Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/602004
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2015 12 News Operational Programme I – Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges ANNOUNCEMENT - CALL II European Regional Development Fund The Managing Authority for Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 in Malta, the Planning and Priorities Co- ordination Division (PPCD) within the Ministry of European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto (MEAIM), would like to announce it is launching a call for project proposals, to be undertaken by Ministries, Government Departments, Central Government Authorities and the Public Sector Companies. This call will close on Friday 8 th April 2016 at noon and will contribute to the priority axes and investment priorities listed below: Priority Axis 2 – 'Consolidating investment within the ICT sector' Investment Priority (IP) 2c - Strengthening ICT applications for e-government, e-learning, e- inclusion, e-culture and e-health. Priority Axis 8 – 'Investing towards a more socially-inclusive society' Investment Priority (IP) 9a - Investing in health and social infrastructure which contributes to national, regional and local development, reducing inequalities in terms of health status, promoting social inclusion through improved access to social, cultural and recreational services and the transition from institutional to community-based services. Investment Priority (IP) 9b - Providing support for physical, economic and social regeneration of deprived communities in urban and rural areas. Priority Axis 9 – 'Developing our future through education, training and lifelong learning' Investment Priority (IP) 10a - Investing in education, training and vocational training for skills and lifelong learning by developing education and training infrastructure. The online application form for the submission of project proposals is available on http://eufunds.gov.mt/opencalls (PPCD section). Supporting documentation including the eligibility guidance notes, the detailed guidance notes and indicators guidance note relating to this announcement are also available on http://eufunds.gov.mt/opencalls (PPCD section). Prospective applicants are encouraged to refer to Operational Programme I available on the above link and the eligibility guidance notes in order to check whether their proposals are eligible for funding through this call for funding proposals. Information sessions are being organised for prospective applicants. Applicants are invited to enrol by filling in a registration form (available on http://eufunds.gov.mt/opencalls) by Monday 11 th January 2016 at noon. The dates and subjects are as follows: Thursday 21 st January 2016 (general overview); Tuesday 26 th January 2016 (how to apply online); Tuesday 2 nd February 2016 (how to plan a project proposal); Friday 12 th February 2016 (how to implement a project proposal) Additional sessions may be organised depending on requests received. Further information and generic queries on this call and on the European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 may be obtained from www.eufunds.gov.mt or from PPCD's Email for Calls for Proposals 2014-2020: info.eufunds@gov.mt . Operational Programme I - Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Investing in Competitiveness for a Better Quality of Life Advert part financed by the European Union European Reigonal Development Fund (ERDF), Co-financing rate: 85% EU Funds; 15% National Funds Investing in your Future Non-fatal overdoses on prescription meds outnumber illicit drugs In 2014, 74 people were admitted to Mater Dei hospital with non-fatal overdoses resulting from prescription pills, compared to 21 illicit drug users, which might lead one to wonder about the dangers of prescription medication MARTINA BORG THE dangers of illicit drugs are hammered into our minds as young chil- dren, but when it comes to prescription medications, their use comes with- out a second thought. Data from the ministry for social solidarity, forwarded to MaltaToday show that more people were admitted to Mater Dei hospital between 2011 and 2014 with non-fatal overdoses through prescription medications than with non-fatal overdoses of illicit drugs. In 2014 alone, 74 people were admitted to Mater Dei hospital with non- fatal overdoses resulting from prescription pills, compared to 21 illicit drug users, which might lead one to wonder about the dangers of prescription medication. "From my point of view, such figures are not surprising, and they should in no way suggest that illicit drugs are less hazardous than prescription medication," psychiatrist Anthony Zahra told MaltaToday. Zahra said the figures could be attributed to various reasons, not least of which is the availability of such medications with a wide range of them naturally being offered on the government's formulary list, and the major- ity of them not being particularly expensive. "Another reason for higher hospital admissions is that illicit drug users are often scared of taking their friends to hospital or of even reporting po- tential overdoses for fear of getting caught by the police," he said, adding that many illicit drug overdoses tended to be fatal precisely for this rea- son. Zahra also explained that prescription pill overdoses were normally the result of people taking a 'cocktail of medications' or even mixing them with alcohol. "Prescription pills don't have a 'junky' sort of following, but they are often used for specific and particularly trying times," he said, adding however, that many make chaotic use of medications, mixing both illicit and pre- scription medications, or taking more medications than their prescription Most wanted... Valium, Xanax, and Atavin