One year on from the introduction of Dáithi’s Law, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has welcomed the increase in the number of donors and families supporting organ donation. Saturday 1 June marks one year since the Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 came into effect in Northern Ireland. Known as ‘Dáithí’s Law’ in recognition of s even year-old Dáithí Mac Gabhann – who has been on the waiting list for a heart transplant since 2018 - t he law means that adults in NI are considered potential organ donors unless they choose to opt in or opt out, or are in an

Poignant and thought-provoking images of children waiting for ONE phone call which will change their lives will now be display for public viewing in Belfast. Arranged to coincide with the first anniversary of the change in law to an opt-out system of organ donation, the exhibition features Dáithí Mac Gabhann who has been waiting for the gift of a new heart since 2018. The 1 June will also mark 6 years since he was added to the list. During this time his family have worked tirelessly to campaign for a move towards soft opt-out law and to promote organ donation. The law means, in the event that

A school principal has said that he has noticed pupils having more energy and are more engaged when they have walked to school. Glenwood Primary School in Belfast is taking part in Walk to School Week [20–24 May] as part of this year’s Active School Travel (AST) programme with Sustrans, funded by Public Health Agency (PHA) and Department for Infrastructure. Wesley Wright, Principal at Glenwood Primary School, said: “When our children walk to school there is a real buzz when they arrive and sense of camaraderie when they walk with their friends or family members. When they arrive at school

The Farm Families Health Checks Programme, which offers on-the-spot health checks to rural communities through a mobile unit attending marts and community-based events, has marked the 25,000 th client to avail of the service at this year’s Balmoral Show. The Public Health Agency (PHA) partners with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to develop and co-fund this programme, and it has been successfully delivered by the Northern Trust since March 2012 to help improve the health and social wellbeing of farmers and farm families across Northern Ireland. Health

New figures from the Public Health Agency (PHA) show a total of 31,851 transactions were made by the Needle and Syringe Exchange Service (NSES) across Northern Ireland in 2023. Helping to stop the spread of infection from potential drug-related litter and sharing of injecting equipment, the NSES also provides those who use the service with direct contact with a health professional who can help them engage with additional services they may require. Anyone who injects substances can use a needle exchange service to access clean equipment, and this includes people who inject substances such as

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging people who are immunosuppressed to top up their COVID-19 protection this spring. Individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed should receive a spring booster dose of the vaccine, typically six months after their last dose to ensure they have the best protection against becoming ill with COVID-19. Immunosuppression means you have a weakened immune system due to a health condition or because you are on medication or treatment that suppresses your immune system. This includes patients undergoing chemotherapy or organ transplant, those

This Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May), the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Sport NI have teamed up to encourage everyone to move more for their mental health and wellbeing. Our physical health can have a big impact on how we feel and what we do with our body can have a powerful effect on your mental wellbeing. Fiona Teague, Regional Lead for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing at the PHA, said: “The benefits of getting active for your mental and emotional wellbeing cannot be overstated. “That’s why we are so keen for people to get moving more this Mental Health Awareness Week. Use

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging pregnant women and the parents of young children to book an appointment for the pertussis vaccine to help protect their children after a significant rise in cases of whooping cough. A highly contagious and sometimes serious bacterial infection, there have been 769 confirmed cases of whooping cough (pertussis) so far this year in Northern Ireland compared with just two between 2021 and 2023. Louise Flanagan, Consultant in Public Health at the PHA, said: “Whooping cough spreads very easily and can make babies and young children in particular very ill, and

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is emphasising the importance of getting the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine as it confirmed that a number of linked cases of measles have been identified in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area. This brings the total cases of measles in Northern Ireland to 10 laboratory confirmed cases. Louise Flanagan, Consultant in Public Health at the PHA, said: “Measles is highly infectious and is caused by a virus that can easily spread between unvaccinated people, which is what has happened here. This cluster impacts two schools, which thankfully have