The value of helplines will be emphasised on 6 February the first Northern Ireland Helplines Awareness Day. The Helplines Network NI is hosting the awareness day and an event at Belfast City Hall to highlight the extensive range of helplines providing vital support, advice and information to the public across Northern Ireland. Helplines Network NI is membership-led and includes 26 member organisations delivering 30 helplines.

Chinese New Year celebrations take place this Saturday and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is making travellers to festivities in Asia aware that avian influenza is circulating in the region. Human cases of influenza are being reported in China, and at this time of year are expected to rise. The PHA is reminding travellers to festivities in mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan of the risks associated with avian flu and how to protect themselves.

During Cervical Cancer Prevention week (22-29January) the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding women to take up the invitation to have a regular cervical screening test. Dr Tracy Owen, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at the PHA, said: “Data from 2010-2014 show that, on average, 96 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 23 women die from the disease each year in Northern Ireland. It is therefore important for women to accept their invitation for a screening test – it could literally save your life.

Students returning to university for the start of term are being urged by the Public Health Agency (PHA) to get a vaccine that can help protect against meningitis and septicaemia. The vaccine, which helps protect against meningococcal A, C, W and Y disease, is available from GPs for anyone aged 17-19 years (ie those born between 2 July 1996 and 1 July 1999), and first time university students up to the age of 25. Figures show that only around half of those eligible in this age group have so far taken up the free vaccine.

As we progress through January, many people who quit smoking as a New Year’s Resolution may be finding it tough to stay off tobacco, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to make use of the support that is available to help make their decision permanent. Colette Rogers, Strategic Lead for Tobacco Control with the PHA, said: “We know that stopping smoking can be very difficult, but help is at hand.