The Public Health Agency (PHA) is putting the spotlight on cervical screening during cervical cancer prevention week (23–29 January 2011). Each year in Northern Ireland around 90 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed and 20 to 30 women will die from the disease. The PHA has responsibility for the Northern Ireland Cervical Screening Programme and is taking this opportunity to emphasise the importance of going for a screening test, when invited.

A recent article published in the BMJ questioned the optimum duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the timing of introduction of solid foods for infants (1). This paper received significant local and national media coverage, feedback from journalists and parents included the call for present guidelines on weaning to be changed in line with the BMJ paper.(1) It is now acknowledged that parents of young children may be feeling anxious or confused by the apparent mixed messages and will need to be reassured that current guidance with regard to optimising infant nutrition remains valid.

The Public Health Agency (PHA), Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) hosted a further briefing today to outline the current position on flu and seasonal winter pressures. The PHA flu bulletin for the period 15-21 January 2011 shows that new flu cases and GP consultation rates continue to decrease. There were only 41 new laboratory confirmed cases of swine flu in Northern Ireland last week compared to 86 in the second week of January 2011.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) today welcomed the publication of the Early Intervention: The Next Steps report. The report, by MP Graham Allen, aims to inform the government on how best to achieve the most effective approaches to early years development, particularly for children aged 0–3 years. It was requested by Prime Minister David Cameron in July 2010 and is the first of two to be published.

Joint partnership press release To mark National Obesity Week (17–23 January) Action Cancer and the Public Health Agency joined forces to offer parents across Northern Ireland quick and healthy ideas for their children’s lunchboxes. To view the press release see the attached PDF document below.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging people to sign up to the NHS Organ Donation Register this Saturday 22 January in Castle Court shopping centre in Belfast. In Northern Ireland, over 300 people are waiting for organ donation. The PHA is supporting the appeal by the Transplant Forum and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBTS) authority for people to join the Organ Donation Register. In the UK, 3,706 transplants were carried out in the year 2009/10, the highest ever number thanks to the kindness of both deceased and living donors.

The Public Health Agency (PHA), Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) hosted a further briefing today to outline the current position in respect of flu and seasonal winter pressures. (Presentation attached here and below).

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging people with specific health conditions to join the Healthwise scheme – a free 12 week physical activity programme to get their new year off to a healthy start. The scheme is available at registered leisure centres and Healthy Living Centres (HLCs) within the Belfast and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust areas and is for people with certain health conditions who have been referred by their GP, nurse or other health professionals.The scheme is suitable for those with:• high blood pressure;