By: pol_pak
7/05/2008
12:55 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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http://au.biz.yahoo.com/080507/31/1qbrn.html
The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance has described the Northern Territory budget for the next financial year as being 'light' on funding for health services in remote areas.
While welcoming funding for services used by new mothers, AMSANT says more funding should have been allocated to an aeromedical service, community controlled health services and measures to combat chronic disease.
AMSANT's executive officer John Patterson says the only way to improve Indigenous health is to invest in community controlled health care.
He says says the Territory Government needs to loosen its belt when it comes to health spending.
"It's a bit light on from our perspective and the health initiatives. We see there $1 million over five years to deliver antenatal care and maternal health program to mothers. We welcome that, but by crikey, it's a bit short."
"Why are we tightening the belt when there's a huge demand for health care services for Territorians?
"If we want to get on top of this and reduce the waiting list and the demand on hospitals, then we've got to invest. If we want to reduce the burden in the years to come then we've got to invest in preventative measures and health care services."
Mr Patterson says poor funding for the aeromedical service is leading to long delays for sick people in remote communities.
"New planes, more doctors and nurses are desperately needed, but the NT budget has just ignored that. |
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By: pol_pak
7/05/2008
1:16 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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Can AMSANT's executive officer John Patterson advise whether all health services operating on rural communities actually hold or do NOT hold valid leases for their premises - both business and for staff accomodation ?
Many referred to are sited upon land owned by Land Trusts.
AMSANT's executive officer John Patterson can also explain why public funds should be spent whilst Land Trusts maintain roads servicing these communities are private roads, parts of the private kingdoms of the Land Trusts.
Elsewhere in Australia is accepted as expected for Health Services to obtain and demonstrate valid leases for property they use.
John Patterson is correct need is investment, however to obtain the investment we need have valid leases, available.
The aeromedical service is certainly busy which is understandable when realize many communities lack regular public transport.
Certainly we need to invest in preventative measures and health care services, the holistic approach requires we concentrate immediately on establishing leases for people within all these communities, so they as individuals can try to improve things the way they want to.
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By: dalone.ranger
8/05/2008
11:04 am Yahoo! Profile:
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| In Aboriginal communities where they have a clinic, and many do, nobody ever pays. Furthermore the clinics are within walking distance of most inhabitants. In Darwin and other large centres, for most people, walking to see a doctor is unheard of as they are too far away, and you are flat out finding a doctor who bulk bills, and you'll probably have to wait a week anyway. |
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By: pol_pak
8/05/2008
11:46 am Yahoo! Profile:
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Has been revealed that a baby died last week after its family had to walk 10 kilometres from the remote Centralian community of Blackwater to Papunya for medical treatment because the pay phone in Blackwater was removed in 2004.
see: http://au.biz.yahoo.com/080507/31/1qdla.html
Long argued should fit contact phones to all such as housing, so residents can at least dial 000 and receive calls.
Get Telstra to put in and maintain public payphones where they are not economical to place them, and where would not be available to the public, was the answer.
Yet not support to place mobile phone towers along mountains parallel to roads - roads wanted declared public roads to enourage more traffic on them.
Enabling cheap mobile phones to work would place to much cost on people.... so many relations own mobile phones that do not work as soon as they leave alice springs !
Using our HF and UHF radio systems provided similar good and cheap communications most of the time. Where are they now ?
Problem is land councils "everything should be free" psychotics who argue someone else must pay large royalties to install things like these services, dislike idea of issuing leases with $1.oo annual rental periods, so as to quickly obtain the benefit from these services.
Even Traditional Owners are unable to obtain leases for their homes on these communities as Central Land Council mentality prefers keep everyone subject to whimsical rule otherwise known as extortion, in preference to allowing people work towards improving things for themselves.
Exists an everything is free problem, a welfare mentality which promotes belief exists no cost to living; Suggesting any and all costs will be covered by government, by anyone else, so no costs to living in them.
Need attach costs to all services, even if only a nominal eg $1.00 to make clear to people these costs exist.
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By: pol_pak
8/05/2008
11:56 am Yahoo! Profile:
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Telstra's Indigenous Directorate General Manager Laurie Mortimer says not all homelands or outstations will be getting a public phone.
Telstra works closely with the Centre for Appropriate Technology to develop and install special tough phones for these remote communities. Is this expensively ? OK any tough payphones developed which survive communities may work elsewhere and so save money.
However Telstra was very concerned at Futuris/Elders/SingTel plan and the contract they obtained to use mobile phones for their rural internet and phone service to rural areas... cheaper for installation and maintenance than landlines - you smash your mobile you buy another one ! |
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By: pol_pak
11/05/2008
2:01 am Yahoo! Profile:
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Now a phone back in Blackwater.
Who paying for it ?
Have people felt they need the phone enough to pay for it themselves ?
There is a problem with phones acquiring large phone bills, this was resolved elsewhere with contact phones, however telstra and others not keen on contact phones these days.
OK can put a phone in which can ring landlines for 90 per month, however seems can not block calls to mobile and other dollar per minute services, also claims can not block reverse charge calls... though they do not get through to many government numbers...
These difficulties effect ability to budget and pay for phone, difficult stopping others from coming in and using the phone when you are away...
Do not believe exist technical problems preventing solutions which would keep accounts affordable. |
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