The first annual report of the Director of Public Health for Northern Ireland was published today. This significant report highlights the many public health challenges that affect people in Northern Ireland. Dr Carolyn Harper, Director of Public Health leads the public health team that tackles this complex agenda, working with many statutory, community and voluntary partner organizations across health, local government, education, housing and other sectors.

With the school holidays about to start, the Public Health Agency (PHA) wishes to remind parents about the importance of children washing their hands after visiting farms and handling farm animals.

The Public Health Agency has welcomed the publication of research by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister which reveals that poverty here has a real and negative impact on children's outcomes at the age of five. The research examined data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a study following around 19,000 children born in the UK in 2000/2001, of which around 1,800 were from Northern Ireland.

Adults and children from the Marlacoo area of Co Armagh have taken part in a health initiative encouraging participation in physical activity and healthy eating. The healthy lifestyle programme was funded by the Southern Investing for Health Partnership’s (SIHP) Small Grants Programme. (A partnership supported by the Public Health Agency). Marlacoo Rural Association applied to the SIHP for funding to host a number of projects aimed at increasing physical activity and raising awareness of the health related benefits of exercise and healthy eating.