UQ helps reduces rate of prescribed antibiotics and more zedlines

UQ helps reduce rate of prescribed antibiotics A pilot program led by the University of Queensland has helped reduce the prescribing rates of antibiotics among participating GPs. As part of the program, GPs were provided with web-based education modules about antibiotic resistance and a delayed prescribing strategy. More than 100 GPs from nearly 30 practices across South-East Queensland participated in the program, which produced a 7 per cent drop in GPs prescribing antibiotics for respiratory conditions. UQ School of Public Health researcher Professor Charles Gilks says GPs must only prescribe antibiotics where appropriate to preserve one of medicine’s most important resources. Queensland landfill owner recycling waste A North-Queensland man is one of the few remaining landfill owners to recycle most of their waste. After acquiring his family business to find much of the landfill underground, Dan Hannagan turned to recycling for future environmental prosperity. Mr Hannagan says you don’t make much money from it, and It doesn't look good on the business plan, but he cares about making sure that whatever he does reflects on the future. He says that he is making sure he is doing something for the next generation rather than just sticking it all in a hole. Childhood cancer rate dropped in Australia New Cancer Council data show childhood cancer death rates in Australia have dropped nearly 40 per cent in the last 15 years. The decrease in childhood cancer mortality is largely the result of a decrease in childhood leukemia deaths. Cancer Council Queensland Head of Research Professor Joanne Aitken says there is still an urgent need to increase the investment in all cancer research to improve survival rates, as several types of childhood cancer showed little or no survival change in recent years. Among children aged 0 to 14 years, about 710 are diagnosed with cancer in Australia each year, and about 100 die from cancer. Indigenous candidates ready for federal election Indigenous candidates for the July 2 federal poll have been recorded in record number, with many focusing on solidifying their presence within the government by already having major support by voters within their electorate. With candidates such as Kado Muir for the Nationals in WA for the senate, Joanna Lindgren for the Liberals in Queensland, and Linda Burney for the ALP in Barton, Indigenous Australians are making a major push to help Australia. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says after the election the number of indigenous MPs in Federal Parliament could finally be in line with the share of the population. Colombia and FARC sign ceasefire After 50 years of conflict, the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have lay down their arms and signed a ceasefire. Negotiators signed the cease-fire agreement on Thursday in the presence of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC commander Rodrigo Londono at a ceremony in Havana. The agreement is a final step in peace negotiations ongoing since 2012. The agreement was highly sought after Colombia’s decades-long civil war that left more than 220,000 people dead and displaced millions. Jordan declares borders closed military zone Jordan has recently declared its borders with southern Syria a closed military zone leaving tens of thousands of Syrian refugees trapped. The border closure was a response to a cross border attack that killed six guards and injured 14 more. A spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross says around 60,000 are currently without food, water or health care.