Parents attending the ‘Happy Hands’ parent and toddler group in Newry have received training highlighting the importance of promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles for the under 5s. ‘Happy Hands’ was established four years ago in Newry by a small group of parents who are deaf or have deaf children. The purpose of the training was to raise awareness of the ‘Healthy Steps for Life’ programme, developed by the Southern Investing for Health Partnership (SIHP) and funded by the Public Health Agency.

If you are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or unsure of your sexual orientation, there are organisations that can provide support and guidance. Belfast Pride: www.belfastpride.comIreland’s largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans festival appealing to audiences of over 10,000 people in the summer of each year.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is highlighting the importance of safer sex and HIV testing for men who have sex with men (MSM) during the Belfast Pride festival this week.Recent figures show 396 people in Northern Ireland are living with HIV infection with 186 people becoming infected through sex between men – a figure that has been on the rise since 2000.

The Public Health Agency has welcomed the publication of the UK Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) Perinatal Mortality 2008 report. The report acknowledged an encouraging decline over the last 10 years in the frequency of deaths in the first week of life across the UK. This trend is also reflected in Northern Ireland. This reduction is even more encouraging given the changing risk profile of pregnant women in Northern Ireland, where the proportion of births to older mothers and mothers from outside the UK and Ireland has increased.

Following the recent episode of flooding in Armagh, the Public Health Agency (PHA) has advised people to be cautious when dealing with flood water.Dr Gerry Waldron, Health Protection Consultant for the PHA, said: “When flooding occurs the risk of contracting any illness is generally low. However, as it is not always clear whether water is contaminated or not, the safest approach is for people to assume that flood water is contaminated.”Dr Waldron continued: "You can take a number of precautions to prevent health problems if you have experienced a flooding incident:

Following publication of a study by the Health Protection Agency which shows an increase in cases of infection of HIV in people aged 50 and over, the Public Health Agency has called on people to remember that HIV can affect anyone.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) welcomes Transplant Awareness Week, emphasising the importance of transplants which may not be possible without the generosity of organ donors. Last year, 3,504 organ transplants were carried out in the UK, thanks to the kindness of 1,844 deceased and living donors - the highest number on record.

The PHA has welcomed the launch of a new community initiative in Derry, the Drink Think project. The project, which is funded by the Big Lottery, seeks to encourage people and communities to consider the impact excessive alcohol consumption has on them, their families and their communities.

Following a number of returning holiday makers from Turkey having to be given anti-rabies treatment, the Public Health Agency has issued a warning to avoid animal bites when travelling abroad.

As the sun continues to shine in Northern Ireland this summer, the Public Health Agency (PHA), in partnership with Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF), continues to encourage everyone to take care in the sun.