Good hand hygiene will help reduce the risk of spreading winter viruses so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people of the importance of washing their hands on Global Handwashing Day 2015 (15 October). The theme of the day is “Raise a Hand for Hygiene” encouraging people to become hand hygiene champions and encouraging those around us to also wash their hands.

Scientific and medical personnel from the pharmaceutical industry, academia and health gathered in Belfast on Wednesday 7 and 8 October for the 2015 Northern Ireland Clinical Innovation Conference, an event focused on improving collaborative efforts to accelerate adoption of innovation in the healthcare system.

The Public Health Agency is taking the opportunity on this year’s World Mental Health Day (10 October) to encourage people to think about taking small steps to improve their mental health. Fiona Teague, Regional Manager for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Promotion with the PHA, said: “We all know how important it is to look after our physical health, but the same importance also needs to be placed on looking after our mental health.

The Public Health Agency (PHA), Health and Social Care Board (HSC Board) and Macmillan Cancer Support are today publishing the findings of the first report into the care received by cancer patients in Northern Ireland.

People who have moved into a new tenancy after a period of homelessness are benefitting from a Public Health Agency ‘Home Starter Pack’ scheme which provides essential hygiene and toiletry items as well as small household appliances and utensils.

Stoptober is back and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is supporting the campaign by urging all smokers in Northern Ireland to take part and quit for good. Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness, premature death and health inequality throughout Northern Ireland and sadly one in every two smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease.

The seasonal flu vaccination programme for 2015/16 is under way with ‘at risk’ people being urged to get the vaccine. GPs across Northern Ireland will be inviting people over 65, pregnant women and ‘at risk’ children and adults to have the flu vaccine, as flu can be particularly serious for these groups.

October is celebrated as International Walk to School Month and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging parents to do the school run on foot and start to feel the benefits for both them and their children. Statistics show almost three-fifths (59%) of primary school pupils are driven to or from school by car, while only 31% walk, 10% travel by bus and 1% cycle. Among post-primary pupils, almost half (46%) travel to or from school by bus, 30% are driven by car and 22% of pupils walk to/from school, while 2% take the train.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in Northern Ireland, but it is also one of the most treatable, particularly when detected early. However, many women don’t know what to look out for, so a major new Public Health Agency (PHA) campaign is aiming to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and encourage anyone who discovers any of them to contact their GP.