11 July 2014
According to a World Health Organisation news release today:
■ Women sex workers are 14 times more
likely to have HIV than other women.
■ Men who have sex with men are 19
times more likely to have HIV than the general population.
■ Transgender women are almost 50
times more likely to have HIV than other adults.
■ People who inject drugs are 50
times more likely to have HIV than the general population.
■ Modelling estimates that, globally,
20-25 per cent reductions in HIV incidence among men who have sex
with men could be achieved through pre-exposure prophylaxis, averting
up to 1 million new infections among this group over 10 years.
Pointless Unverifiable Anecdotes
8 July 2014
Two readers tried to support their case with anecdotes.
Two readers tried to support their case with anecdotes.
Chew Kok Liang in "Is IPPT Serving Its Purpose" The Straits Times, 8 July 2014:
"A Malaysian Ranger officer once told me of his participation in a joint US Marines and Malaysian Rangers jungle exercise. When he and his men first met the US Marines, they were very impressed by the Marines' physique and fitness. They all looked like bodybuilders and jogged everywhere, even to the latrines. And they carried packs that were twice as heavy as those carried by the Malaysian Rangers.
"However, it soon became apparent that fit and strong as the US Marines were compared with the smaller and wiry Rangers, they could not cope with the hilly and uneven jungle terrain, and soon lagged far behind the Rangers.
"The Marines managed to complete the exercise only after being advised to lighten their load. They dumped their body armour, night goggles and other equipment, keeping only ammunition and food. They had forgotten the lessons from the Vietnam war: Travel as lightly as possible during jungle operations."
Heng Cho Choon in "Dialect Help Strengthen Learning of Mandarin" TODAY, 8 July 2014:
"I have spoken to young Malaysian students who are very fluent in Chinese, Malay and English. They learnt Malay because it was compulsory and they are proficient in Chinese because they attended a Chinese school. They can also communicate in English with non-Malaysians. When I was browsing in a bookstore, I was surprised to learn that Malaysian students who are Indian or Malay could speak Mandarin."
Since neither anecdote can be verified, they add no value to the writers' case.
In addition, Mr Heng's observation may have been taken from a small sample that is not representative of the larger population.
In addition, Mr Heng's observation may have been taken from a small sample that is not representative of the larger population.
Home Value Or Income Determines One's Ability To Pay
2 July 2014
Singaporeans with annual home values above $21,000 will receive transitional subsidies to cope with the increase in premiums when MediShield Life is introduced. However, they will not receive permanent subsidies.
Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong said that some of such Singaporeans who own old homes of significant value but have little income, could be considered for non-transitional subsidies on a case-by-case basis if they had diffculty coping with the MediShield Life premiums, which will be higher than current MediShield premiums.
The problem lies with the Government, which is fixated on the idea that the annual value of a person's home, rather than his current income, is a more important or more relevant determinant of his ability to meet the cost of living in general and to pay MediShield Life premiums in particular.
Singaporeans with annual home values above $21,000 will receive transitional subsidies to cope with the increase in premiums when MediShield Life is introduced. However, they will not receive permanent subsidies.
Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong said that some of such Singaporeans who own old homes of significant value but have little income, could be considered for non-transitional subsidies on a case-by-case basis if they had diffculty coping with the MediShield Life premiums, which will be higher than current MediShield premiums.
The problem lies with the Government, which is fixated on the idea that the annual value of a person's home, rather than his current income, is a more important or more relevant determinant of his ability to meet the cost of living in general and to pay MediShield Life premiums in particular.
A Need For A Joint Multi-Mission Ship?
30 June 2014
Singapore is considering buying a ship large enough to send more helicopters to disaster zones, according to Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen.
Dr Ng said the recent Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines underlined the need for a Joint Multi-Mission Ship ("JMMS").
With the possible exception of the United States and China, does any country acquire costly military hardware for rescue missions in other countries?
The SAF should acquire military hardware necessary for its operational needs in the defence of Singapore, but not a single piece of hardware more than that.
And when conducting rescue work in neighbouring countries, the SAF should use its operational resources to the limit of their capability.
Singapore is considering buying a ship large enough to send more helicopters to disaster zones, according to Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen.
Dr Ng said the recent Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines underlined the need for a Joint Multi-Mission Ship ("JMMS").
A larger JMMS will be able to
carry more helicopters or have more helicopters operating. When the SAF responded to Typhoon Haiyan, it found that communication had been knocked out and there was
no centralised ability for command and control of the airspace. In
that context, a ship like the JMMS would have been very useful.
With the possible exception of the United States and China, does any country acquire costly military hardware for rescue missions in other countries?
The SAF should acquire military hardware necessary for its operational needs in the defence of Singapore, but not a single piece of hardware more than that.
And when conducting rescue work in neighbouring countries, the SAF should use its operational resources to the limit of their capability.
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