With further wintery weather forecasts the Public Health Agency (PHA) is advising everyone to look after themselves and their neighbours during the cold snap.

Vulnerable and elderly people can find it difficult to get out to the shops or to keep their house adequately heated during the cold weather. The PHA is encouraging everyone to look out for those who may be more vulnerable during severe weather and check that they are ok.

European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week runs from 25-31 January and the Public Health Agency (PHA) has produced a new video that shows women what to expect when they attend for a smear test. 

Dr Tracy Owen, Quality Assurance Director for the Northern Ireland Cervical Screening Programme at the PHA, said: “Many women will feel nervous about going for their smear test, especially if it is their first time. They may be worried about the actual process of having the test, as well as the results. These worries can put some women off attending at all. 

School pupils in the southern area are getting help from the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) to help them improve their GCSE grades.

Thanks to a partnership with the SELB and local councils, the PHA has funded English and Mathematics programmes. Over 85% of pupils in the participating schools who were expected to achieve Grade D and availed of the additional support attained grades A*-C in English or Mathematics.

A conference will take place tomorrow (Thursday 22 January) to review how care for mothers and babies has improved in the UK, and what the health service can do to further reduce the number of deaths of mothers during pregnancy and those child deaths associated with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

The conference is being organised by the Northern Ireland Maternal and Child Health office (NIMACH), part of the Public Health Agency (PHA), and MBRRACE-UK, and will bring together healthcare professionals to review the latest ‘Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care’ report and the ‘UK-wide confidential enquiry into the management of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia’.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding all people aged 70, 78 and 79 years old that they are still able to receive the shingles vaccine. The vaccine will help protect them against the common and painful skin disease and its complications.