The Public Health Agency (PHA) has urged parents of girls who are eligible to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to make sure that they get it to reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer later in life. The call comes as figures show a reduction in the levels of uptake of the vaccine here. The HPV vaccine helps protect girls from developing cervical cancer when they are adults. It is offered to girls in year 9 and 10 through a school-based programme and provides the best protection against the disease.

To mark World Delirium Day [14 March] the Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) are urging people who have had experience of delirium during the past year to share their thoughts with the 10,000 More Voices programme.

This No Smoking Day, Wednesday 14 March, thousands of smokers across Northern Ireland are being urged to stub out their cigarettes and become ‘Proud Quitters’. The Public Health Agency (PHA) has teamed up with voluntary sector organisations, pharmacy, community and HSC Trust stop smoking service providers, and the local No Smoking Day Coordinating Committee to urge smokers to quit on 14 March by seeking the help of their local stop smoking service.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is set to hold a number of stakeholder engagement events in the coming weeks throughout Northern Ireland. These will inform the future procurement of services to implement the pending ‘Protect Life 2’ suicide prevention strategy. Séamus Mullen, Regional Lead for Mental and Emotional Wellbeing at the PHA, said: “It is really important that people have their say and we would encourage as many as possible to register and come along to the planned workshops in their area.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is using Self-Harm Awareness Day (1 March) as an opportunity to encourage those who are affected by self-harm to seek help. Self-harm occurs when a person harms themselves while in a state of severe emotional distress. It can take many different forms. Dr Denise O’Hagan, Public Health Consultant with the PHA, said: “Self-Harm Awareness Day is an opportunity to encourage people who self-harm and those close to them to seek help, and also to let people know that help is available.