The seventh annual Public Health Agency (PHA) media awards, with the Western Investing for Health Partnership, have honoured media students for their grasp of public health issues at an awards ceremony at the University of Ulster (UU) Magee Campus, last Thursday (22 March). University and college students in the media industry were invited to submit articles, pictures or stories on a current public health issue. Categories and prize winners included:

Experiment with alternative ways of adding flavour to food instead of picking up the salt cellar - that is the message from the Public Health Agency (PHA) during Salt Awareness Week (26th March – 1st April 2012).

An international conference organised by the Public Health Agency (PHA) will mark this year’s World TB Day on 24 March. Although the number of Tuberculosis (TB) cases in Northern Ireland is low compared with other parts of the UK, the global threat of TB has direct implications here as a result of increasing numbers of new entrants to the province and the increasing threat of Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDRTB).

The arrival of brighter nights with the clocks going forward on 25 March provides the perfect opportunity for everyone to get more active, advises the Public Health Agency (PHA).

With the Six Nations drawing to an end, it has been an exciting few weeks to get together with friends and family to cheer on the boys in green! With all that potential for celebration, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people to watch their alcohol intake this St. Patrick’s Day and during the last big Six Nations match.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) welcomes 30 newly qualified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trainers within the community, voluntary and statutory sectors. These additional trainers can now train others in MHFA, to recognise the symptoms of mental health problems, provide initial help, and to guide a person towards appropriate professional support.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has received notification that a pupil at St Joseph’s Primary School, Slate Street, Belfast has been diagnosed and treated for suspected Tuberculosis (TB). An information letter and TB fact sheet have been sent to pupils at the school as a precautionary measure.

To mark No Smoking Day 2012, ( Wednesday 14 March) the Public Health Agency, PHA, has teamed up with UTV to sponsor a series of mini health programmes entitled ‘Take The Leap’ which will focus on local people quitting the habit.