The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding pregnant women to get the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine from week 16 or above of their pregnancy. So far this year there have been 114 cases of whooping cough in Northern Ireland reported to PHA, which is a slight increase on last year, when in the same time period there were 97 cases. Whooping cough is a disease that can cause long bouts of coughing and choking, which can make it hard to breathe. It can be very serious for young children, and even fatal for babies.

Health Minister Michelle O’Neill has launched a major campaign, fronted by local health professionals, to help people ‘Stay Well This Winter’.

The PHA’s HSC R&D Division is helping to fund a new Clinical Doctoral Training Programme in Precision Cancer Medicine delivered by Queen’s University Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology (CCRCB) along with the world renowned Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto. This programme will allow clinicians in training in Northern Ireland to develop specialist skills through a three year programme which will include a two year fellowship in Toronto followed by a year immersed in cancer research at the CCRCB at Queen’s.

Churches across Northern Ireland are being invited to take part in information sessions hosted by suicide prevention group Flourish! in the coming months. Flourish! is a partnership between Lighthouse and clergy from across the Christian churches in Northern Ireland. The initiative has the support of the leaders of the four larger churches in Ireland and has been developed in partnership with and supported by the Public Health Agency (PHA).

On Global Handwashing Day on 15 October, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people to stay well by maintaining good hand hygiene. This will help to reduce the risk of picking up or spreading winter viruses such as influenza and norovirus. Good hand washing with soap and warm water is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infections which can be inconvenient, but more importantly can lead to serious illness.

Asking, listening and talking to someone with a mental health problem can be the start of their road to recovery. That was the message from Health Minister, Michelle O’Neill, as she launched a new media campaign to encourage the public to offer support to those who may be struggling with their mental health. Launched today on World Mental Health Day, the campaign ‘Helping Others’ will use TV, radio, digital and outdoor advertising and focuses on how people can support family or friends to deal with a mental health problem.

Issued by All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care Public urged to find out more about palliative care during awareness week Greater public understanding of how palliative care addresses all needs of the person – physical, social, emotional and spiritual – has been called for, as Palliative Care Week begins today.

October is Stoptober, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging all smokers in Northern Ireland to use this as an opportunity to quit for good. Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness, premature death and health inequality throughout Northern Ireland and sadly one in every two smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging all women to ‘be breast aware’ and to think about attending for screening when invited. In 2014/15 a total of 76,661 women aged 50–70 were invited for screening, with 57,758 attending. This means that over three quarters of the women who were invited took up the offer of screening mammography. “Prevention and early detection are key to saving lives from breast cancer,” said Dr Sinéad McGuinness, Specialty Registrar in Public Health Medicine at the PHA.