To celebrate the first anniversary of the full roll-out of the Northern Ireland AAA Screening Programme, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging all men aged 65 to take up the offer of having this vital health check. The aorta is the main artery that supplies blood to your body. It runs from your heart down through your chest and abdomen (belly).

Peer support could be key to helping more mothers breastfeed beyond the first few weeks of birth, according to the Public Health Agency (PHA). Today [1 August] sees the start of World Breastfeeding Week, which runs until 7 August, and the role of peer support is the main focus this year.

Ahead of World Hepatitis Day on Sunday 28 July, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people who think they may be at risk from hepatitis B or C infection to get tested. The latest figures from the PHA show that there were around 110 new cases of hepatitis B and about 130 new cases of hepatitis C reported in Northern Ireland in 2012. These figures have remained consistent for the past five years.

Long summer days are stretching ahead and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging families to get active together, combining fun and physical activity. Being active is great for the body and mind, helps to control weight, protects against heart disease, some cancers and type 2 diabetes, and promotes good mental health and wellbeing. Colette Brolly, Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager with the PHA said: “With the kids off school and the good weather, this is a great opportunity for children, parents and grandparents to get active together.

During adverse weather many people can experience a range of situations associated with the extreme weather such as cold and freezing temperatures, no electricity or mains water and flooding. The Public Health Agency (PHA) has compiled public health information to assist the public in these situations. Click here for public health information.

An anti-cancer drug has been proven to be equally as effective in treating the most common cause of blindness in older adults as a more expensive drug specifically formulated for this purpose. The results of a two-year trial, led by Queen’s scientist Professor Usha Chakravarthy, and published in The Lancet today (Friday 19 July), show that two drug treatments Lucentis and Avastin are equally effective in treating neovascular or wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).

With the holiday season in full swing, and many young adults across Northern Ireland choosing to celebrate the good weather, the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Council for the Homeless have come together to issue harm reduction advice for drug users.