Page 904 - Week 03 - Thursday, 7 April 2022
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
This is being achieved through ongoing investments to replace ageing building assets with modern energy efficiency technology, including delivery of all-electric health facilities. The total amount of Canberra Health Services waste that was recycled increased by 17 per cent when compared to 2019-20. More than 130 tonnes of organic waste were diverted from landfill during the reporting period, which is an increase of more than 16 per cent when compared to 2019-20. Forty-three per cent of the total waste generated by Canberra Health Services in 2020-21 was recycled. In May 2022 CHS expects to achieve Actsmart accreditation for recycling for the fifth year in a row.
World Health Day also provides an opportunity to reflect on and acknowledge the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is an opportunity to convey our thanks to all health workers who have provided exceptional care throughout this pandemic and continue to ensure that the ACT community is protected.
Since 2020 Canberrans have shown incredible resilience as we have grappled with the constantly evolving challenges of living in a pandemic. I am so grateful, and I know Canberrans are, for the efforts of our community to stay COVID safe and to be vaccinated to protect themselves and our loved ones. Canberra’s primary health workers have supported our community with the continued delivery of health care and have adapted their delivery of care in response to public health restrictions and outbreaks.
Aged-care workers, community health workers and disability support workers have been at the forefront of the pandemic response, providing critical care to elderly Canberrans, to people with disability and to other vulnerable members of our community. Health workers right across the ACT have worked tirelessly since March 2020 to keep Canberra safe and strong. Today I take the opportunity once again to acknowledge the incredible pressure that this has had on their work and their lives and to thank them once again for their dedication in protecting our community. I call on the Assembly to join me in thanking these crucial members of our health services.
On this World Health Day, I acknowledge and thank the Canberra community for showing resilience in the face of the significant challenges and for showing collective care for our planet, our community and our health. I commend the motion to the Assembly.
MS CLAY (Ginninderra) (11.26): I would like to start by acknowledging the words of our health minister and the hard work of our health services, and also by acknowledging the work of Minister Vassarotti, who has been working in this field.
We are talking today about the World Health Organization’s World Health Day, on 7 April. World Health Day draws our attention, and the attention of the global community, to a specific shared health topic of concern to people all over the world. The theme this year is Our Planet, Our Health. This theme highlights the intersection of the climate on public health, and it compels us to act to limit the impacts, in terms of both mitigation and adaptation. We need to reduce our emissions and we also need to learn to live with what we have already got locked in.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video