Ahead of World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August), the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging greater support for parents who choose to breastfeed. Following this year’s theme of “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding”, the PHA is highlighting the important role that friends and family members have in supporting breastfeeding mums. Janet Calvert, the PHA’s lead for breastfeeding, said: “Breastfeeding isn’t just a one-person task. Yes it’s the mums who feed, but when fathers, partners, families, workplaces, and communities show their support, mums are more likely to start breastfeeding and

This World Hepatitis Day [Sunday 28 July], the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging everyone who thinks they may be at risk of having contracted hepatitis to get tested and treated. Viral hepatitis is one of the leading causes of death globally, accounting for 1.34 million deaths per year. In Northern Ireland, 100 hepatitis B infections and 93 hepatitis C infections were reported in 2018. Dr Anna McKeever, Specialist Registrar in Public Health at the PHA, explained: “Although relatively uncommon in Northern Ireland, hepatitis B and C can be serious, potentially life-threatening infections

Over 500 pharmacies across Northern Ireland are currently offering advice to patients and customers on how they can stay safe in the sun. This is part of the new Living Well service which offers advice to pharmacy visitors on public health issues. It is a partnership between the Public Health Agency (PHA), the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI). There are two elements to Living Well. Firstly, opportunistic interventions to help reduce risk factors which cause illness in Northern Ireland. Issues covered will include high blood pressure, tobacco use, harmful

Needle and syringe exchange schemes (NSES) are supporting the health and wellbeing of our whole community and provide those who inject substances with direct access to a health professional, who can help them in engaging with treatment services to address their drug misuse. That’s is one the key messages from the Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Health and Social Care Board in their 2017/18 NSES annual report. The publication details the number of visits to the 21 NSES services that participated in the PHA-funded scheme for the period 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018. A total of 30,065 visits

As many get ready for Twelfth of July celebrations, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging anyone choosing to drink to keep an eye on their alcohol intake by making a plan of setting a limit and sticking to it. The PHA’s Drugs and Alcohol lead Michael Owen said: “A lot of people will be making plans to meet up with their friends and family to celebrate the Twelfth and we are encouraging them to keep an eye on their alcohol intake should they choose to drink. “By setting a plan, you can avoid binge drinking which has been shown to have adverse effects on our health and safety. “It’s

An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially fatal condition which can particularly affect older men, but can be detected with a simple ultrasound screening test. In Northern Ireland the AAA Screening Programme offers this test to men in the year they turn 65. The success of the programme, in detecting and successfully managing this condition, has been highlighted at an event in Belfast attended by men who have benefitted from the programme. The aorta is the main artery that supplies blood to the body, and runs from the heart down through the chest and abdomen (belly). As some people