In Northern Ireland it is estimated that more than 100,000 people will have a rare disease at some point in their lives. The Public Health Agency (PHA), in partnership with the Northern Ireland Rare Disease Partnership (NIRDP) and the Health and Social Care Board, has led the development a Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) survey to find out the patients’ experiences of living with a rare disease.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Arts Care are launching an exhibition of arts and craft by older people as part of the Here and Now arts festival. The ‘RIPE’ exhibition opens on Wednesday 5 February at the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast, and features paintings, ceramics, photography and sculptures created by older people in health and social care, with the oldest artist aged 103.

This year’s theme for World Cancer Day (4 February) is to reduce stigma and dispel myths about cancer. With this in mind the Public Health Agency (PHA) is highlighting some of the misconceptions about the disease. Myth 1: We don’t need to talk about cancer. Dr Carolyn Harper, Director of Public Health at the PHA, said: “Whilst cancer can be a difficult topic to address, we need to talk about it. There are around 9,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed each year in Northern Ireland and only by talking about cancer openly can we improve outcomes.”

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is launching a new initiative to develop "health champions" in local communities. The PHA’s South Eastern Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Team will focus on providing 12 community health development workers with an accredited training programme on how best to promote health and wellbeing in their communities.

Around 360,000 people aged 16 years and over in Northern Ireland smoke, and sadly half of smokers here die early because of their habit. To help tackle this issue, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is teaming up with Translink and Cancer Focus to provide a special stop smoking bus which will travel around Northern Ireland in February to support smokers on their journey to quitting.

Influenza is starting to appear in Northern Ireland as expected at this time of year. This reinforces the need for people who are ‘at risk’ to get the vaccine as soon as possible, and this is particularly important for pregnant women.

The third annual Twilight Zone youth arts exhibition will be launched tonight [Tuesday 28 January] at the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast. The exhibition will showcase artistic skills in film-making, music, sculpture, painting and dance of 40 young people who live in care across Northern Ireland. Working with the Health and Social Care Board and Trusts, the Public Health Agency (PHA) commissioned Arts Care to deliver an innovative arts-based programme providing support to the young people, building their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Rough sleepers across Belfast are receiving special packs to help them stay warm and dry, through the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) ‘Keep Warm’ scheme.Clothing and other protective items are being distributed to organisations working directly with people who are sleeping rough across Belfast, so that they can provide a rapid response and help those most in need.