This factsheet provides information and encourages uptake of the whooping cough vaccine for pregnant women. Cases of whooping cough are on the increase – by getting the vaccine while pregnant you can protect your baby.

This Business Plan sets out the key priorities and actions that will be progressed by the Public Health Agency (PHA) in 2012/13. The PHA believes that these actions will have the biggest impact on improving levels of health and social wellbeing, protecting the health of the community, and ensuring patients continue to receive high quality and safe treatment and care services.

New ‘Active Travel’ Maps, funded by the Public Health Agency, for the cities and towns of Derry/ Londonderry, Enniskillen, Limavady, Omagh and Strabane have been launched to encourage local people and visitors to build physical activity into their day by walking, cycling, jogging, or using public transport.

The Active Maps aim to promote health and wellbeing across the five district councils in the West and contain information on local cycle, walk and bus routes as well as useful contacts such as local cycle hire and sales outlets and walking groups, for example.

This booklet for childminders and staff in day nurseries, playgroups and crèches outlines straightforward, practical advice and information on a range of nutritional issues related to children up to the age of five to ensure each child gets all the nutrients they need to stay healthy.

Click here to see the report. 

Public Health Agency - Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2012
These accounts for the year ended 31 March 2012 have been prepared in a form determined by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) based on guidance from the Department of Finance and Personnel’s Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) and in accordance with the requirements of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009.

The Public Health Agency Annual report 2011–2012 report provides background information about the PHA, highlights the achievements during the 2011–2012 financial year and provides an overview of work undertaken in priority areas for each directorate within the organisation.

The summary financial accounts are presented in the operating and financial review section of the report and members of the PHA board are detailed within the report also.

The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training Programme for Northern Ireland has been adapted from the original MHFA programme established in Australia by Betty Kitchener and Anthony Jorm. MHFA is the help provided to a person who is developing a mental health problem or who is currently in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until professional help is available or until the crisis resolves. More than 4,500 people have attended MHFA training in Northern Ireland since it began in 2009 following a successful pilot in 2005.

The aims of MHFA are to:

The West Belfast Eye Health Equity Profile is a working report designed to inform the development of the Community Engagement Project (CEP) for the RNIB and provide information for a wider Eye Health Strategy for the Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) with the aim of improving the equity, outcomes and quality of life for people with or at risk of poor eye health.

Nutrition is central to health and children’s diets can be an important influence now and in the future. Stop, Look and Cook is a new recipe book for use by catering staff in all grant-aided nursery, primary and post-primary schools in Northern Ireland.