Next week is World Breastfeeding Week 2016 (1-7 August) and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging everyone to show support for mums who breastfeed in public. The theme for the week, which is coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, is “A Key to Sustainable Development” – highlighting how breastfeeding is a key element in getting us to think about valuing wellbeing from the very start of life, respecting each other, caring for the world we share and making best use of our resources.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging people who think they may be at risk of hepatitis B or C to get tested and prevent the spread on World Hepatitis Day (28 July). Viral hepatitis is a group of infectious diseases known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. It kills 4,000 people every day worldwide and, although not very common in Northern Ireland, it is estimated 400 million people across the globe are infected. These infections can be prevented, but most people don't know how.

An initiative known as RAPID (Remove All Prescription and Illegal Drugs), which is helping to remove illegal and prescription drugs from our streets by providing drug disposal bins, is to be rolled out across Northern Ireland after a successful pilot. This new initiative is just the latest in a wide range of coordinated action across agencies to reduce harm from the misuse of alcohol and drugs.

July is Sarcoma Cancer Awareness Month, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is highlighting the key signs and symptoms of sarcoma cancer and is urging people to talk to their GP if they think something is wrong. Sarcomas are rare malignant tumours that arise from transformed cells of the connective tissues such as muscle, fat, cartilage or bone. Around 8 out of 10 sarcomas occur in soft tissue although they can affect any part of the body.

If you have just left school or are going to be a first-time university student the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging you to get the meningococcal vaccine. Everyone born between 2 July 1997 and 1 July 1999, and first time university students up to the age of 25, are entitled to the Men ACWY vaccine.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) have awarded their first accolades for Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) in Health and Social Care. Four awards were handed out in categories for Quality and Safety, Service Improvement, Innovation and Involvement, and Best Involvement Story. The winners were:

Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard and Health Minister Michelle O’Neill announced joint funding of £2.25million to extend the Active School Travel Programme until 2021. Sustrans has been awarded the contract to deliver the programme for the next five years which is jointly funded by the Department for Infrastructure and the Public Health Agency (PHA).

A new resource aimed at improving the mental health of the clergy is being distributed throughout Northern Ireland. The practical and helpful toolkit to promote emotional wellbeing amongst clergy has been produced by the suicide prevention group Flourish! The Flourish! group includes Lighthouse Ireland, clergy from across the Christian churches in Northern Ireland, the Churches Community Work Alliance NI and the Public Health Agency (PHA).

Health Minister Michelle O’Neill attended the Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) conference ‘Involving you Improving Care: Our Involvement Story’. PPI is about involving ordinary people and local communities in the planning, commissioning, delivery and evaluation of the services they receive. It is about putting the service user first, enhancing service user choice, meeting demands and expectations, and ensuring views are heard and listened to.