Make sure your child avoids the back to school germs!

As the summer holidays come to an end and children settle in to the autumn term, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding parents about the importance of good hygiene – both in school and at home. Schools can be a common breeding ground for germs and bugs. Make sure your child is taking the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of picking up or spreading germs to others as they start the new school term. Parents and schools can help reduce the spread of germs by encouraging children to practise good personal hygiene by:

S.aureus bacteraemia surveillance quarterly report April-June 2016

C. difficile surveillance quarterly report: April-June 2016

 

 

Healthy tips for a healthy school lunch

As the new school year approaches, it can be difficult to think up healthy lunch and snack ideas for the children’s packed lunch, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) has some handy advice and tips on choosing a healthier option for the best start to the school year. The main message is to steer clear of sugary drinks and snacks high in added fat, salt and sugars and to remember that children only need kid-sized portions.

Exam celebrations – take time to talk to our young people

With thousands of young people due to receive their exam results, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging parents to talk to their children about the risks associated with drinking alcohol and taking drugs. Many teenagers will go out with friends when they get exam results, whether they are celebrating or commiserating. Both scenarios can lead to excessive drinking or drug taking, so there’s an important role for parents to talk to their children about the risks.

Knowing all the signs of stroke could save a life

Strokes claim the lives of around 1,000 people in Northern Ireland every year. It is the third most common cause of death and the greatest cause of adult disability, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people of the a range of signs and symptoms of stroke. Dr Brid Farrell, Assistant Director of Service Development at the PHA, said: “Stroke is an attack on the brain. It happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off and brain cells are damaged or die.

PHA Annual report and accounts 2015-2016

The Public Health Agency Annual report 2015–2016 provides background information about the PHA, highlights the achievements during the 2015–2016 financial year and provides an overview of work undertaken in priority areas within each directorate of the organisation.

The full financial accounts are included in this report as is information on members of the PHA board.

Food in school evaluation

The following are seven summary papers detailing findings from an evaluation of the Food in Schools programme, conducted by the Public Health Agency, on behalf of the Food in Schools Forum chaired by the Department of Education (DE) in 2012.

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