The Public Health Agency (PHA) is highlighting World Kidney Day (Thursday 14 March 2013) by calling for more people in Northern Ireland to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor register. World Kidney Day was first established in 2006 to raise awareness about the importance of our kidneys in relation to our overall health, while also seeking to reduce the impact of kidney disease worldwide.

‘Mental health is a key priority for us all’ - that’s what delegates at a mental health nursing conference held yesterday, [Tuesday 12 March], at Mossley Mill heard about the importance of working together to improve mental health nursing services in Northern Ireland.

No Smoking Day welcomes all quitters and re-quitters More than a third of smokers in Northern Ireland have lost count of the number of times they have tried to quit and almost one in seven say they are ‘desperate to beat their addiction’, according to a new report out today, the 30th No Smoking Day.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to keep a close eye on their salt intake during National Salt Awareness Week, which takes place this week. The theme for this year’s awareness week is ‘Less Salt Please’, with the aim of encouraging people to take control of the salt in their own food by simply using less salt during cooking and at the table and replacing it with alternative flavourings, such as pepper, lemon juice, vinegar, herbs and spices.

The importance of providing children with the best possible start in life will be highlighted today [Friday 8 March] at the launch of the ‘Baby’s Day Out’ book in the Central Library, Derry~Londonderry. The book features a story about a child visiting the city and learning about the fascinating things it has to offer, and is being launched at the RhymeTime session as part of the Humdinger! Children's Book Festival, one of several City of Culture events taking place during 2013.

March has only just begun but Belfast City Centre Management is springing into action with the launch of its series of Family Friendly Fun events, supported by Belfast Strategic Partnership. The programme of fun activities, which runs across four weekends this month, kicks off on Saturday 9 March. With the weather improving, families and young people will be able to come into the city to enjoy a wide variety of free activities.

Older people will be able to combine socialising with a wide choice of enjoyable activities that benefit their physical and mental wellbeing at a fantastic event taking place at the Grove Wellbeing Centre on 20 March. ‘Active Belfast - Active Ageing’, a partnership of agencies interested in promoting physical activity for people aged 50 and over, is running the free event.