The campaigns under the “Living Well” service are aimed to promote “key public health messages” and “address risk factors” that contribute to disease in Northern Ireland. 

Each campaign runs for two months in community pharmacies. They have been focused on: cancer awareness, mental health, sexual health, healthy living, MMR vaccinations for children’s health as well as a “Stay Well This Winter” campaign highlighting flu, Covid and RSV vaccinations. 

It is a part of the Northern Ireland health minister Mike Nesbitt’s aims to “shift left” in moving healthcare towards disease prevention and early intervention. 

Read more: CPNI launches ‘move more, feel better’ campaign 

Nesbitt praised reaching the “remarkable milestone” and the work community pharmacies play in “supporting people close to home and easing pressure on other services”. 

“This neighbourhood approach is central to building healthier communities,” he added. 

CPNI chief executive Gerard Greene said there is a “real opportunity” to build on the “Living Well” service and “really start to generate change within local neighbourhoods where community pharmacies are embedded”. 

Read more: End-of-life standards initiative launched in Northern Ireland  

“Feedback from patients and pharmacists captured in Living Well evaluation reports continually demonstrates the vital role pharmacies play in preventive healthcare and tackling health inequalities. 

“Through the highly trained and accessible health professionals in community pharmacies, there is a raft of support available to empower patients to make better choices to improve their own health and well-being, alongside many other important health interventions,” Greene said. 

The campaigns are supported by the Public Health Agency (PHA). Chief executive Aidan Dawson said community pharmacies work “reflects the important role they play as a trusted source of health advice and information”. 

Read more: NI pharmacist warned by regulator ‘prudent’ to close pharmacy 

It comes as Northern Ireland launched its first strategy for the sustainable use of medicines earlier this month. 

And the Department of Health (DH) in Northern Ireland issued a warning in August to the public not to “fall victim to criminals” selling fake weight loss medication following reports of patients being hospitalised.