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Pregnant New Zealand journalist in Afghanistan can go home, offered official waiver

A pregnant New Zealand journalist who was stranded in Afghanistan by her home country’s COVID-19 border policy said on Tuesday she will return home after her government offered her a pathway back.

The government offer amounted to a backdown by New Zealand after officials had earlier insisted that Charlotte Bellis needed to reapply for a spot in the country’s bottlenecked quarantine hotels.

Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said Bellis had been offered a voucher for a room.

Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.

“I will be returning to my home country New Zealand at the beginning of March to give birth to our baby girl,” Bellis said in a statement. “We are so excited to return home and be surrounded by family and friends at such a special time.”

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Her case had quickly becoming an embarrassment to New Zealand, which has thousands of citizens waiting abroad for space to open in the military-run border quarantine hotels.

Bellis said she wanted to thank fellow New Zealanders for their support and would continue to challenge the government to find a solution to its border controls. She added that she was disappointed the decision was a one-off and didn’t offer a pathway home for other pregnant New Zealanders.

She said on Sunday that each day was a battle. Now 25 weeks pregnant, she said she had tried without success to enter New Zealand via a lottery-style system and then applied for an emergency return, but was rejected.

Chris Bunny, the head of New Zealand’s quarantine system, said the new offer was made to Bellis because Afghanistan was extremely dangerous and there was a risk of terrorism. He said there was a limited ability to help people on the ground, especially after the withdrawal of US forces last year.

“We do acknowledge that Ms Bellis considers herself to be safe and did not seek an allocation on that ground,” Bunny said. “We have the residual discretion to grant allocations in rare and exceptional circumstances.”

Bunny said the publicity surrounding the case was not a deciding factor and the sole consideration was Bellis’s safety.

Bellis, 35, had worked as an Afghanistan correspondent for Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based news network. She resigned in November because it is illegal to be pregnant and unmarried in Qatar.

Bellis then flew to Belgium, trying to get residency in the home country of her partner, freelance photographer Jim Huylebroek, who has lived in Afghanistan for two years. But Bellis said the length of the process would have left her in Belgium with an expired visa.

Hopping from country to country on tourist visas while she waited to have her baby would have cost money and left her without health care, so she and Huylebroek returned to Afghanistan because they had a visa, felt welcome and from there could wage her battle to return to her home.

New Zealand officials said they would add Huylebroek to Bellis’s voucher if he took the same flight with her.

New Zealand’s COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said this week that while officials had needed to make some difficult choices, the quarantine system had worked well overall by saving lives and preventing the health system from getting swamped.

The Taliban have come under international criticism for repressive rules they imposed on women since sweeping to power in mid-August, including denying girls education beyond sixth grade. However, they have said that all girls and women will be allowed to attend school after the Afghan New Year at the end of March. While women have returned to work in the health and education ministries, thousands of female civil servants have not been allowed to return to their jobs.

Read more:

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Tamkeen’s support for “Amana Healthcare” will provide hundreds of job opportunities for local talent in the healthcare sector

– Collaboration will generate job opportunities for local talent and support the growth of
Bahrain’s healthcare sector
– Recruitment Day on 12 October in Manama with vacancies for doctors, nurses, physical
therapists, nutritionists, and administrative staff.
– Amana Healthcare’s new facility in Al Jasra will replicate the successful patient care
model of M42’s Amana Healthcare in the UA

The Labour Fund “Tamkeen”has announced its collaboration with Amana Healthcare to attract top talent to Bahrain to deliver specialized rehabilitation and long-term care services for individuals with complex medical needs. This collaboration will create promising job opportunities for Bahrainis and strengthen
the Kingdom’s position as a growing hub for specialized healthcare services.
As part of this initiative, a Recruitment Day will take place on 12 October 2024 in Manama to
recruit the Kingdom’s most skilled local professionals to join Amana Healthcare’s team.
Qualified candidates may register online by 8 October at amanahealthcarebh.com for various
positions including doctors, nurses, physical therapists, nutritionists, and administrative staff.
Tamkeen’s support for Amana Healthcare is aligned with its strategic priorities focused on
economic impact under three pillars: increasing economic participation through employment,
career development opportunities for local talent in the private sector, and supporting private
sector enterprises to be the engine of economic growth.
Commenting on the collaboration, Her Excellency Ms. Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief
Executive of Tamkeen, said: “Tamkeen’s support for Amana Healthcare is a continuation of our
ongoing efforts to support the growing healthcare sector, which currently employs more than
15,800 Bahrainis across various roles and specialties. We are proud to collaborate with Amana
Healthcare for its prominent role in providing integrated services and improving the quality of
healthcare in line with the highest global standards.”

Amana Healthcare, part of the M42 group, an Abu Dhabi-based tech-enabled global health
powerhouse, will launch the new specialized facility in partnership with Mumtalakat in 2025.
Amana Healthcare features state-of-the-art facilities and aims to reduce the pressure on
hospitals caused by long-term medical patients.
Dr. Mohamed AlSaati, Acting CEO of M42 Bahrain and CEO of Amana Healthcare in Bahrain
highlighted that bringing M42’s world-class tried and tested model for complex long-term and
post-acute rehabilitation services to Bahrain for the first time, will positively impact local
communities and create highly skilled jobs for Bahrainis. He said: “We’re committed to
enhancing and transforming the healthcare infrastructure in Bahrain by hiring, training, and
developing the very best Bahraini talent, including nurses, doctors, technicians, and support
staff.”
It is worth mentioning that Tamkeen has previously announced the launch of the largest
support bundle to train and employ national talent in the healthcare sector in collaboration
with the Supreme Council of Health, aimed at developing and training more than 700 Bahraini
professionals in the healthcare sector. This is part of Tamkeen’s mandate to make Bahrainis the
first choice for employment while also supporting private sector enterprises as the main driver
of economic growth in the kingdom.

 

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Boehringer Ingelheim Launches Broadest Spectrum Parasiticide for Cats in the UAE

– The solution combines three medications delivering the broadest spectrum of protection
against internal and external parasites in cats.
– The solution is safe for cats from eight weeks of age in addition to pregnant and lactating
cats.
– The solution aims to ensure convenience for veterinarians, while ensuring cat owner
compliance and broad-spectrum protection for cats against parasite

Boehringer Ingelheim has launched a breakthrough monthly parasiticide solution for cats in the UAE, to ensure convenient and comprehensive protection for cats and cat owners.
The solution combines esafoxolaner for fleas and ticks, and eprinomectin and praziquantel for internal
parasites, delivering a broad-spectrum of protection against fleas, ticks, mites, worms, and other
parasites. The solution is safe for cats from eight weeks of age in addition to pregnant and lactating cats
and provides a one and done solution, ensuring convenience for veterinarians, cat owners and cats alike.
During the launch event, which took place on 30 September in the presence of over 100 veterinarians
from the UAE and beyond, Dr. Remo Lobetti, President of the European College of Veterinary
Internal Medicine and a renowned expert in small animal medicine, spoke about the significant health
risks that parasites pose to cats. He emphasized the importance of comprehensive protection, stating,
“Feline parasites can cause a variety of health issues, ranging from mild skin irritations to serious
diseases that affect multiple organs. While fleas are the most common parasite in cats, there are many
other internal parasites that go unnoticed but pose severe health risks. The new solution by Boehringer
Ingelheim is a groundbreaking solution addressing not just the visible signs but also the hidden threats,
offering cats all-round protection. It’s an innovative step forward in parasite control, providing much
needed peace of mind for veterinarians and cat owners.”
Gurkan Ulusoy, Head of Animal Health, Near East and UAE, at Boehringer Ingelheim, said,
“Contrary to popular belief, parasites are not limited to cats allowed outdoors. They can be found in dirt,
indoor and outdoor plants, shoes, and other animals. One of the main challenges in treating cats,
particularly here in the UAE, is ensuring that the treatment process is stress-free and convenient for both
pets and time-pressed owners. With the hot climate in the region, cats face especially high risk exposure
to a range of parasites year-round, not just during specific seasons. Boehringer Ingelheim has addressed
these concerns by offering a topical application that is easy to administer and provides comprehensive
protection. The convenience of the solution has the potential to create better compliance from pet owners,
ensuring domesticated cats remain protected”
The new solution by Boehringer Ingelheim is available by veterinarian prescription in the UAE, providing a
trusted solution for all cat owners to protect their pets against parasites. With its advanced formula and
convenient administration, the product represents a significant advancement in feline healthcare. Cat
owners are encouraged to consult their trusted veterinarians for more information on the various parasites
and their treatment.
The launch of the new solution is testament to Boehringer Ingelheim’s commitment to animal health
through detection, prevention, and treatment and adds to the company’s wide-ranging animal health
portfolio containing some of the most respected and widely used vaccines, parasiticides and therapeutics products. Over the past several decades, the global pharmaceutical leader has transformed the lives of animals and the people who care for them to help ensure no animal suffers from a preventable disease.

 

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Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children’s launches new clinic to transform care for children with feeding disorders

– The clinic develops a personalized treatment plan that includes a consultant in pediatric
gastroenterology and nutrition, pediatric clinical psychologist, occupational therapy, speech and
language pathology and nutritional counseling
– Holistic approach focuses on child’s medical, nutritional, feeding ability and psychological
wellbeing — meaning mealtime battles may become a thing of the past
– It caters to all feeding issues from extreme pickiness to sensory issues or tube feeding
dependence for children with wider health or medical condition

Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children, part of the M42
group, has launched a comprehensive feeding clinic designed to address a variety of feeding challenges
in children, including extreme pickiness. This means mealtime battles may soon become a thing of the
past – reducing stress for the whole family.
Children across the globe go through a picky eating phase between the ages of two and five, but this can
begin even earlier. From unusual behaviors, picky eating and swallowing safely to restricted diets, it may
be a struggle for both parents and the child. Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children’s new
comprehensive feeding clinic is more than just teaching children to eat appropriately; its primary
purpose is to help children and their families develop effective feeding behaviors and patterns.
Working closely with the families, specialists at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children will
determine the difficulties in feeding and develop personalized, strategic, and specific therapies to
support in this journey. The comprehensive feeding clinic’s team of experts includes pediatric
gastroenterologists, speech and language pathologists, psychologists and dietitians who collaborate to
create personalized plans to help children overcome mealtime struggles. Together, they will offer
comprehensive evaluations and support for issues such as extreme pickiness, difficulty chewing or
swallowing, sensory issues, tube-feeding dependence, and pain or discomfort while eating.
Taking a holistic approach centered on the child’s medica and nutritional needs, feeding abilities, and
psychological well-being, the clinic aims to streamline the treatment journey and enhance outcomes for
young patients and their families. This includes catering to the needs of all children, including those with
chromosomal abnormalities, congenital heart disease, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, and
various gastrointestinal problems, including reflux and eosinophilic esophagitis.
Dr. Ala Shaikh Khalil, Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women &
Children said, “We’ve noticed that many of our patients struggle with feeding problems. We understand
that mealtimes can be a source of frustration and stress when children are very picky or have feeding
and swallowing difficulties. This is why our team created the comprehensive feeding clinic. Issues range from difficulty handling certain textures to more severe problems like food entering the lungs instead of the GI tract, which often requires tube feeding.”
“Feeding problems in young children are complex and require an interdisciplinary approach. Our
patient-centered approach works closely with families throughout the treatment process to help
achieve the best outcomes. Having all the support available at Danat Al Emarat ensures that families get
a full continuum of care. This means all the support they need is all available in one place, with a unified
set of recommendations, after telling their story just once,” Dr. Ala added.
Crucial psychological support
Dr. Summia Zaher, Chief Executive Officer and Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynecology Danat Al Emarat
Hospital for Women & Children said, “In our commitment to enriching the lives of the families in our
care, Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women &  Children is delighted to launch our new specialized clinic
dedicated to addressing childhood feeding challenges. We understand the profound importance of
nurturing not only our children’s physical health but also their emotional and psychological well-being.
Our goal is to make feeding both safe and pleasurable for the child and their family.”
Dr. Ala emphasized the importance of a personalized treatment plan. She said, “We assess each child to
ensure there are no undiagnosed medical issues, optimize their nutrition, ensure safe and efficient
feeding practices and provide crucial psychological support to both the child and their family.”

 

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