Public Appointments NI - Public Health Agency Northern Ireland The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is seeking to appoint a non-executive Chair and two non-executive Members (x1 Financial Member and x1 Lay Member) to the Public Health Agency (PHA).

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging parents to get their pre-school children aged two and over vaccinated this autumn as part of the annual flu vaccination programmes.

In 2013/14, 35,663 people in Northern Ireland were registered as having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which is a life-threatening lung disease caused primarily by smoking. In line with the theme for this year’s World COPD Day [Wednesday 19 November] ‘It's Not Too Late’, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging smokers to make a decision to stop smoking today and reduce their risk of developing the disease.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has published the first annual report of the 10,000 Voices initiative, highlighting its success to date. The report outlines the work undertaken through the programme since it went live in July 2013 and also summarises the findings and key actions emerging from phase one, which has focused on unscheduled care.

Today is World Quality Day and the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) are publishing their first Annual Quality Report, to highlight the work completed in improving the quality of health and social care services in Northern Ireland.

As part of ongoing work to address the health inequalities experienced by people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and/ or Transgender (LGB&/T), the Public Health Agency (PHA) is pleased to support this year’s Outburst festival which runs from 14 to 22 November.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has confirmed that a person who has recently travelled in an area affected by Ebola has been assessed in accordance with the national risk assessment protocol. The patient is currently being treated in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, and has tested positive for malaria. The patient has also been tested for Ebola, as a precautionary measure, and this test is negative. The patient is being treated for malaria and will continue to be monitored. The PHA has advised that there is no increased risk to the wider community.