24 Aug 2014

Residents of Donga in Francistown have been encouraged to take wellness activities seriously as they have an impact on their lives.

The director of Health Policy Development, Monitoring and Evaluation (HPDME), Ms Boikanyo Chalashika said during the Institute of Health Sciences (HIS) wellness day recently that wellness envisaged on achieving one of the Vision 2016 pillars; that of a compassionate, just and caring nation.

Ms Chalashika stated that efforts made by the Francistown IHS showed that they care for the communities around them, a clear reflection of their corporate social responsibility.

Further, she said that the institute has gone an extra mile beyond their mandate of teaching and learning to engage in community participation.

In addition, she said the theme, My Wellness My Responsibility My Pride,” calls for one to introspect and find out if their health problems have not been caused by lack of self-pride, lack of responsibility and self-control.

Ms Chalashika noted that the theme also demands everyone to be responsible for their own health.

Wellness is optimal health and vitality, encompassing physical, emotional intellectual, spiritual, interpersonal, social and environmental well-being, she said.

Prevention is better than cure and therefore people need to engage in a healthy lifestyle that could minimise the risks for chronic non communicable disease, commonly known as lifestyle disease, she added.

She said the pursuit of health, personal growth and improved quality of life relies on living a balanced life, adding that to achieve balance one needs to care for their mind, body and spirit.

She noted that proper nutrition, regular exercise and maintenance of non-risky behaviour are choices for holistic health and wellness.

For her part, principal registered nurse at Nyangabwe Referral Hospital, Ms Utlwanang Modise said that they spend most of their time in the workplace and should strive to make the environment friendly and conducive.

Ms Modise said an assessment revealed that 89 per cent of respondents experienced work related stress due to different challenges, 69 per cent expressed a need for professional counselling services, with 75 per cent indicating the need for stress management services.

She noted that over half  suggested that health and wellness services should be provided within their health facilities for easy access.

In addition, she said based on the findings of the needs assessment, the health ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, established a workplace wellness programme for health workers.

She said the purpose of the programme was to provide comprehensive services to address the unique needs of health workers so as to enhance their wellbeing. ENDS