Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1533191
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 MARCH 2025 NEWS MARIANNA CALLEJA mcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt HEALTH Minister Jo Etienne Abela has confirmed the gov- ernment will soon kick off the initiative to provide free insulin pumps for Type 1 diabetes pa- tients under the age of 18. Speaking on TVM's Xtra, Ab- ela stated that the government had exceeded its previous com- mitments last year by provid- ing continuous blood glucose monitors to all Type 1 diabetes patients in Malta, as well as to pancreatic cancer patients and pregnant women with diabetes. "This year, we had pledged to provide insulin pumps to Type 1 diabetes patients under 18 years old, and I can confirm this commitment," Abela said. "We will be making an official announcement in the coming weeks." The initiative is expected to enhance the quality of life for young diabetes patients by of- fering better glucose manage- ment and reducing the need for frequent insulin injections. The announcement is part of the government's broader ef- forts to improve healthcare services and access to medical technology for chronic condi- tions. Further details about the pro- gramme, including eligibility and distribution plans, are ex- pected to be revealed soon. Who is eligible for expanded diabetes care in Malta? The Maltese government ex- tended the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) programme to a broader range of diabetes patients last year. The initi- ative, which initially catered to children and young adults under 23, now includes all in- dividuals with type 1 diabetes, pregnant women with gesta- tional diabetes, and patients dependent on insulin due to pancreas disease. Continuous glucose monitors provide real-time blood sugar readings via a mobile app, sig- nificantly improving diabetes management and reducing the risk of complications. Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela hailed this expansion as a cru- cial step in supporting the esti- mated 46,395 individuals living with diabetes in Malta. Beyond CGMs, Minister Abe- la had also highlighted the po- tential introduction of insulin pumps, another technological advancement that could fur- ther improve diabetes man- agement. He had expressed confidence that insulin pumps would be introduced in the coming years. Government to provide insulin pumps for diabetes patients under 18 AN ambulance driver was charged with causing the death of a pedestrian outside of Mater Dei Hospital. Police charged Eros Galea, 36, from Żejtun over the death of nursing aide, Joseph Grech. The ac- cident occurred back in May of 2024 at around 5:00pm when an ambulance hit and killed Grech. He was certified dead on site. The ambulance also hit a 54-year-old Romanian woman, Maria Miron who also suffered grievous injuries. The woman was in critical condition and underwent operations. The accused pled not guilty to the charges. The victim and his family were represented by lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Maria Navarro. David Bonello u Joseph Borda appeared for the woman, the another victim. The prosecution was led by Inspector Darryl Farr together with Attorney General Lawyer Darlene Grima. The accused was defended by Lawyers Veronique Dalli and Dean Hili. Police charge ambulance driver over pedestrian's death Joseph Grech (inset) died after being hit by an ambulance outside Mater Dei Hospital WASTESERV has published a call for tenders for a new or- ganic processing plant. The tender covers the de- sign, build and trial opera- tion of this new facility, with an investment of around €75 million. Over the past five years, there has been steady and consistent growth in organ- ic waste collection, thanks in part to several government initiatives, such as the launch of a new national waste col- lection schedule. The new facility, expected to be commissioned by 2028, will have the capacity to pro- cess around 74,000 tonnes of organic waste annually. This waste will be convert- ed into renewable energy in the form of electricity and high-quality compost, con- tributing to a more sustaina- ble circular economy. In 2024 alone, 35,000 tonnes of or- ganic waste were processed, marking an impressive 67% increase over two years. WasteServ is already suc- cessfully processing organic waste into renewable energy and compost. In 2024, this process gener- ated enough renewable ener- gy to power 967 households for a year, and produced 2,701 tonnes of high-quality compost. The new facility will en- hance these efforts, increas- ing both compost and renew- able energy production. "The Environmental Impact Assessment has already been completed, and it concluded that the project has net envi- ronmental benefits, with the site identified and cleared, ensuring that works can com- mence immediately once the tender is awarded," Was- teServ CEO Richard Bilocca said. WasteServ announces €75 million investment in new organic processing plant