30 Jun 2022

Workplace wellness committees should be used to encourage healthy living and wellness.

Speaking at a wellness day event hosted by Botswana Defence Force (BDF) at Pandamatenga Military College recently, Kgosi David Mafikizolo called for revival of wellness committees in the workplace, saying it was government’s wish to see people living a healthy lifestyle. 

He said programmes offered by the committees helped in reducing health care expenses and promoted wellness.

He noted with concern a tendency by some people to ignore their health while some delayed seeking medical assistance.

He reminded his audience that absence from work due to ill health affected productivity in the workplace. 

Kgosi Mafikizolo thus advised on the need to regularly visit health facilities for testing and screening for diseases.

He said the theme: A healthy Body, a Healthy Mind Amid COVID-19, challenged all to introspect and to start taking care of their health.

On other issues, Kgosi Mafikizolo complained of the increasing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases in Pandamatenga and called on those aggrieved to seek guidance and counselling before they could resort to violence.

In his welcome remarks, the course coordinator for intake 78 of 2022, Major Ishmael Dibebe said hosting a wellness day at a time when the world was struggling with COVID-19 gave hope as it revitalised and rejuvenated participants.

He said the event was organised to provide a platform for various stakeholders to teach on living healthy lives, HIV/AIDS management in the BDF and mitigation of Non-Communicable Diseases.

Major Dibebe said the wellness activity had also included blood donation to mitigate the country’s blood bank deficit.

On the importance of keeping the body active, Warrant Officer II Oabile Tamora said physical training was critical as it conditioned the body for work.

He said physical training also helped reduce body weight, noting  that failure to control weight could lead to heart diseases and obesity.

Constable Neo Mosupiemeng shared about the newly introduced Gender and Children Production Office in the Botswana Police Service.

She said this year the office recorded five cases of assault common, three of assault occasioning, three unlawful wounding one of threat to kill, one of murder and one of rape and one of failure to comply.

Cst Mosupiemang implored men to comply with child maintenance court orders and to desist from physically abusing their partners.

A nurse in charge at Pandamatenga Base Clinic, Major Kabelo Sentsho informed the audience about family planning methods and how they should be used to avoid unwanted pregnancies that resulted in illegal abortions and maternal deaths.

Major Sentsho said it was essential to give the BDF intake information on contraceptives in order for them to make informed decisions on when to start families after completing their training. ENDS