You don’t have to be Paddy Barnes to get Olympic active!

With preparations for the Olympics in full swing, boxer Paddy Barnes has teamed up with the Public Health Agency (PHA) to encourage people of all ages to use the games as inspiration to get active. Medal-winning Olympian and Commonwealth champion Barnes said: “As someone who will be participating in the London games, I have a rigorous fitness regime. However, you don’t need to train like a boxer to keep fit.

Public health messages take to the road!

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) today launched a joint pilot initiative to display important public health messages on ambulances. Over the coming months 19 Emergency and PCS ambulances (non-emergency patient transport) across Belfast and South Eastern areas will be used for carrying life-saving messages. The PHA’s F.A.S.T campaign, which raises public awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke and actions to take if you think someone is having one, will be the first public health message carried on Northern Ireland ambulances.

Nutrition is central to health and children’s diets can be an important influence now and in the future. Stop, Look and Cook is a new recipe book for use by catering staff in all grant-aided nursery, primary and post-primary schools in Northern Ireland.

The PHA commissions specialist stop smoking services across Northern Ireland. It has enabled the establishment of specialist stop smoking services in a range of settings including GP practices, pharmacies, hospitals and community settings. Tobacco control activities are overseen locally by the PHA’s Tobacco Control Groups. The multi-agency groups oversee and advise on tobacco control initiatives.

All stop smoking services are required to comply with the requirements of 18 standards. This document highlights the standards.