates of STIs across this age group will be unveiled today. The 12 month Safe Sex No Regrets campaign includes television advertising, posters, pamphlets, a website and a screensaver to promote safe sex messages and raise awareness of the importance of regular sexual health checks.

The Pirlangimpi (Pularumpi, Garden Point) water supply is once again safe to drink.The Department of Health and Families (DHF) has lifted the precautionary advice for drinking water (Water Boil Alert) for Pirlangimpi after samples from the community's water supply were confirmed today as being free of any harmful bacteria.

Statement from Dr David Ashbridge, Chief Executive Department of Health and Families.

Smiles have been bigger, cleaner and whiter in Wadeye since "Good Teeth - Clean Teeth Week" began on September 1. Activities during the week have included a DVD launch, checks and treatment by the Dental Therapist and Aboriginal Health Workers, discounts on toothbrushes and toothpaste and a Clean Teeth Blitz.

A precautionary advice for drinking water (water boil alert) was issued today to Pirlangimpi following the detection of the E.coli bacteria in the community's water supply. The Department of Health and Families (DHF) today confirmed that precautionary measures were being taken to ensure that the water supply was safe to drink again as quickly as possible.

Medical Entomologists from the NT Department of Health and Families can now accurately predict the timing and number of Ross River Virus (RRV) cases in the Darwin region up to one month in advance. The entomologists created a model involving more than 15 years of weekly mosquito collections from 11 traps in the Darwin area and takes into account rainfall, average minimal temperature and mosquito numbers.

The annual influenza season has arrived in the Northern Territory and the Department of Health and Families Centre for Disease Control is urging the public to get vaccinated.    "Our surveillance systems looking at Emergency Department visits and laboratory data indicate that influenza is on the rise, particularly in Alice Springs," said Dr Vicki Krause Director of the Centre for Disease Control.

The doors of the Northern Rehabilitation Network (NRN) will be opened to the public today as part of Disability Awareness Week. The week provides the community with an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of people living with disability and the important contributions they make to their local areas.

The Department of Health and Families visiting breastscreenNT service will be holding free breast screening clinics at the Public Screening Facility at Gove District Hospital from 25th August to 5th September. Territory women aged 50-69 years are encouraged to have a mammogram (breast x-ray) every two years to screen for breast cancers.

Around 100,000 Australian children wet the bed last night but bedwetting is a treatable condition which may be cured with the use of an alarm system according to the Department of Health and Families. Although most people grow out of Bedwetting - medically referred to as nocturnal enuresis  - it continues to affect some people into adulthood.

Northern Territory school kids will be asked to help produce the best music video clip as part of the Department of Health and Families (DHF) "No Germs on Me" campaign. The No Germs on Me campaign raises awareness of the importance of handwashing and hygiene in schools, at home and in the community to prevent the spread of diarrhoeal and respiratory illness.

What do you get when 300,000 Australians walk 1km down the road at the same time? A Guinness World Record on 1 September 2008...if the NT steps up to the challenge! Western Australia set the World Record in 2006 with over 100,000 people walking one kilometre at the same time. They were beaten by more than 230,000 Canadians last year and this year Australia wants to win back the title.

The NT Department of Health and Families along with TIO support August Seniors Month each year and encourage senior Territorians to try new things, meet new friends and live an active, healthy life. This year, Alzheimer's Australia and Darwin Wedding Dance are holding four sessions during Seniors month for older Territorians to learn a different dance step each week.

Christo the Magician will bring laughter and magic to the children at the Royal Darwin Hospital tomorrow.The Amazing Christo has performed for many years in the Australian entertainment industry as well as oversees and is this week giving the Top End's sick children a very special performance.

Palmerston Community Care Centre recently opened the new  ��Well Baby Clinic � at Humpty Doo. The outreach service, provided by Child and Family Health Nurses will be held once a week at Humpty Doo to support families in the area. The Well Baby Clinic provides brief interventions on a drop-in basis, no appointments are necessary.

TWO Centralians will travel overseas in the name of research.The Department of Health and Families employees, Eileen Van Iersel and Prue Walker were awarded Fellowships from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust last week.Both Eileen Van Iersel and Prue Walker must spend a minimum four-weeks overseas researching projects or issues that cannot be conducted in Australia.

Parents in the Katherine region are being urged to ensure that both they and their children are vaccinated against pertussis (whooping cough). Infants are the most vulnerable to the complications of pertussis and already this year in the NT there have been 13 children under 12 months of age, the majority of whom have been hospitalised.

As the full moon rises in the night sky, people with Rheumatic Fever in Katherine will turn into their local community clinic for their needles!Acute Rheumatic Fever is one of the leading causes of heart disease in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander youth today.

After several years of design and development, NT hospitals have launched a state of the art Operating Theatre Management System. The new Operating theatre system is now live in four NT hospitals. Tennant Creek Hospital implementation is being finalised.

Five midwifery students have today graduated as midwives from Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH).The 12-month employed clinical program which started in 2006 is a joint Northern Territory Government and Charles Darwin University initiative aimed at encouraging NT nurses to study midwifery.

A new safety campaign by the Department of Health and Community Services is being rolled out in the lead up to Territory Day.Fact sheets with information and advice on safe fireworks use and injury prevention will be available at all fireworks distributors on Tuesday July 1.

Residents of Nhulunbuy will be able to hear better now that Audiologist Peggy Aguirre has passed her Australian eligibility exam. Mrs Aguirre has worked as an Audiologist in the United States for over 30 years but moved to Nhulunbuy in November after her husband got a job as a safety consultant for Rio Tinto.

A new mental health initiative for youth will be launched in Palmerston this afternoon. Headspace Top End has been funded by the National Youth Mental Health Initiative to recognise and respond to young people experiencing mental health, substance use and other health issues.

Imagine molten metal pouring into your hands and causing third degree burns. Severe burn victims know the feeling all to well and Burns Awareness Week from June 23 to 27 is a time to teach Territorians about burns prevention and treatment.

Drug Action Week kicks off this Monday with activities right around the Territory. The theme of the week this year is "Alcohol is a drug    - TOO!"    - emphasising the negative effects of alcohol on the body and its potential for addiction.

Burns Awareness Week will be launched with a fire engine and displays of burns victims & how to treat burns. Territorians are being reminded to take precautions against burns during Burns Awareness Week and in preparation for Territory Day.

Alice Springs Hospital today took the precautionary step of removing a substance from the Pathology building that had become potentially unstable.

Parents across the NT are being urged to ensure that both they and their children are vaccinated against pertussis (whooping cough). Infants are the most vulnerable to the complications of pertussis and already this year in the NT there have been 12 children under 12 months of age, 11 of whom have been hospitalised.

Children from Oenpelli and Maningrida will fly in to Katherine this week for dental treatment.The four-day blitz is part of the Northern Territory Emergency Response.

The National E-Health and Information Principal Committee (NEHIPC), asubcommittee of the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council (AHMAC),recently commissioned Deloitte to develop a national e-health strategy.NEHIPC is responsible for providing advice on e-health and informationstrategies, and promoting collaboration between the Commonwealth, Statesand Territories to implement these strategies.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are less likely to die from bowel cancer than non-Indigenous people according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The Department of Health and Community Services is warning Territorians that they could have 90% kidney failure before any symptoms appear.

The John James Memorial Foundation visit last week has been hailed a success with almost 90 patients in the Katherine region seen by specialists.

A unique garden that will provide clients and visitors to the Royal Darwin Hospice with a space for quiet reflection will be officially opened tomorrow to mark Palliative Care Awareness Week.

Social workers like Gemma Smyth are rarely recognised despite the impact they have on hundreds of lives..

An interactive computer CD encouraging young adults to practise good oral health is launched.

The Department of Health and Community Services is pleased to announce that Tennant Creek Hospital has been awarded continuing accreditation by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS).

The Minister for Family and Community Services will today open the second National Indigenous Dialysis & Transplant Symposium at Sky City.

Medical specialists from the John James Memorial Foundation will visit Katherine and surrounding community clinics to carry out a one-week blitz of healthcare.

In harmony with National Families Week the Department of Health and Community Services Family and Children Services (FACS) Program and the Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory have collaborated to launch the multicultural parenting resource Strong Families Sharing Cultural Parenting Knowledge.

The implementation of the nation's first fully electronic prescription service in Darwin is delivering improvements in aged care

Australia's first fully electronic prescription service that delivers a new-age in prescribing was launched in Darwin today.

A team of ten oral health professionals will shortly be arriving in Alice Springs to work alongside local oral health teams as part of the Australian Government emergency response.

The Department of Health and Community Services (DHCS) Centre for Disease Control Dr Vicki Krause today officially announced the successful eradication of the dengue mosquito on Groote Eylandt.

The NT Department of Health and Community Services (DHCS) has issued a warning for the potentially fatal Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) virus disease, and Kunjin virus disease for the Top End of the NT, including the Katherine region, from now until the end of June.

The Territory's first Medical Education and Training Summit has delivered a practical action plan to attract, train and educate more doctors over the next decade, including making the Territory the home of the generalist doctor.

In the recently published sexual health and blood borne virus unit surveillance report (July-Dec 07), data has highlighted a significant drop in the number of sexually transmitted diseases in the under 14 years age bracket, when compared with the previous six months (Jan-June 07).

A Nursing and Midwifery Futures Forum will be held tomorrow to identify a strategy for recruiting, retaining and educating nurses and midwifes in the Territory up until 2018.

Hundreds of Child and Paediatric health professionals from around the world converged on Darwin today for the 10th International Paediatric and Child Health Nursing Conference.

A Royal Darwin Hospital doctor has shared first place honours in Australia �™s Emergency Medicine exams on his way to becoming an Emergency Department specialist.

Setting a blueprint for the future education, training and management of the NT �™s medical workforce will be the focus of a Department of Health and Community Services summit to be held in Darwin later this month.

The Department of Health and Community Services is proud to acknowledge the appointment of Dr Christine Connors to the recently announced Australian Government National Preventative Health Taskforce.

Partnership between Aboriginal Health Services and the Department of Health and Community Services. The roll-out of the Shared Electronic Health Record, a major eHealthNT initiative that is linking up the health system, will deliver the 20,000th consumer registration in Alice Springs at an event at Central Australian Aboriginal Congress.

Territorians wanting to nominate a nurse or midwife for the Territory's annual Nursing Awards better be quick, as nominations close this week.

The Department of Health and Community Services is utilising converted shipping containers to construct new safe houses in remote communities, however as yet none are in use.

The Department of Health and Community Services today refuted claims sexual health services in Alice Springs had been cut back.

The Laramba (Napperby) water supply is once again safe to drink.

A precautionary advice for drinking water (water boil alert) was issued today to Laramba (Napperby) community following the detection of the e-coli bacteria in the community's water supply.

Territorians are this week being encouraged to 'get immunised'.

Health professionals from around the country have responded to the call for "helping hands for Aboriginal health" to deliver the remaining child health checks and follow-up treatments across the Territory.

Parents across the NT are being urged to ensure that both they and their children are vaccinated against pertussis (whooping cough). Four children in the Darwin region under 6 months of age have been diagnosed with whooping cough this year, 3 of these children were hospitalised.

Shyne Brenton of Nakara is in the running for the 2008 NT Young Achievers Award.

Territorians are being encouraged to nominate an outstanding nurse or midwife for the 2008 Northern Territory Nursing and Midwifery Awards.

Updates from February 12th - 21st on the condition of President Jose Ramos Horta while at Royal Darwin Hospital.

The call has been issued nationally for doctors, nurses, audiologists, dentists and primary health carers to complete child health checks and deliver follow-up treatment to Aboriginal children in remote Northern Territory communities.

Senior Surgeons at the Royal Darwin Hospital have successfully carried out further surgery on President Jose Ramos Horta today

Territorians are urged to become an organ donor to save or improve the lives of up to 10 people during Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week.Almost 2,000 Australians are on the waiting list to receive an organ transplant while each year an average of only 200 donors provide organs to those who are waiting.

President Jose Ramos-Horta continues to make a steady recovery in Royal Darwin Hospital. He is scheduled for a further operation tomorrow and will make a full recovery from the bullet wounds he sustained last Monday in Dili.

Timor-Leste President Dr Jose Ramos HortaThe president is still in a serious but stable condition. He is being sedated to help with recovery. He will undergo further surgery today and will remain sedated until at least next week. The President needs to continue to rest and recover and the doctors are pleased with his progress.Timor-Leste Military Officer Lieutenant Celestino GomesLieutenant Gomes is in a stable condition and has undergone further surgery. Lieutenant Gomes has been assessed by first class neurosurgeons and is continually monitored.

At the moment the President is progressing along an expected clinical course in the intensive care unit. There have been no complications and we are very pleased with his progress to this point. We expect that over the next few days he will emerge from the sedation that he's been under and will progress towards coming off the breathing machine that he's on. The wounds that were caused by the gunshots have to be revisited over a number of occasions and the dressings changed and that is a routine and that's progressing nicely and that will continue to happen until the wounds are completely healed.Dr Dianne Stephens, Director Intensive Care Unit, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory.It is anticipated the next update will be available 15 February 2008

February 14 is Valentine's Day and National Condom Day's an opportune time to remind Territorians to practice safe sex and use a condom.

The current condition of President Ramos-Horta is that he remains in Royal Darwin Hospital in a serious but stable condition. He remains in the intensive care unit at the hospital and as mentioned his condition remains stable at this stage.Dr Len Notaras, General Manager, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern TerritoryIt is anticipated that the next update will be available at 9am Central Standard Time 13 February 2008

Territorians are being asked to be alert for measles after it was confirmed an infected person passed through Darwin Airport on the 26th of January.

The Department of Health and Community Services today commenced an investigation into two sentinel events that recently occurred where patients in remote areas died before they could be airlifted for hospital treatment.

The disability sector in the Northern Territory will be receiving specialist training over the next two weeks in both Darwin and Alice Springs.

People who engage in risky sex are being reminded to play it safe to avoid Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).Manager of the NT Government's Sexual Health Program, Wendy Armstrong said using condoms is still the best protection against sexually transmitted infections.

The Areyonga community water supply is once again safe to drink.

A precautionary advice for drinking water (water boil alert) was issued today to Areyonga community following the detection of the e-coli bacteria in the community's water supply.

Territorians are being urged to clean up around their properties and wear protective clothing while outside in mosquito prone situations to avoid contracting Ross River virus.

A new research project is being undertaken in the Territory to examine the application of presumptive treatment for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Central Australia, led by the Territory's expert Advisory Group on Sexual Health.

The Rotary Club of Darwin North will honour the first baby born on Australia Day 2008 at Royal Darwin Hospital tomorrow.

A review, commissioned by the Department of Health and Community Services, that looks at the training needs of doctors and aims to provide more opportunities for undergraduate and post graduate medical students has been released today.

A new portable ultrasound machine, the size of a laptop computer, is taking medical technology to patients in remote areas of the Northern Territory.

The Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services is reminding Territorians not to enter the sea because of the risk of box jellyfish stings.

The Department of Health and Community Services is renewing its warning to Top End residents and visitors to protect themselves from the potentially life-threatening disease melioidosis.

Territorians are signing up to participate in an electronic system which is connecting health services under the eHealth NT program. The eHealth NT Shared Electronic Health Record allows individuals to have their important health information stored in a secure repository, accessible from multiple health sites, with their consent. The Territory is a national leader in the implementation of the new system.

The Department Health and Community Services is warning consumers not to buy or consume the Piranha brand of vegetarian cracker snack foods as it may contain unusually high levels of a naturally occurring compound that could cause severe adverse reactions, especially in children.

Territorians are advised to take precautions to avoid contracting melioidosis from groundwater following heavy rains caused by Cyclone Helen and to avoid any water contaminated by sewage from overflowing septic tanks, particularly in the rural area.