Smoking during pregnancy is the largest preventable cause of ill-health and death in young babies and infants. Statistics from the 2010 Infant Feeding Survey show that in Northern Ireland 28% of mothers smoked in the 12 months before pregnancy. It is encouraging that of those mothers who smoked before or during pregnancy, approximately half gave up at some point before the birth of their baby. Sadly, 15% didn’t stop and continued to smoke during pregnancy [see reference].

Organisations are invited to submit proposals to the Public Health Agency (PHA) for the development and delivery of a three-year pilot Workplace Active Travel Programme. This programme will be delivered in four sites and will focus on key organisations charged with delivering the Active Travel Action Plan for Belfast. The programme will be delivered in four phases:

Now that schools are finished for the summer and parents are thinking of activities to keep their children entertained, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding families about the importance of washing hands after visiting the farm. All animals naturally carry a range of organisms, some of which can be transmitted to people. Some organisms which may be contracted on farms present a serious hazard and can potentially cause severe infection, particularly in young children.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging everyone in Northern Ireland to “spell it out” when it comes to their organ donation wishes by telling their family and friends that they want to be a donor and by signing the NHS Organ Donor Register. The call coincides with National Transplant Awareness Week, which runs from 7-13 July.

Statement below was issued on 02/07/14, updated advice was issued on 19/08/15 and is available here. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging caution on the use of electronic cigarettes, known as ‘e-cigarettes’, saying it is too early to dete

With the recent spell of good weather, the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland are reminding people who work outdoors to ensure that they protect themselves from skin damage that may result from sun exposure. Sun protection was recently the focus of an event at Greenmount College led by PHA and Cancer Focus NI, with representatives from a diverse range of outdoor occupations.

The summer holidays are finally here, with plenty of concerts and festivals lined up for the coming months, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is advising people not to gamble with their health through drug and alcohol use. Owen O’Neill, the PHA’s Lead on Alcohol and Drugs, said: “Some people will have a lot drink to while out enjoying themselves and they may also choose to take drugs, putting themselves at risk. The reality is that festivals are not a good place to take drugs for the first time.”