The Public Health Agency (PHA) is launching a new childhood vaccination programme to protect babies against the diarrhoea and vomiting bug rotavirus, a very common and potentially serious infection of the lower gut. From 1 July 2013 the routine childhood immunisation schedule will include the rotavirus vaccine to protect babies against rotavirus. In Northern Ireland this infection is responsible for around 4,000 GP visits and 400 hospitalisations every year in children under five years.

A new leaflet and poster – ‘A grandparent’s guide to supporting breastfeeding’ – have been launched by the Public Health Agency (PHA). The posters and leaflets are to provide information to grandparents who want to support their daughter or son’s partner who has decided to breastfeed. These new resources are being launched to coincide with National Breastfeeding Week.

Health Minister Edwin Poots has said that breastfeeding gives babies a great start in life. The Minister was speaking as he launched a new Breastfeeding Strategy for Northern Ireland. The launch took place at a joint UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative and Public Health Agency (PHA) conference on breastfeeding and relationship building. The new Strategy sets out the strategic direction to protect, promote, support and normalise breastfeeding in Northern Ireland over the next ten years.

School’s almost out for summer and this is a great time to talk to your child about their, and your, use of alcohol. Exams will soon be over for thousands of students and many will be thinking of celebrating. With this in mind, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging parents to broach the subject of alcohol with their children.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has recognised the outstanding commitment of Derry Credit Union Limited to creating a healthy workplace. The PHA-sponsored Healthy Workplace Award 2013 was presented to Derry Credit Union Limited at the recent Derry-Londonderry Business Awards. The credit union beat off stiff competition from fellow finalists City of Derry Airport, Firstsource and Sainsbury’s, to win the award. Brendan Bonner, Head of Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement for the Western area at the PHA said that the award acknowledges the health-conscious employer.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in Northern Ireland, with around 3,330 developing it every year, so a major conference taking place in Belfast today has looked at what is being done to prevent it.