The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland are reminding people during Sun Awareness Week (5 to 11 May 2014) to check their skin for signs of skin cancer.Malignant melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer that begins in the skin and can spread to other organs in the body. The most common sign of malignant melanoma is the appearance of a new mole or a change in an existing mole.

Each year, millions of infections can be prevented through ensuring good hand hygiene, therefore the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding everyone of the need to ‘clean your hands’ on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global hand hygiene day, the 5 May.

Smoking levels among manual workers remain high in Northern Ireland, with 31% of manual workers smoking. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging businesses in Northern Ireland to avail of the ‘Workplace Stop Smoking Service’ which has been set up by the PHA to provide free assistance for employers across Northern Ireland to help reduce smoking rates among their workforce.

The Public Health Agency welcomes the annual Depression Awareness Week, 28 April- 3 May. For information about Aware Defeat Depression or Depression Awareness Week call 028 9035 7820 or visit the website www.aware-ni.org.uk Anyone who is concerned about depression should speak to their GP or other health professional. For more information on depression see http://www.mindingyourhead.info/topic/depression

Major events can attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. When many people are gathered together for such events, there can be an increased risk to public health, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) plays a key role in helping to reduce this risk. For advice and information on how to reduce the risk to public health during the Giro d'Italia click here.

Health systems and individuals across the island of Ireland will benefit from the appointment of a new leader for Cochrane Ireland – a venture which will actively promote the use of the best available research evidence to inform decision-making about health.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is marking European Immunisation Week (22–26 April 2014) by celebrating the excellent childhood immunisation uptake levels being achieved in Northern Ireland, which are well above the UK average. Many childhood diseases which were common in Northern Ireland prior to the introduction of vaccination have been dramatically reduced or have disappeared altogether, such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus, measles and several types of meningitis.