During Sun Awareness Week (9 to 15 May 2016) the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland are reminding people that the only thing that should be sizzling this summer is the food on their barbecue as they urge people to take care in the sun. The unpredictability of our summers can lead to many people thinking they will not get sunburn in such a changeable climate. However, the majority of the population have fair skin, which provides little protection against the sun, so even a small amount of exposure can do damage.

Each year, millions of infections are prevented through ensuring good hand hygiene. So today, on the World Health Organization’s global Hand Hygiene Day, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding everyone of the need to ‘clean your hands’ thoroughly and regularly.

May is National Walking Month and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging people to put on your walking shoes and make walking part of your daily routine. There are many health benefits of walking. Adding a brisk pace to your step can help you feel good, reduce anxiety, help manage your weight, reduce blood pressure and help you sleep better.

A programme offering support to parents of young people aged 11-18 which aims to improve communication within the home will get under way next month in Belfast and the North-West. The successful Odyssey ‘Parenting Your Teen’ programme will run in Belfast from 5 May, and from 12 May in Derry/Londonderry. It is delivered by Parenting NI and funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA). The eight-week parenting course covers issues such as setting boundaries, dealing with conflict, problem solving, self-confidence and teen development.

The Public Health Agency (PHA), in partnership with Action Mental Health (AMH), is encouraging participation in a new programme which focuses on raising awareness of mental and emotional health and wellbeing. Mindset is a mental and emotional health and wellbeing awareness programme open to groups of both young people aged 14-17 years old and adults.

Each year in Northern Ireland more than 70 people die in home accidents and almost 70,000 visit their local accident and emergency departments seeking help as a result of accidents in the home. While most people’s spring cleaning to-do lists have more to do with mops and brooms than safety precautions, the Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) are urging people to take steps to improve home safety when carrying out the spring clean.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is marking European Immunisation Week (24–30 April 2016) by celebrating the excellent childhood immunisation uptake levels being achieved in Northern Ireland, but also reminding parents of the importance of immunisation. Many childhood diseases which were common in Northern Ireland prior to the introduction of vaccination have been dramatically reduced or have disappeared altogether, such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus, measles and several types of meningitis.

A concert aimed at instilling hope and promoting good mental health will be held in an area of north Belfast that has been impacted by suicide. The ‘Concert of Hope’, featuring Gardiner Street Gospel Choir and singer/songwriter Brian Kennedy, will be held at the Sacred Heart Church in north Belfast. It is hoped that the free event will act as a catalyst and lead to the development of a community choir in the Oldpark area.