‘Don’t ignore tick-borne Lyme disease’ is the message from the Public Health Agency (PHA) as we approach the summer months. Ticks can carry Lyme disease, a serious and debilitating disease which may be transmitted to humans through their bite.

Smoking kills 2,300 people prematurely in Northern Ireland every year, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is calling on people to use World No Tobacco Day (Friday 31 May) as the perfect opportunity to quit. Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness, premature death and health inequality throughout Northern Ireland and 2,300 people die prematurely each year from smoking-related illnesses such as coronary heart disease, stroke and many cancers.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is lending its support to Arts Care’s biggest dance and disability performance event of the year. The innovative and creative dance project will be part of the City of Culture 2013 celebrations.

To mark Dementia Awareness week 2013 health and social care professionals are focusing on promoting a greater understanding of dementia and encouraging people to overcome their fear to seek help.

Grange Park Primary School provided a backdrop for the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland to remind parents to ensure that their children are protected from the sun on school sports day. Primary 5 pupils, assisted by Sport Northern Ireland’s Activ8 Wildcats Mascots ‘TWIST AND BOUNCE’ took part in a workshop on “Sun Safe” behaviour to prepare them for school sports day and other outdoor activities during the summer months.

Summer is fast approaching and this is the ideal time to get into shape and lose some weight in a healthy way. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging those who want to lose weight ahead of the summer holidays to do so safely, gradually and healthily. Bright nights and the better weather mean that healthier eating can be easily combined with more physical activity such as long walks or cycling.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging pregnant women who are 28 weeks pregnant or more to get the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine, as it can protect your newborn baby in their first few weeks of life against whooping cough. Since October last year all pregnant women have been offered the whooping cough vaccination to protect their newborn babies until they can be vaccinated starting at two months of age. The vaccination of pregnant women helps to boost the short-term immunity passed on by women to their babies while they are still in the womb.

One of the biggest events in Derry/ Londonderry’s City of Culture calendar will take place this weekend with BBC Radio 1’s ‘Big Weekend’ coming to the city. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is advising people not to let alcohol and drugs ruin an amazing event, and to take care of one another. The Big Weekend takes place from 24-26 May and festival-goers are urged to keep safe while enjoying the jam-packed weekend of music.

The visit follows a weeklong programme of activities to showcase the key role of connected health technology in improving patient outcomes as well as promoting the local economy.

With the bank holiday weekend looming, its’ time to dust down those barbecues. So whether the sun is shining or you brave the rain, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding fans of cooking al fresco about barbecue food safety. When relaxing with friends and family around the barbecue it is easy to forget about food safety, but just because it is outside the kitchen does not mean that good hand hygiene and food safety advice do not apply.