About 15,000 primary school pupils in 68 Invercargill, Christchurch and Dunedin schools will be involved in a research project to see if improving their hand hygiene makes a difference to absence due to illness in winter terms.
Recent norovirus outbreaks have prompted health officials to emphasise the need for thorough hand washing to help prevent the spread of disease, but are we getting the message?
National decision-making on aged care could be influenced by Otago and Southland district health boards' disability support advisory committee, member Helen Algar says.
Basic vegetables are not too expensive, but many people do not know how to cook them, Otago District Health Board member Peter Barron says.
When he complained he had been given the John Key haircut, I was less than sympathetic.
Health services in the South will come under pressure from migrant workers who might not be able to pay, Venture South settlement support co-ordinator Sue Morrison-Bailey says.
Otago and Southland adults may have become a little lazier between 2002 and 2007, according to estimates from the New Zealand Health Survey.
Replacing irreparable bedside radio and television services for Dunedin Hospital patients may be desirable, but the Otago District Health Board has no money for it.
Hui being held around the country in the next few days are a "take it or leave it chance" for the Maori Party, says prominent Otago Maori Tahu Potiki.
Small achievements in people's "sun smartness" could be undermined by their concerns about having low vitamin D levels, says Dr Tony Reeder, a University of Otago researcher.
Acheivements in sport are never the work of one person, Olympic gold medallist and Bayfield High School old boy Danyon Loader told the school's sports and cultural awards evening last week.
Increased spending on cancer drugs is helping to push up the Otago District Health Board's deficit.
New National list MP from Dunedin Michael Woodhouse can understand people thinking he is mad.
Dunedin North's returning Labour MP Pete Hodgson refused to watch television coverage of John Key's victory speech on Saturday night, using the time to rally the band of about 50 supporters gathered at Alhambra-Union Rugby Football Club clubrooms.
Iris O'Connell, who turns 100 today, is already a step ahead of most of us.
If Pharmac was given an extra $20 million by district health boards to spend on more drugs, funding 12-month Herceptin treatment would not take priority, Pharmac chairman Richard Waddel says.
Peony growers hitThe cold snap may have added to the woes of some peony growers in the south, but others may be thankful for extra days to get inspections completed ready for exporting blooms to the United States.
A lack of long-stay hospital beds for the elderly in Otago had the potential to affect elective surgery at Dunedin Hospital, the Otago District Health Board was told yesterday, but hope was expressed that the situation might be eased a little.
Elspeth McLean prefers a good firm handshake to a slobbery snog by strangers, and is not impressed by politicians who go round dispensing the latter on an unsuspecting public.
"Enjoy Life" says the banner behind Allen Little's image on the Albinism Trust website.
