Palliative and end of life care is everybody’s business and to mark ‘Dying Matters Awareness Week’ (14-20 May 2012) the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging everyone to take the opportunity to talk openly about dying, death and bereavement with those closest to them.

In Northern Ireland over 1,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer and over 400 people die from the disease each year, but if detected at a very early stage treatment for the cancer is 90% successful. With this in mind, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is hosting a bowel cancer screening stand at this year’s Balmoral Show to increase awareness of the screening programme and to encourage uptake by those eligible.

With European Championships kicking-off soon, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is calling on football fans and their children travelling to one of the host countries, Ukraine, to get protected against measles. The eastern European nation is currently experiencing an outbreak of the disease, which is very infectious.

Mums-to-be in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) area have been learning how to manage their diet and stay physically active to manage their weight. This project has been developed by Southern Trust midwives, dietitians and physiotherapists in partnership with the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Kilkeel Leisure Centre. The project, funded by the PHA, has been developed to address the increasing levels of obesity in pregnancy that can increase health risks to mother and baby during pregnancy and birth.

The Public Health Agency, PHA, is leading a detailed investigation into the potential source of an outbreak of Listeria among hospital patients in Northern Ireland. Four cases including one death have been reported previously and two further cases have been confirmed. There have been no new cases identified since 18 April 2012.

Fun skipping workshops, funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA), are encouraging children across Northern Ireland to take their recommended 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Twenty-five workshops are being delivered by NI at Play to local schools to promote physical activity in a fun way.

Kilkeel High School pupils, who won first place in a UK-wide public speaking competition for young people following their emotive speech on organ donation and presumed consent, have been praised by the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) Chief Executive Dr Eddie Rooney, who is also Chair of the Northern Ireland Organ Donation Task Force Implementation Group.

Each year, millions of patients around the world are affected by healthcare associated infections, many of which are preventable through ensuring good hand hygiene, therefore the Public Health Agency (PHA) is sending out a clear message – SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands.