As the countdown to No Smoking Day 2014 [Wednesday 12 March] gets underway, thousands of smokers across Northern Ireland were today urged to take their first step to Victory and set 12 March 2014 as their quit date. The Public Health Agency (PHA), Cancer Focus Northern Ireland and British Heart Foundation (BHF) Northern Ireland, who are part of the Northern Ireland No Smoking Day Coordinating Committee, have joined forces to call on local smokers to stop smoking and to avail of the support that is available to help them on their road to Victory.

Improving the lives of older people is the focus of a series of community conversations aimed at developing ‘good neighbourhoods for ageing well’. The conversation events have been initiated by the Southern Strategic Health Improvement Partnership (SSHIP) and funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA). The events will be coordinated by the local councils and will be held in Kilkeel, Dromore, Craigavon, Keady and Fivemiletown.

Around 200 people in Northern Ireland are on the transplant waiting list and sadly around 15 people die each year waiting for an organ. Despite support for organ donation being extremely high, just 31% of the population here are on the organ donor register. To tackle this issue, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is today [Wednesday 12 February] launching its ‘Speak up and save a life’ organ donation campaign, which is aimed at raising awareness of the issue of organ donation in Northern Ireland.

Valentine’s Day is the day to show your loved one you care. It is also Northern Ireland’s Sexual Health Awareness week, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is asking everyone who is sexually active to protect their sexual health and that of their partner by being safe and getting tested if they have put themselves at risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

In light of recent events, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding parents across Northern Ireland about the importance of talking to their children about the risks associated with alcohol and drugs. The PHA is encouraging parents to point out the dangers of intoxication to their children and to encourage them to look after their personal safety and that of their friends. There is an unhealthy drinking culture in Northern Ireland and underage drinking is just one aspect of this culture.

Northern Ireland Paralympic skier Kelly Gallagher spends a lot of time on the snow, but she is aware that although it may be cold she still needs to protect herself from the sun’s rays. Sunscreen is one holiday essential that often gets left behind when people take a winter holiday. The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland are reminding people not to forget about the sunscreen during their winter get-away. Whether you are heading to the ski slopes or jetting off for some winter sun, it is important to stay safe in the sun during your break.

People living in the Northern area are invited to attend an information event about drugs and alcohol support services available throughout area. The public information event will be held in Coleraine on Friday 21 February and a number of organisations will take part. The event is being organised by the Voluntary and Community Sector Network (VCSN) and supported and funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA).

In Northern Ireland it is estimated that more than 100,000 people will have a rare disease at some point in their lives. The Public Health Agency (PHA), in partnership with the Northern Ireland Rare Disease Partnership (NIRDP) and the Health and Social Care Board, has led the development a Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) survey to find out the patients’ experiences of living with a rare disease.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Arts Care are launching an exhibition of arts and craft by older people as part of the Here and Now arts festival. The ‘RIPE’ exhibition opens on Wednesday 5 February at the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast, and features paintings, ceramics, photography and sculptures created by older people in health and social care, with the oldest artist aged 103.