A month-long programme of events will put the factors that influence individual and community health under a magnifying glass. ‘Focus on health inequalities’ is being led by the Public Health Agency (PHA), with contributions from a wide range of partners in the community, voluntary and statutory sector. It runs from 27 October 2010 and the concluding event is a major PHA conference ‘Meeting the challenge: Economics and a healthier society’, 24 November in Newtownabbey.Commenting on the ‘Focus on health inequalities’ programme Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive, PHA says

Issued on behalf of the Colin Health for All Suicide Prevention Task GroupA special meeting of the Colin Health for All – Suicide Prevention Task Group took place on Thursday (21 October) to respond to community concerns about the number of recent suicides in the area.At the meeting representatives from a wide range of community, statutory, voluntary partners and local groups took part in the first steps in putting together a community response plan, to address the issues relating to recent tragic events and loss of life.

The HSC Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency wishes to draw your attention to the attached call for the Bamford Implementation Rapid Review Scheme. (Document attached below). The closing date for applications is 18 November 2010 at 4.00pm.

As the new school year gets well underway, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine which reduces the risk of cervical cancer is again being routinely offered to girls aged 12-13 years (Year 9) in schools across Northern Ireland. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is asking all parents to consent to their daughters receiving the HPV vaccine which protects against two strains of the virus, types 16 and 18 that cause around 70% of cervical cancer cases.

To mark Alcohol Awareness Week (18–24 October), the Public Health Agency (PHA) is highlighting the real cost of alcohol misuse to Northern Ireland. With the government spending review imminent, there has never been a better time to reduce the impact of alcohol misuse on health and other public services.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has declared an outbreak of measles after eight cases of the disease have occurred in Northern Ireland over the past few weeks. This is the second outbreak of measles here this year.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is delighted to welcome the Ulster Museum as the latest member of its Breastfeeding welcome here scheme. The Ulster Museum is one of the four museums of the National Museums Northern Ireland who are now all members of this PHA initiative which aims to improve health through supporting breastfeeding mothers and babies . The others museums involved include The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Armagh County Museum and the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh.

As World Mental Health Day 2010 approaches on Sunday 10 October, the Public Health Agency (PHA) acknowledges the challenges facing individuals, communities, voluntary, statutory and government organisations in tackling mental ill health.

The Public Health Agency is urging poultry workers to take up the free flu vaccine that is available to them. The programme runs from October to December.