Smokers are at significantly greater risk of losing their sight than non-smokers, yet awareness of eye damage from smoking is worryingly low according to the Public Health Agency (PHA). Fewer than 10% of smokers realise that smoking can affect their eye health. This compares with 92% associating smoking with lung cancer and 88% identifying a link between smoking and the risk of heart disease.

Smoking materials have been the biggest cause of accidental fire deaths in Northern Ireland, accounting for over 40% of all accidental fire deaths over the past 5 years. Tragically there have been 51 accidental fire deaths over the past 5 years and 21 of these were as a direct result of smoking materials.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is continuing to work with Health and Social Care and government colleagues in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK to ensure we are prepared for the risk of Ebola. Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe disease caused by the Ebola virus.

Over a thousand churches across Northern Ireland are set to receive new guidance on suicide prevention, supporting people bereaved by suicide and promoting emotional wellbeing. Copies of ‘Suicide Prevention and Emotional Wellbeing – Pastoral Guidelines and Training Directory for Churches’ are being sent to churches across Northern Ireland by the partnership group Flourish! Flourish! is a partnership between Lighthouse Ireland, clergy from across the Christian churches in Northern Ireland, the Churches Community Work Alliance NI and the Public Health Agency (PHA).

A need for a greater focus on planning, emotional care, and clear communication has been highlighted in a new survey of Palliative Care users. The findings are contained in a study of experiences of Palliative Care among patients, carers and families across the island of Ireland undertaken by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC).

October marks the beginning of autumn and the official start of the seasonal flu vaccination programme for 2014/2015. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging all people whose health could be seriously affected by flu to get the free flu vaccine. GPs across Northern Ireland will be inviting people over 65, pregnant women, and ‘at risk’ children and adults to have the flu vaccine, as flu can be particularly serious for these groups.

A public information campaign to highlight how palliative care improves the quality of life of a person with an incurable illness is taking place across Northern Ireland next week. The campaign Making the most of life will run for a week from October 6th. It is an all-island campaign coordinated by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC). Public information is available at www.palliativecareweek.com

HSC R&D Division wishes to announce that the 30 September 2014 deadline for submissions to the Enabling Research Awards Scheme has been extended until 7 October 2014. For administrative purposes, no new submissions to the scheme will be accepted after this date until further notice. It is anticipated that the scheme will re-open in early 2015, and further details will be issued in due course.

October is International Walk to School Month and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging parents in Northern Ireland to do the school run on foot and start to feel the benefits for both them and their children. Statistics from the charity Living Streets show that in the UK 81% of parents with primary school children walked to school when they were younger, but today only 47% of their children walk to school.