Incest discussion, resources group opens in Geneva

Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The French organization AIWA (Association Internationale des Victimes d'Incest), which has several discussion groups that meet throughout in France, this week is opening one for the Pays de Gex area in Geneva. The group says it hopes to expand in Switzerland. Friday night, 5 September, the first discussion group will cover "Recognizing incest" (in French). The group organizes conferences and serves as an information centre.

Geneva best place in Switzerland: life expectancy

Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Geneva may be the hardest place in Switzerland to find a home, but it's the place with the lowest death rate, 462 per 100,000.

New figures published by the Swiss federal statistical office for 2006 also show that the two main causes of death in Switzerland are cardiovascular disease, 37%, and cancer, 25%. While the number of deaths is slowly falling from cardiovascular diseases, some forms of cancer, notably lung cancer among women, are on the rise.

The number of deaths linked to dementia are on the rise, but in line with an increase in life expectancy, which has been climbing steadily since 1970. Two-thirds of deaths linked to dementia are people over the age of 85.

Comparis says insurance premiums to jump 4%

Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Comparis, the popular Swiss online price comparison service for consumers, Monday showed new health insurance premiums for 2009 that are about 4% higher than the figures it offered in July, 2.4%. The actual figures will be released by the government in September. The new figures are based on preliminaray premiums from companies that represent about 80% of the country's health insurers. Comparis offers comparisons in English, as well as a good explanation of the Swiss health insurance system, obligatory and optional.

Local families, Swiss health system attracts US radio interest

Lake Geneva region, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Two Lake Geneva region families today feature in a broadcast on National Public Radio in the US, part of a series that looks at European health care systems. The two stories show aspects of the Swiss health system, with families from the area who have lived in the US and elsewhere, including Switzerland. GenevaLunch editor Ellen Wallace and her husband, Nicholas Bates were interviewed about the Swiss system for families with severely handicapped children, making a comparison with a family in Massachussetts.  Cecile Crettol of Geneva is interviewed about how the system works for families faced with a health care crisis.

Cecile Crettol Rappaz, on All Things Considered
Ellen Wallace, on Morning Edition
Photo, courtesy of NPR

Number of babies born in Switzerland increases but not enough

Neuchatel, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The number of births in Switzerland has increased to its highest number in six years. According to federal figures released by the Statistics Federal Office, 74,500 children were born making 2007 the year with the highest number of births since 2001. Although these are good news, Switzerland still has a very low birth rate of less than two children per woman. 

The report also shows that "moms" are much older than before. Women 35 and older were the largest group giving birth in the Confederation. By contrast, the number of women under 30 years of age giving birth has decreased. The number of out-of-wedlock births has significantly increased in the past ten years although the rate is still one of the lowest in Europe.

Other interesting statistics presented in the report:

• Men say "I do", exactly 71 per cent, more than women when it comes to same-sex domestic partnerships in Switzerland.
• There was a slight increase, 1.6 per cent, in the number of marriages.
• The number of divorces decreased 5.2 per cent in 2007.

Slow-up in Jura slowed down by rain

Vallée de Joux, Vaud, Switzerland (Le Temps, Fre) - Forecasts of sunny weekend weather fell apart in most of the Lake Geneva region Sunday, with heavy rains.

The downpour landed in the Vallée de Joux as 3-5,000 people, far short of the 40,000 expected in good weather, took to the streets for the annual Slow-up, a day to take time to enjoy the outdoors on foot, skates or by bicycle or any other non-motorized vehicle.

Photo: rain and fog covered most of the region Sunday. Here, rain arrives in the garden: Valais.

Medical care for older population in Switzerland might not be met

Neuchatel, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The aging population in Switzerland might not have enough doctors to respond to its ambulatory care.

According to figures released by the Swiss health observatory, by 2030 the number of doctors will decrease, family doctors in particular, while the older population will increase. This imbalance could mean that 30% of required visits by older patients might go unattended.

The study calls for the University Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine in Lausanne to determine what must be done to ensure that all patients receive care.

Less addiction among Swiss teens

Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Swiss teenagers consume less alcohol, marijuana and tobacco than before. That is the result of a study published by the ISPA, the Swiss institute for the prevention of alcohol and drug problems. It seems that higher prices, more restrictions and prevention campaigns are to thank for the results. However, alcohol, and in particular "binge drinking", continues to be the most relevant substance addiction among teens. The study shows that a smaller percentage of youngsters also continues to use sleeping pills, cocaine and other hallucinogenic substances.

First Swiss trial for female genital mutilation

Zurich, Switzerland (TSR, Fre) - The trial opens today in Zurich of a Somalian couple, age 35, who admit to having incised their daughter, then age two, 10 years ago. It is the first such court case in Switzerland, according to Unicef, which has been actively fighting female genital mutilation worldwide. The case comes two weeks after a woman was given a suspended sentence for her role in having a girl incised, but outside Switzerland. The couple on trial now risk 10 years in prison.

Ikea recalls sleeping bag over chocking hazard

Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Ikea, through the BFC, the Swiss federal consumer protection agency, is recalling a sleeping bag for babies because of a possible risk a child could choke on the zipper. Two customers reported that part of the zip detached during use. The bags, produced in Indonesia, have been sold since April 2008. Customers who have a BARNSLIG sleeping bag with date stamps 0745 to 0824 are asked to take it back to any IKEA store for a full refund.

Ikea is also recalling a FEMTON clamp spotlight after tests showed there was a risk of over-heating. For further information on any of the recalls in Switzerland, call toll-free at 0848 801 100