World Blood Donor Day
For further information on blood donation go to www.nibts.org/
Balmoral Show visitors give the gift of life
With over 300 people currently waiting for organ donation in Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency (PHA) has urged people to join the Organ Donor Register by hosting a stand at the Balmoral Show, which ran 11–13 May 2011. The purpose of this Organ Donor stand was to increase awareness of this emotive issue and to help improve rates of organ donation here.
New Health Minister appointed
Lagan Valley MLA, Edwin Poots, has been appointed Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety. The Democratic Unionist Party member will hold the role for two years before it is taken over by Jim Wells MLA (South Down). Mr Poots will be supported in his new role by Alex Easton MLA (North Down) who will serve as an Assembly Private Secretary in the Department.
National Breastfeeding Awareness Week
For more information on National Breastfeeding Awareness week go to www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/pha-advises-%E2%80%98breast-best%E2%80%99
For more information on Breastfeeding go to http://www.breastfedbabies.org/
Diabetes Week
For further information on diabetes go to www.publichealthagency.org/news/could-you-have-diabetes
National Food Safety Week
For further information on food safety go to:
www.food.gov.uk/safereating/hyg/germwatch/
www.publichealthagency.org/directorate-public-health/health-protection/gastrointestinal-infections
Acquired Brain Injury Week
Approximately 2000 people a year in Northern Ireland sustain and are living with the long-term effects of a brain injury. Brain injuries can be caused by a number of different reasons including falls, road traffic accidents and assault. The effects on the person with the brain injury and on their families can be life changing.
Northern Ireland vaccination uptake rates a cause for celebration
The Public Health Agency (PHA) welcomes European Immunisation Week (23 – 30 April 2011) as an opportunity to highlight to parents the importance of their children completing the childhood immunisation programme, to help prevent serious disease and illness. It is also a chance to celebrate the very high uptake levels for childhood vaccines being achieved in Northern Ireland.
Sign up and save lives at the Balmoral Show
In Northern Ireland over 300 people are currently waiting for organ donation. With this in mind, the Public Health Agency (PHA), on behalf of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS), is hosting an organ donor stand at this year’s Balmoral Show, to increase awareness of this emotive issue and to help improve rates of organ donation in Northern Ireland.
One third of cancers are preventable – reduce your risk now
To mark Cancer Prevention Week (9–15 May 2011) the Public Health Agency (PHA) has highlighted that although around 9,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year in Northern Ireland, one third of cancers are preventable and early detection helps successful treatment. The PHA has outlined some steps that can reduce the risk of getting cancer: