Wellness programmes may be extensive and sometimes expensive; however there are ways to make positive change at a little or no cost thus, the Port Elizabeth hospital complex held the Employee Wellness programme on Wednesday, 14 October 2009 at provincial hospital’s recreation hall.
The purpose of the day was to promote a healthy lifestyle to prevent diseases and to reduce the risk of developing diseases. It was also aimed at improving productivity and creativity, levels of corporation morale, day to day quality working life for the employer and employee, as well as to reduce absenteeism and empower the individuals to recognise the danger signs of leading unhealthy lifestyle.
The complex’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Thulane Madonsela welcomed the guests and said that “this shouldn’t be the first and the last programme of this kind happening at the complex. He told the guests that he hopes that from that day onwards, as the complex we will have integrated employee wellness programme, which will be known and celebrated on an annual basis. He also reckoned that we will try and bring more physical training organisations to come and be part of the next wellness programme.
Teasing the audience he said, “when I entered here I asked myself, why these people are so formal whilst it’s wellness day, in future even if you are going to start at work have your tracksuit in your bag and come here running, so that we have healthy body with healthy mind. “Mr Madonsela ended his address by wishing everyone a fruitful and healthy wellness day and encouraging everyone present to take the session to greater heights.
The complex CSC Manager, Mr Mzoli Njalo captured the purpose of the day simply by quoting from the former South African President, Mr Nelson Mandela’s speech, when he said that, “a wise nation is a nation that invests on its own people.”
He went on to say that this quote is relevant to session such as these. “It’s important that we focus on these sessions, because that is how we build ourselves in our workplaces, physically and spiritually. May we have success on whatever we are going to do today and pass to others,” said Njalo.
One of the dieticians at the complex presented the nutrition guidelines to the audience. On her presentation she emphasised that being healthy doesn’t mean you have to starve yourself, she encouraged people to eat balanced healthy meals and to exercises often so as to avoid illnesses such as diabetes and obesity.
“Make it fun, you don’t have to be serious when exercising. We can live healthy life styles if we can focus on the nutrition guidelines,” said the dietician.
The Virgin Active representative conducted body exercise demonstrations and those who participated were given prises as a way of encouraging them to continue to live health and quality lives.
Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
29 October 2009
Source: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecdoh.gov.za/)
