Strokes claim the lives of 1,300 people in Northern Ireland every year. It is the third most common cause of death and the greatest cause of adult disability, so on World Stroke Day on 29 October the Public Health Agency (PHA) aims to help people reduce their risk of having a stroke and to ‘think FAST’ if they see someone having a stroke.

As the clocks go back this weekend, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to spring forward and get active in order to keep well over the winter months. Colette Brolly, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager with the PHA, said: “In the dark nights, it is easy to get into the habit of spending our spare time being inactive, but making small changes and increasing activity can help lift your mood over the winter months.

An innovative programme in Lisburn is improving the long-term prospects of children, young people and families living in deprived areas of the city. The Early Intervention Lisburn Project was first launched by the Resurgam Community Development Trust in 2011. By supporting parents with a range of services, the project is helping to prevent problems escalating to crisis point.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is warning that the misuse of any drugs which have not been prescribed to you can result in death or permanent damage to your health. The PHA is stressing that users can never be exactly sure of the make-up of illicit drugs. PHA is also warning that many people are misusing prescription drugs. The message is clear – the only way to avoid all risks is to not take any drugs which have not been prescribed for you by your doctor.

Professionals at the front line of delivering healthcare in Northern Ireland, including those working in dietetics, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, are at the heart of modernising services to meet today’s needs, a conference has heard.

The Public Health Agency’s (PHA) early flu vaccine uptake figures show that rates are high among the first two groups of children who are eligible to receive the vaccine this year. The programme has been rolled out since the start of the month, with the vaccine being administered to children using a painless nasal spray. Children aged two and three years old and primary six children are eligible to receive the vaccine this flu season.

An arts programme worth £1m was launched his week targeting an important government priority, the social exclusion of older people. Government Health, Minister Edwin Poots, MLA, lent his support to launch the Arts Council and Public Health Agency ’s Arts and Older People’s Programme (Wednesday October 16th ) which uses the arts to tackle the important issues of isolation, loneliness and poverty affecting many older people across Northern Ireland today.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is today launching a new resource pack designed to assist schools to deliver a healthy break scheme. All primary schools across Northern Ireland will receive a resource pack – ‘Healthy Breaks for Schools’ – which includes a poster for the schools to display and information leaflets for parents to explain why healthy breaks are so important, as well as suggestions for the types of foods and drinks that can be included in a healthy break.