As part of their commitment to supporting and promoting the City of Culture 2013 over 60 staff from the Public Health Agency (PHA), Health and Social Care Board and the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) recently completed the WorldHost Ambassador training programme, with the aim of becoming cultural champions and volunteers during 2013.

A unique cross border patient safety training programme has brought together 27 senior managers and clinicians from hospitals and services on both sides of the border, to focus on best practice in patient safety and how it can be applied in local health facilities.

Don’t get a gift you won’t forget this Christmas! While enjoying the festive period, remember to practice safe sex and avoid getting a gift you won’t forget – that is the message from the Public Health Agency (PHA).

The Public Health Agency has developed a draft Disability Action Plan and has also reviewed the actions identified as part of our audit of inequalities undertaken in 2010 and as a result produced a new draft Equality Action Plan. The purpose of our Disability Action Plan is to look at things we could be doing to promote positive attitudes towards disabled people and encourage their participation in our work areas. The Equality Action Plan looks at actions we could take to tackle inequalities across all equality categories.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is marking World Aids Day on the 1 December by publishing the HIV surveillance in Northern Ireland 2011 report. This highlights the continuing increasing trend in the number of annual new HIV diagnoses seen in recent years. The number of new HIV diagnoses in Northern Ireland rose by 3%, from 80 in 2010 to 82 in 2011. There are now 522 people living with HIV infection in Northern Ireland, an increase of 10% on 2010.

Sixty minutes of exercise a day is recommended for all children. With this in mind the Public Health Agency (PHA) is highlighting the importance of physical activity this Christmas. In particular the Agency is urging parents to help children reach this target by choosing gifts that encourage physical activity and play.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) recently issued over £272,000 in small grants to 64 statutory, community and voluntary organisations in the South Eastern area for projects which promote health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. Some 64 voluntary and community sector organisations shared funding of £272,756 to deliver a range of activities which support the Agency’s efforts to ensuring a decent standard of living for all and making healthier choices easier.