Saturday 11 December is Organ Donation Discussion Day. A day which encourages everyone to think about organ donation, register a decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register, and to talk about that decision with loved ones. As Christmas approaches, most of us are working through our shopping gift lists. But there’s one very special gift that we could all consider – the ‘gift of life’ through organ donation. Each year, hundreds of lives are saved and transformed by organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Last year in Northern Ireland, 51 families supported the life-saving gift of organ

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to remember the basic steps to help reduce their risk of catching or spreading COVID-19 ahead of the festive period – wear a face covering, maintain social distancing, and practise good hand hygiene – as well as keeping rooms well-ventilated and getting the COVID-19 vaccine or booster if you are eligible. Dr Brid Farrell, Deputy Director of Public Health at the PHA, said : “December and the festive period are traditionally times when we meet up with others and spend extended time with them, and understandably many people will want to catch up

The latest sexual health figures released today by the Public Health Agency (PHA) in its ‘Sexually Transmitted Infection surveillance in Northern Ireland 2021: An analysis of data for the calendar year 2020’ report show a decrease in the number of new Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) diagnoses made in Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinics in Northern Ireland and an increase in demand for home STI testing kits. In 2020, the number of sexual health screens in GUM clinics decreased 72% when compared with 2019. During 2020 there was a 43% decrease in new STI diagnoses, 20% in other STI

The Department of Justice welcomes applications from suitably qualified and skilled communications experts to be registered under the statutory Registered Intermediary Scheme. The Department of Justice manages the statutory Registered Intermediary Scheme which launched initially in May 2013. As a result of increasing demand for the service the Department has decided to launch a recruitment campaign for more Registered Intermediaries (RIs) in order to build resilience and ensure that there are sufficient RIs for DOJ to meet its statutory responsibilities in respect of the scheme and to respond

Ulster University has become a member of the Public Health Agency’s ‘Breastfeeding Welcome Here’ scheme, which is an initiative that aims to make it easier for mums to recognise places where they can breastfeed their baby when they are out and about. The University has joined a network of ‘Breastfeeding Welcome Here’ venues that include many cafes, restaurants, shops and other businesses across Northern Ireland, and in doing so has agreed that: breastfeeding is acceptable in all areas of the business premises open to the general public a mother who is breastfeeding in an area of the business

A change in rapid COVID-19 tests which requires post-primary school pupils to swab only their nose is helping to make regular asymptomatic testing easier. School pupils in years 8-14 are asked to test themselves at home twice a week using Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests to help prevent those who may have the virus but not have symptoms from spreading COVID-19. The switch to the ACON Flowflex nose-only test for asymptomatic pupils will also see quicker return times for results, with the LFD giving a reading 15-30 minutes after taking the test. Dr Louise Herron, Consultant in Public Health

On World AIDS Day (1 December) the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging everyone to practise safer sex and get tested early if they have put themselves at risk. A new report from the PHA shows that there are 1,234 people in Northern Ireland living with HIV. The ‘HIV surveillance in Northern Ireland 2021’ data also shows that 60 new cases of HIV were diagnosed here in 2020. The report provides analysis of the HIV data for Northern Ireland in 2020 and trends over the years. Dr Gillian Armstrong , Interim Head of Health Protection in Public Health at the PHA, said: “The report shows a five

The Public Health Agency is reminding the public not to touch dead birds. The reminder comes following a Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) announcement about the presence of avian influenza in two wild birds retrieved from the Belfast Waterworks site last week. Dr Philip Veal, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, said:“Human infections with avian influenza are rare. However you should observe the following advice to prevent any other risks to your health: do not pick up or touch sick, dying or dead poultry or wild birds, and keep pets away from them; avoid