The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding everyone of the need to clean your hands thoroughly and regularly on days out with the family. The call comes on the World Health Organization’s World Hand Hygiene Day [5 May], which this year highlights how important hand hygiene is in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alison Griffiths, Nurse Consultant Health Protection at the PHA, said: “The summer months are a great time for day trips, but we want people to have pleasant memories, so by following a few simple hygiene tips, you can have a fantastic time and stay well. “Open farms and swimming

This Sun Awareness Week (1-7 May), the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland are encouraging everyone to be UV aware and to follow our top tips on getting the best from your sunscreen and reducing your risk of skin cancer. This year’s campaign focus will be on the need for sun protection in the UK climate, aiming to tackle misconceptions that sun protection is rarely needed here. The Solar UV Index shows how much solar radiation is reaching us from the sun and how careful we need to be. Ultraviolet (UV) levels vary with the seasons and time of day, but when the UV index

The BSO and nine partner HSC organisations are currently consulting on their draft Equality and Disability Action Plans 2023-2028. As part of the consultation we will be holding two consultation events on the following dates: Thursday 25 May 2023 – 11.00am -12.00pm Tuesday 20 June 2023 – 2.30pm -3.30pm The purpose of the events is to provide an opportunity for you to tell us what you think about the action plans and for us to listen to your views. The consultation events will be held online via Microsoft Teams. If you are interested in attending the events, please contact us to register by 12

With about 1 in 20 people developing bowel cancer in their lifetime, t he Public Health Agency (PHA) is highlighting how being alert to the possible symptoms and taking part in screening could help save your life. April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and the PHA said that b owel cancer is the third most common cancer identified in both men and women and is also the second most common cause of cancer death among people in Northern Ireland. Bowel cancer screening is offered to everyone in Northern Ireland aged 60–74 and is aimed at people who do not have any symptoms. Those eligible will

The ultimate goal of World Immunisation Week is for more people and their communities to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is therefore using this week to remind the public that in Northern Ireland everyone at some point in their lifetime will be eligible for free vaccination. World Immunisation Week is celebrated in the last week of April (24 to 30), and aims to highlight the collective action needed to improve uptake and to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. Louise Flanagan, Consultant in Public Health at

The Public Health Agency is carrying out an important study on the views and experiences of young people towards e-cigarettes/vaping. This study will help us understand young people’s knowledge, perceptions, beliefs and attitudes towards vaping and inform the future design of targeted interventions and communications with regards to vape use by young people. We are inviting post-primary school pupils to participate in an on-line survey. The PHA do not have access to the name and contact details of every post-primary school pupil so they will be invited to take part in the survey by an email

A new campaign focussing on the importance of looking after your eyesight and the benefits of regular eye checks has been launched in pharmacies across Northern Ireland. ‘Look after your eyes’ is running in community pharmacies throughout April and May as part of the Living Well service. It highlights the importance of eye health and aims to increase awareness of how to protect and look after your eyes. Living Well is offered in over 500 pharmacies across Northern Ireland and provides information and advice on public health issues. It is delivered in partnership with the Public Health Agency