The President of the South African Women Entrepreneurs Network (SAWEN) Ms Nana Ditodi says it is crucially important for business women to take care of their health in order to enjoy their wealth. Ditodi was speaking at the inaugural SAWEN Wellness Day in Welkom, Free State yesterday.
The day was the first of a series of wellness days that the organisation, which is part of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), will be hosting throughout the country during the Women’s Month. The programme was launched by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe in Johannesburg on 1 August 2013.
In Welkom the day was characterised by networking among business women, health education and promotion, and fun activities. There were also healthcare and wellness stalls operated by key stakeholders to share and impart information on health systems and available resources.
“Let’s start taking care of our health today, so we can enjoy the wealth that we will have accumulated tomorrow. Many business women spent a lot of their time working hard to ensure that their businesses become a success and are sustainable. In the process, they do not pay much attention to their health. Business women are succumbing to preventable illnesses that result in deaths, and this can be avoided if women can actively pay extra attention to their health and well-being,” said Ditodi.
She added that it was against this background that SAWEN decided to call a halt on work among business women so they can spend at least a day focusing on their health, which she said could not be separated from the health of their businesses. The whole of August will be regarded as wellness month for SAWEN members.
“The objective of this programme, which we will take to all the provinces, is to host members as part of the networking platform to inculcate and promote healthy lifestyles. In this regard. SAWEN is being proactive by encouraging members to take their health seriously. SAWEN’s interaction with members should not be limited to business issues, but extend to their personal lives specifically with regard to health matters,” reiterated Ditodi.
She stated that healthy business women will be able to operate sustainable and successful businesses that will have a positive spin-off for the economy of South Africa
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