Latest news with #public health
South China Morning Post
21 hours ago
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Is Asia's cleaner air driving global warming?
Global warming has picked up pace since around 2010, leading to the recent string of record hot years. Why this is happening is still unclear and is among the biggest questions in climate science today. Our new study reveals that reductions in air pollution – particularly in China and East Asia – are a key reason for this faster warming. Advertisement Clean-up of sulphur emissions from global shipping has been implicated in past research. But that clean-up only began in 2020, so it is considered too weak to explain the full extent of this acceleration. Nasa researchers have suggested that changes in clouds could play a role, either through reductions in cloud cover in the tropics or over the North Pacific. One factor that has not been well quantified, however, is the effect of monumental efforts by countries in East Asia , notably China, to combat air pollution and improve public health through strict air quality policies. There has already been a 75 per cent reduction in East Asian sulphur dioxide emissions since around 2013, and that clean-up effort picked up pace just as global warming began accelerating. Our study addresses the link between East Asian air quality improvements and global temperature, building on the efforts of eight teams of climate modellers across the world. Women in traditional Chinese attire use an umbrella to shield themselves from the sun in Shanghai on July 4. Photo: Reuters We have found that polluted air may have been masking the full effects of global warming. Cleaner air could now be revealing more of the human-induced global warming from greenhouse gases.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
UAE: MoF, FTA announce amendment to excise tax on sugar sweetened beverages
The Ministry of Finance and the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) have announced an amendment to the excise tax mechanism applied to sugar sweetened beverages (SSB's), introducing a tiered volumetric model that links the tax value on each litre of a sugar sweetened beverage to its sugar content per 100ml. The higher the sugar content per 100ml, the higher the tax per litre, marking a shift from the flat rate currently applied to these beverages. This amendment is part of the UAE's broader efforts to promote public health, reduce the consumption of high-sugar products, and encourage manufacturers to lower sugar levels in their beverages. The announcement follows a proactive approach aimed at providing suppliers, importers, and stakeholders sufficient time to prepare for the upcoming changes. This includes updating internal systems, reviewing product formulations, and ensuring that their records with the Federal Tax Authority are aligned with the requirements of the enhanced model. The updated mechanism is scheduled to take effect at the beginning of 2026, pending the issuance of the relevant implementing legislation. The Ministry of Finance stated that this enhanced model reflects the UAE's commitment to adopting flexible financial and legislative tools that promote healthy lifestyles. Unlike the previous model, which was based on product classification, the new system ties the tax rate directly to the level of sugar content, and by extension, to the associated health impact. This approach incentivises manufacturers to reduce sugar levels and empowers consumers to make more informed dietary choices. This direction also supports efforts to strengthen Gulf-wide tax policy integration and reinforces the use of taxation as a strategic tool to advance sustainable development goals. The Ministry confirmed that comprehensive awareness campaigns will be launched—jointly with the Federal Tax Authority and relevant health and regulatory entities—to ensure a smooth transition and full readiness across the business ecosystem once the legislative tool is in place. Notably, the system was developed in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and Prevention to ensure alignment with national health objectives and to deliver measurable improvements in dietary consumption patterns. Businesses across the UAE will be granted sufficient time to prepare for the implementation of the new mechanism. Additional details will be announced in the coming period to support businesses in achieving full compliance with the updated policy.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Ministry of Finance and Federal Tax Authority announce amendment to excise tax on sugar sweetened beverages through introduction of a tiered volumetric model
UAE, The Ministry of Finance and the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) have announced an amendment to the excise tax mechanism applied to sugar sweetened beverages (SSB's), introducing a tiered volumetric model that links the tax value on each litre of a sugar sweetened beverage to its sugar content per 100ml. The higher the sugar content per 100ml, the higher the tax per litre, marking a shift from the flat rate currently applied to these beverages. This amendment is part of the UAE's broader efforts to promote public health, reduce the consumption of high-sugar products, and encourage manufacturers to lower sugar levels in their beverages. The announcement follows a proactive approach aimed at providing suppliers, importers, and stakeholders sufficient time to prepare for the upcoming changes. This includes updating internal systems, reviewing product formulations, and ensuring that their records with the Federal Tax Authority are aligned with the requirements of the enhanced model. The updated mechanism is scheduled to take effect at the beginning of 2026, pending the issuance of the relevant implementing legislation. The Ministry of Finance stated that this enhanced model reflects the UAE's commitment to adopting flexible financial and legislative tools that promote healthy lifestyles. Unlike the previous model, which was based on product classification, the new system ties the tax rate directly to the level of sugar content, and by extension, to the associated health impact. This approach incentivises manufacturers to reduce sugar levels and empowers consumers to make more informed dietary choices. This direction also supports efforts to strengthen Gulf-wide tax policy integration and reinforces the use of taxation as a strategic tool to advance sustainable development goals. The Ministry confirmed that comprehensive awareness campaigns will be launched—jointly with the Federal Tax Authority and relevant health and regulatory entities—to ensure a smooth transition and full readiness across the business ecosystem once the legislative tool is in place. Notably, the system was developed in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and Prevention to ensure alignment with national health objectives and to deliver measurable improvements in dietary consumption patterns. Businesses across the UAE will be granted sufficient time to prepare for the implementation of the new mechanism. Additional details will be announced in the coming period to support businesses in achieving full compliance with the updated policy.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
MPI accuses researchers of scaremongering over campylobacter death rates
More people are ending up in hospital with campylobacter infection, which is predominantly caused by contaminated fresh chicken meat. Photo: c 2106 Mark Stout Too many people are still ending up sick and in hospital from contaminated fresh chicken meat, public health professionals say. New analysis released by the Public Health Communication Centre (PHCC) on Thursday shows hospitalisation rates for campylobacter infection have increased by almost 70 percent in 17 years. The study found contaminated fresh chicken meat remained the dominant source, causing an estimated 77 percent of infections. But the Ministry of Primary Industries has disputed the figures and is accusing the researchers of scaremongering. The PHCC study noted that, in 2007, regulatory measures were introduced to reduce contamination levels in fresh chicken meat tested in processing plants. Rates of both hospitalisation and notification halved in just a few months as a result. But since 2008, contaminated chicken in New Zealand caused more than 600,000 symptomatic illnesses, over 9000 hospitalisations, at least 60 deaths and around $1.4 billion in economic costs. Lead author, University of Otago professor Michael Baker, said that in 2023, the year with the most recent data, there were nearly a thousand hospitalisations. "By any means this is a very consequential health problem and we feel it needs a much more vigorous response." Government agencies were "too complacent" about the increasing rates of campylobacter infection caused by contaminated chicken, he added. "If you saw a 70 percent rise in our most common foodborne disease surely you'd be putting a lot of effort into investigating that to figure out what's going on, and I'm not aware of any effort going into that. One of the major problems that we're seeing is our agencies have become very complacent about this infection." University of Otago professor Michael Baker. Photo: Supplied / Luke Pilkinton-Ching The government should consider a formal inquiry into this serious, long-term regulatory failure, Baker said. "The large Havelock North waterborne outbreak of campylobacter infection [in 2016] resulted in an exhaustive inquiry and a complete reorganisation of the drinking water supply sector. That common source outbreak caused about 7570 cases. By comparison, the 'common source' epidemic caused by contaminated chicken meat results in the equivalent of a Havelock North-sized outbreak every three months in NZ, or 80 such outbreaks since 2008." But Food Safety's deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle disagreed with the PHCC's analysis, arguing that between 2006 and 2020 reported rates of foodborne campylobacter infections had halved. These figures were based on public notifications of infections provided by the health system, he said. "In 2020 New Zealand Food Safety set the target of reducing the rate by a further 20 percent. This milestone was reached at the end of 2024, when rates of foodborne campylobacter infections acquired in New Zealand fell to 70 cases per 100,000. The drop in infection was thanks to a "concerted effort over many years" from government, scientists and industry throughout the supply chain, he said. "New Zealand has made considerable reductions in campylobacter infections. We keep an open mind about changes that can further reduce campylobacteria infection, which is a serious foodborne illness, but will not consider changes that are not founded on good evidence." Arbuckle accepted more people were ending up in hospital with campylobacter but says that was partly because they had put off going to the GP and got sicker, he said. He also agreed that campylobacteriosis was "the most common, significant foodborne illness in New Zealand". But he said data suggested "a continued downward reduction due to the sustained efforts between industry, health authorities, the regulator and other parts of the sector such as retail". "The prevalence [of campylobacteriosis] is reducing, it's not where people would like it to be, but some of the content in this report is simply erroneous and alarmist, particularly the comments about deaths attributed - the simple fact is that ... since 2007 we've had three recorded cases of death where campylobacteriosis was the principle single contributing factor, not 60 as he [Baker] suggests. "If New Zealand was experiencing the level of deaths directly attributable to campylobacteriosis at the numbers that the authors suggest, there would be an outcry." But Baker said that deaths from campylobacter infection were generally poorly diagnosed and recorded. By looking at hospital discharge data, however, the researchers were able to get an indication of deaths in hospital with 60 reported deaths for patients with a discharge diagnosis of campylobacter infection as the principal or additional diagnosis over the 14-year period from 2008 to 2021, an average of 4.3 per year. An additional estimated 12 deaths from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) from this source took the total to 68 in the 17-year period, or four per year. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
MoHAP wins Government Accelerators Award for Hayat Organ Donation Programme
UAE, Dubai: The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has won the Government Accelerators Award for the National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue 'Hayat' · Part of the Government Accelerators initiative overseen by the Prime Minister's Office, the award recognizes 'Hayat's measurable outcomes and broad societal impact, particularly its success in increasing the number of registered organ donors. 'Hayat' has become as an innovative national model for public health awareness, advancing community engagement and public health promotion by furthering integration between federal and local entities. The initiative encourages creative, out-of-the-box solutions to overcome traditional work models and enhance government agility in delivering high-quality healthcare services, in line with the 'We the UAE 2031' vision. Increasing donor registrations The first phase of the programme was launched in the Emirate of Fujairah as a pilot platform within a 100-day framework, aiming to increase donor registration rates by 50%. Through the collaborative efforts across 36 local entities in the emirate, the Ministry succeeded in surpassing this target by over 20%. The success was driven by the adoption of innovative promotional strategies that enhanced the impact and human dimension of health awareness messaging. Awareness workshops held at the Majlis of H.H. Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, along with the engagement of the Fujairah Youth Council, the Federal Youth Authority, universities, ministries, and healthcare entities, played a key role in the programme's success. They also highlighted the effectiveness of the Government Accelerators model in delivering transformative societal change. Innovative technologies Building on the success in Fujairah, Hayat expanded to cover Northern Emirates, thanks to the flexibility and scalability of the model. The project continued to deliver impactful results by producing compelling visual content documenting donor and recipient stories. The programme's success was further amplified by strategic government partnerships and the integration of behavioral insights and artificial intelligence into intervention design. These efforts aimed to increase public awareness and donor registration rates, exemplifying how the synergy between behavioral innovation and digital transformation can enhance public health and quality of life in the UAE. MoHAP's win reaffirms its commitment to aligning its projects with national approaches aimed at enhancing quality of life and promoting the principles of sustainable health. Through innovative initiatives, the Ministry seeks to solidify the UAE's position as a leading hub in global health indicators, in line with the nation's vision for a brighter and healthier future. From advancing life-saving healthcare services, such as organ transplantation for patients with organ failure, to offering renewed hope and a second chance at life and unifying as well as strengthening national efforts in this vital field, MoHAP continues to play a key role in enhancing the overall health and well-being of the wider community. Institutional models This achievement aligns with the Ministry's strategic goals to strengthen prevention, preparedness, and effective response, while driving innovation in healthcare services. The project also reflects MoHAP's efforts to maximise the value of the Government Accelerators framework, which is designed to fast-track impactful results through collective action, design thinking, and measurable outcomes. The Ministry stressed that it is committed to launching priority health initiatives by applying integrated institutional models that activate strategic partnerships and implement practical solutions. These efforts aim to build greater public awareness around organ and tissue donation, one of the most vital humanitarian practices that help save lives. Turning challenges into opportunities H.E. Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary of Health Regulations Sector, MoHAP, stated that winning the Government Accelerators Award is a testament to the efficiency of the UAE's health system in adopting innovative methodologies that deliver tangible results in record time. He emphasized that the achievement reflects the Ministry's ability to transform challenges into opportunities to develop world-class health policies and programmes through integrated efforts and a unified team spirit, thereby supporting health sustainability and reinforcing the UAE's leadership in the regional and global health landscape. H.E. Al Amiri added, 'The Ministry is making strenuous efforts to entrench the culture of organ donation as a progressive humanitarian and societal choice. Through strategic partnerships with public and private entities and broad community engagement, MoHAP is working to expand the reach of the 'Hayat' programme.' He noted that the number of registered donors in the UAE has now surpassed 36,000, reflecting a growing public awareness of the noble value of organ donation and its alignment with the national vision to place human health and wellbeing at the heart of government priorities.
