Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness, premature death and health inequality throughout Northern Ireland, with approximately 2,300 people dying prematurely each year from smoking-related illnesses such as coronary heart disease, stroke and many cancers. Every year on 31 May, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. For WNTD 2014, WHO is calling on countries to raise taxes on tobacco.

It’s the last week of National Walking Month, but the Public Health Agency (PHA) says there’s still time to put on your walking shoes and take a stroll as part of your everyday life. Walking is one of the simplest forms of exercise and the easiest to build in to your daily routine. It also has many health benefits, as walking at a brisk pace can make you feel good, reduces anxiety, help you sleep better, reduces blood pressure and can help you manage your weight.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is continuing to drive forward with its commitment to improving mental health and wellbeing and reducing levels of suicide in Northern Ireland with the publication of ‘Quality Standards for Services Promoting Mental and Emotional Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention’. The PHA defines standards as an essential level of quality to ensure safe and effective practice against which performance can be measured. Standards are designed to encourage and support improved services which will lead to better outcomes for service users.

‘It’s ok to ask about clinical research’ is the message from the launch of the public awareness campaign to encourage patients, carers and the public to ask healthcare professionals if there is a study they might be suitable for.

“Don’t bottle it up” is the message from health and social care professionals this week during Dementia Awareness week 2014. The Public Health Agency and Health and Social Care Board are working jointly with the Alzheimer’s Society, the Dementia Services Development Centre and local Health and Social Care Trusts to implement Improving Dementia Services in Northern Ireland. This regional strategy aims to promote a culture which ensures people with dementia are supported to live with dignity and without stigma.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is lending a helping hand to new mums through a Breastfeeding Peer Support programme which has welcomed 10 new volunteer members. The volunteers are women who have breastfed their own children and who, with specialised training, provide mother-to-mother support to other women who breastfeed. In partnership with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT), a special event was hosted to celebrate the recent success of the breastfeeding peer support volunteers.

Since July last year the routine childhood immunisation schedule has included the rotavirus vaccine to help protect babies against the very common and potentially serious diarrhoea and vomiting bug. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is pleased to report that the latest figures show that the number of confirmed rotavirus cases is significantly down compared with the previous four years, showing that the vaccine is making a real difference.

Parents and carers in the Lisburn have been asked for their views on how best to develop services for children aged 0-3 in their area. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is one of the lead partners in the Resurgam Community Development Trust’s ‘Early Intervention Lisburn’ (EIL) project which held a one-day event in Lagan Valley Leisureplex to listen to the views of people in the communities of Hillhall, Tonagh, Old Warren, Knockmore and Hilden.