The latest figures released by the Public Health Agency (PHA) show a 13% overall decrease in new diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections. However, within that there was a small increase in new diagnoses of gonorrhoea and infectious syphilis during 2015. The ‘Sexually Transmitted Infection surveillance in Northern Ireland 2016: An analysis of data for the calendar year 2015’ report shows that in Northern Ireland Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinics in 2015: • 5,477 new STI diagnoses were made, a decrease of 13% compared with 2014 (6,292);

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers among both men and women in Northern Ireland, with around 900 new cases diagnosed each year, but it is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer, so during Lung Cancer Awareness Month the Public Health Agency (PHA) is calling on smokers to take the decision to give up their habit and start to enjoy the benefits of a smoke-free lifestyle. Colette Rogers, Strategic Lead for Tobacco Control with the PHA, said: “Smoking cigarettes is the biggest risk factor for lung cancer and is responsible for around 90 percent of all cases.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) are urging people who have used an adult safeguarding service since January 2015 to share their experience through the 10,000 Voices programme and help shape how care is delivered in Northern Ireland. 10,000 Voices is a PHA initiative which gives people an opportunity to provide feedback on their experiences of accessing Health and Social Care services by asking them to ‘tell us their story’.

November is Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding everyone as the temperature drops and people turn up the heat to be aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO poisoning can kill and in the winter months, when people use their heating appliances more frequently, there are often more incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding pregnant women to get the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine from week 16 or above of their pregnancy. So far this year there have been 114 cases of whooping cough in Northern Ireland reported to PHA, which is a slight increase on last year, when in the same time period there were 97 cases. Whooping cough is a disease that can cause long bouts of coughing and choking, which can make it hard to breathe. It can be very serious for young children, and even fatal for babies.

Health Minister Michelle O’Neill has launched a major campaign, fronted by local health professionals, to help people ‘Stay Well This Winter’.

The PHA’s HSC R&D Division is helping to fund a new Clinical Doctoral Training Programme in Precision Cancer Medicine delivered by Queen’s University Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology (CCRCB) along with the world renowned Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto. This programme will allow clinicians in training in Northern Ireland to develop specialist skills through a three year programme which will include a two year fellowship in Toronto followed by a year immersed in cancer research at the CCRCB at Queen’s.