During the Easter break, with parents thinking of activities to keep children entertained, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding families about the importance of washing hands after visiting the farm. All animals naturally carry a range of organisms, some of which can be transmitted to people. Some organisms which may be contracted on farms can cause illness some of which can cause severe infection, particularly in young children.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is using the opportunity of World Health Day to encourage people to talk about depression. World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization. The theme for 2017 is depression. “The word ‘depression’ is used in many different ways,” said Fiona Teague, Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager with the PHA.

Project funding of €8.8 million has been awarded through the EU’s INTERREG VA Programme to the Health and Social Care Research and Development (HSC R&D) Division of the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland and the Health Research Board (HRB) in Ireland.