During Urology Awareness Month (September) the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people to be aware of the signs and symptoms of cancers relating to the urinary and reproductive systems including bladder, kidney, prostate and testicular cancer. Dr Louise Herron, Consultant in Service Development and Screening at the PHA said: “It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer relating to the urinary and reproductive systems. Some are more common than others and risk will depend on your age and stage of life. Spotting cancer early could make a huge difference. The earlier a

The Public Health Agency (PHA), Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and Hospitality Ulster welcomed Nick Hewer, President of RCSLT, to Brain Injury Matters to celebrate with all those who contributed to the resources designed for the recent Swallow Aware campaign. The campaign aims to improve the lives of people with dysphagia – the medical term for eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties* – enabling them to not only eat out but to connect, interact and to enhance their mental wellbeing. The PHA and Hospitality Ulster worked in partnership with people living with

As the new life-saving Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme aimed at protecting newborns and older adults launches in Northern Ireland the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging those eligible to get vaccinated when invited. RSV is a common and highly infectious respiratory virus that affects the breathing system, particularly in young children and older adults. RSV infections often lead to mild cold-like symptoms, but in some cases, especially in infants and individuals with compromised immune systems, it can cause severe respiratory issues and hospitalisation. From the

With the beginning of a new school year approaching, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding parents of children who will be entering year 9 that they will be offered the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine during the school year. The HPV vaccine helps to prevent HPV-related cancers from developing in young people. While most types of HPV are harmless, some high-risk types can lead to the development of cancers, including cervical cancer, cancers of the head and neck (mouth and throat) and cancers of the anus and genital areas. Both boys and girls in year 9 are offered a single dose of the

Following the declaration by the World Health Organization of an outbreak and rapid spread of a new strain of mpox (Clade 1) in some African countries as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the Public Health Agency (PHA) is liaising with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to ensure appropriate measures are in place to manage cases and reduce the risk of spread should cases be identified in the United Kingdom. The risk to the Northern Ireland population is currently low. However, planning is under way to prepare for any cases that we might see in Northern Ireland