The clocks spring forward this weekend which will give us the chance to get more active in the brighter evenings. There are many ways to kick-start your journey to better health and wellbeing and the Public Health Agency (PHA) says that doing smaller bouts of activity, of 10 minutes or more, will soon add up and can improve your health.

We’re in the middle of lambing season and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding pregnant women about the risk of close contact with sheep during lambing season.

New figures from the Public Health Agency (PHA) reveal that number of reported cases of Tuberculosis (TB) has dropped in Northern Ireland. Today (24 March) is World TB Day and data show that there were 70 cases reported in 2015, a fall of 26% on the previous year. In 2014 there were 97 cases, in 2013 there were 74, and in 2012 there were 87 reported cases.

The Director of Public Health’s Core Tables contain a range of demographic information on population numbers, births and birth rates, deaths and death rates, causes of death and life expectancy. It also includes information on infectious disease notifications, screening uptake rates and self-harm presentations to Emergency departments. The tables and more details are available here Some key points to highlight from the 2014 Core Tables are:

Ards and North Down Borough Council has become the latest organisation to join the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme – a programme to increase the number of premises which welcome breastfeeding mums. There are 27 council-run facilities signed up including community and leisure centres, which brings the total number of popular local attractions, businesses and council venues signed up to the initiative across Northern Ireland to over 400.