02 Oct 2018

Health and well-being are more than the absence of diseases but are resources allowing people to realise their aspirations, satisfy their needs and cope with the environment in order to live long productive and fruitful lives.

Speaking at a health and wellness workshop in Bobonong recently, district AIDS coordinator, Mr Kabo Kgwaraga, explained that well-being included mental and physical health resulting in more holistic approaches towards dealing with non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

Well-being, he said, was associated with fitness at work, in the family and economically related activities.

Mr Kgwaraga said good welfare was a positive outcome that was meaningful for many sectors and it was through good well-being that workers perceived that their lives were going well.

He said higher levels of wellbeing were associated with decreased risk of disease, illness and injury adding that individuals with high levels of wellbeing were more productive and more likely to contribute to their communities.

Mr Kgwaraga said tracking conditions of wellness was important for public policy adding that many indicators used for measuring living conditions failed to measure what people thought and felt about their lives such as positive emotions, resilience or the overall satisfaction with life.

He said workers’ daily routine hindered them from coming up with activities that could make them lead good lives.

He encouraged sectors to promote health, safety and wellness at the workplace by hosting activities such as wellness celebrations, health /wellness fairs and disease screening. ENDS