Tuesday 11 June 2013
Hela Twrch Atgofion
Yr ddiweddar fe fues i yng Nghwm-twrch, am y tro cyntaf ers dros 30 mlynedd. Y tro hwnnw roeddwn ar dramp, gan arwain grwp o gyd-Sgowtiaid ar daith drwy'r mynyddoedd a'r sgwdiau. Dau beth sy'n dal i sefyll yn fy nghof am y daith gerdded honno: ceisio cerdded llwybr troed ar draws gwaith glo brig yn ardal Banwen Pyrddin a bwrw noson yng Ngwm-twrch. Ucha neu Isa gofynnwch chi? Wel, heb yr ail-ymweliad yr wythnos diwetha, doeddwn i ddim yn siwr!
Y rheswm dros fynd yn ol oedd agoriad swyddogol Ysgol Gymraeg Dyffryn y Glowyr. Ysgol fodern, sgleiniog yn llawn plant hapus. Roedd gweld holl blant yr ysgol yn canu "Sosban Fach" gan ddiweddu gyda bonllef o "ogi, ogi, ogi", a hynny yng nghwmni Max Boyce, yn hwyl arbennig.
Roedd Cyngor Sir Powys yn cynnal agoriadau swyddogol i sawl ysgol newydd yn y cyffiniau ond roedd rheswm arbennig, hiraethus a phersonol i fi fynychu'r un yng Ngwm-twrch yn benodol. 1981 oedd hi. Minnau a'm ffrindiau yn codi pabell ar lain o dir ger yr afon ac o dan domen glo. Lle cyfarwydd i wersylla i grwp o sgowtiaid o Gwm Cynon y pryd hynny. Aethon ni i'r dafarn, y New Tredegar Arms, ie - Upper Cwmtwrch oedd hi! Dyna lle buon ni'n magu peint neu ddau a'r landledi yn tosturi drostom gan roi rols ham am ddim. Dyna lle gwylion ni'r wennol ofod yn hedfan am y tro cyntaf erioed. Gwn felly taw 12 Ebrill 1981 oedd hi.
Dyna hefyd, ar y ffordd i'r dafarn, yn y gwyll, y clywais blant yn chwarae yn Gymraeg am y tro cyntaf. Ar y stryd. Yn hollol naturiol. Heb athro na rhieni yn agos iddyn nhw. Roeddwn eisoes wedi penderfynu dysgu Cymraeg. Ond y noson honno teimlais fy mod wedi teithio mor bell o'm cynefin a'r gofodwyr ar eu Shuttle.
Bu'r flwyddyn honno'n dyngedfennol i fi. Penderfynu bwrw ati o ddifri nid yn unig i ddysgu Cymraeg ond byw drwyddi. Penderfynu astudio'r Gymraeg yn y coleg ger y lli. Hel fy mhac a gwersylla yn yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol am y tro cyntaf.
Anaml iawn mae dyn yn gallu pwyntio at eiliad; at awr; at noson, gan ddweud dyna pryd newidiodd cwrs bywyd. Rwy'n credu fod y noson honno yng Nghwm-twrch Ucha wedi bod yn un o'r momentau prin hynny. A dyna pam roeddwn mor falch o weld ysgol Gymraeg newydd sbon yng Nghwm-twrch yn parhau a'r gwaith o hybu a chadw'r iaith yn y cwm.
Mae llawer wedi newid yng Ngwm-twrch er 1981, yn enwedig yn nhynged yr iaith, a symbol o oes diflanedig oedd y lamp glowr a gafodd Max Boyce am agor yr ysgol, ond deil fflam i losgi yn yr ysgol newydd a bydd teithwyr y dyfodol yn clywed y Gymraeg ar dafodau plant Cwm-twrch fel finnau 32 mlynedd yn ol.
Friday 19 April 2013
MEASLES - important information from Powys local health board.
As you will have seen in the media, there is an outbreak of measles in Wales with the number of cases currently standing at 735. Although centred around the Swansea area, the outbreak has also spread to Powys and all of the seven health boards have recently reported measles cases.
In 2012, there were less than 5 measles cases in Powys – however, in 2013, we have been made aware of 66 cases and this number is likely to rise further. Most of these cases are in the Montgomery area, although we have seen a significant number in the Ystradgynlais area too.
Measles is highly infectious, and can lead to serious permanent health problems such as deafness and brain damage and in some cases it can be fatal. The only protection against measles is the MMR vaccine. It is recommended that all children should have one dose of MMR aged 13 months and a further dose at 3 years 4 months. One dose of MMR will protect 90% of children and 2 doses will protect 99% of children against measles. If enough people in our community are vaccinated, this should protect our vulnerable patients who are not able to have the MMR vaccine e.g. babies, pregnant women, those with problems with their immune system.
In Powys, 1 in 10 five year olds and 1 in 4 sixteen year olds have not had 2 doses of MMR. This means that there is a large cohort of children who are still not fully protected against measles.
Powys teaching Health Board is urging all parents to make sure their child has had 2 doses of MMR, as this is the only way of protecting them from measles. We are working closely with our GP Practices to ensure that the MMR vaccine is easily accessible. GPs in affected areas are in the process of contacting parents of children who are unvaccinated. All our GPs across Powys are aware of the outbreak and have been provided with guidance on how they can help to limit this outbreak. In addition, we are planning to hold vaccination sessions in affected schools from next week onwards.
To prevent the spread of the illness, Public Health Wales has issued the following advice to the public:
• If your child is unvaccinated make immediate arrangements with your GP for them to receive the MMR jab. This is even more important if your child has had contact with someone with measles.
• If your child is unwell and you suspect it is measles you should contact your GP. Your child should not attend school or nursery for four days after the rash starts.
• Telephone your GP surgery to inform them you or your child has a rash illness before attending, so that arrangements can be made in advance for minimising contact with other vulnerable patients.
• Avoid going to A&E unless you are seriously ill, and if you do attend, telephone ahead to let them know you or your child may have measles.
• Avoid contact with pregnant women, people with weak immune systems and babies who are too young to be vaccinated, as they are more vulnerable to infection and there are very few treatments available to help them if they do catch measles.
• If any family members are pregnant, receiving chemotherapy, or aged under one, it is vital to ensure that all other family members are up to date with their MMR vaccination.
As you will have seen in the media, there is an outbreak of measles in Wales with the number of cases currently standing at 735. Although centred around the Swansea area, the outbreak has also spread to Powys and all of the seven health boards have recently reported measles cases.
In 2012, there were less than 5 measles cases in Powys – however, in 2013, we have been made aware of 66 cases and this number is likely to rise further. Most of these cases are in the Montgomery area, although we have seen a significant number in the Ystradgynlais area too.
Measles is highly infectious, and can lead to serious permanent health problems such as deafness and brain damage and in some cases it can be fatal. The only protection against measles is the MMR vaccine. It is recommended that all children should have one dose of MMR aged 13 months and a further dose at 3 years 4 months. One dose of MMR will protect 90% of children and 2 doses will protect 99% of children against measles. If enough people in our community are vaccinated, this should protect our vulnerable patients who are not able to have the MMR vaccine e.g. babies, pregnant women, those with problems with their immune system.
In Powys, 1 in 10 five year olds and 1 in 4 sixteen year olds have not had 2 doses of MMR. This means that there is a large cohort of children who are still not fully protected against measles.
Powys teaching Health Board is urging all parents to make sure their child has had 2 doses of MMR, as this is the only way of protecting them from measles. We are working closely with our GP Practices to ensure that the MMR vaccine is easily accessible. GPs in affected areas are in the process of contacting parents of children who are unvaccinated. All our GPs across Powys are aware of the outbreak and have been provided with guidance on how they can help to limit this outbreak. In addition, we are planning to hold vaccination sessions in affected schools from next week onwards.
To prevent the spread of the illness, Public Health Wales has issued the following advice to the public:
• If your child is unvaccinated make immediate arrangements with your GP for them to receive the MMR jab. This is even more important if your child has had contact with someone with measles.
• If your child is unwell and you suspect it is measles you should contact your GP. Your child should not attend school or nursery for four days after the rash starts.
• Telephone your GP surgery to inform them you or your child has a rash illness before attending, so that arrangements can be made in advance for minimising contact with other vulnerable patients.
• Avoid going to A&E unless you are seriously ill, and if you do attend, telephone ahead to let them know you or your child may have measles.
• Avoid contact with pregnant women, people with weak immune systems and babies who are too young to be vaccinated, as they are more vulnerable to infection and there are very few treatments available to help them if they do catch measles.
• If any family members are pregnant, receiving chemotherapy, or aged under one, it is vital to ensure that all other family members are up to date with their MMR vaccination.
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