The Public Health Agency’s Northern Neighbourhoods Health Action Zone in partnership with Ballymoney Borough Council supports local communities to focus on health and well being. Over 120 people from the Ballymoney area recently attended a health fair, on Friday 12th February, at the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre in Ballymoney.

Ashgrove Senior Citizens Club in Portadown has received funding from the Southern Investing for Health Partnership (SIHP) to promote physical activity among its members. Funded by the Public Health Agency, the SIHPs small grant programme awarded the Club funding that would enable its members to participate in a range of new physical activities. The Club participated in a six week programme of Boccia and New Age Kurling that provided its members with the opportunity to become more physically active as well as improving their social and communication skills.

The Southern Area Accident Prevention Group (SAAPLG), a committee of the Public Health Agency, has issued a timely reminder about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning following a recent case reported in the media in the South Armagh locality. A newly revised leaflet on carbon monoxide is now available from the Promoting Wellbeing Team, SHSCT www.promotingwellbeing.info. Around 50 people are killed and hundreds more suffer the ill-effects of carbon monoxide poisoning every year in the UK.

The Northern Ireland bowel cancer screening programme was launched on 22nd April 2010. The programme is targeted at all men and women aged 60–69 years and aims to reduce the number of deaths due to bowel cancer by detecting early warning signs of the disease. The screening programme has started in the Northern and Western Trust areas and will be extended across Northern Ireland in the coming months.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is advising that the volcanic plume of ash that is currently high in the atmosphere over the United Kingdom (UK) is not a significant risk to health. The advice to the public in Northern Ireland is that the situation is not expected to change.The PHA is working with multi-agency colleagues to monitor the situation and will continue to liaise with the met office for any change in weather patterns that may affect the ash.

‘Healthy Steps for Life’ is a new three-year programme developed by the Southern Investing for Health Partnership (SIHP) to promote healthy lifestyles in early years (0-5 years). Part of this programme is to support breastfeeding in local communities. Twelve participants from the Craigavon and Banbridge area have recently completed a new Breastfeeding Peer Support training programme developed by the ‘Healthy Steps for Life’programme. These volunteers are now trained as community-based peer supporters who will provide help and advice to breastfeeding mums in their local area.

Women from the Allsorts Ladies Group, based in Portadown, have undertaken a rigorous keep fit programme to stay active and encourage physical activity amongst members. The Group provides social activity for women in the area. The eight-week physical activity programme consisted of a series of armchair aerobics and Boccia sessions as well as reflexology classes and Capacitar Training - which focuses on breathing exercises to help lower stress levels, control emotions and pain management.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) today called for people to be aware of an increase in levels of the winter vomiting virus. The Agency recommends simple, practical steps to minimise the risk of illness to others, especially older people and those with underlying conditions who may be more vulnerable. The PHA made this call in the wake of a rise in cases of the illness being reported to GPs and among patients in local hospitals.

Vulnerable people across Northern Ireland are being provided with ‘Keep Warm’ packs to help them stay warm during the cold weather. This regional scheme has been funded by the Public Health Agency working in partnership with TADA Rural Support Network. The most vulnerable older people, people with a disability, those with chronic illness and the homeless, should expect to receive their pack soon.

During Breakfast Week (24-30 January) the Public Health Agency is taking the opportunity to highlight the importance of starting the day with a healthy, balanced breakfast.