20 Feb 2023

When employees know that they are supported by their leaders emotionally, physically and mentally, they are less likely to be frequently absent from work.

Francistown mayor, Mr Godisang Radisigo, said this when officially opening the Botswana Business Coalition on AIDS (BBCA) district consultative forum in Francistown recently. 

For employees, he said, frequent absenteeism meant lost productivity, additional costs and spending of more time by the human resource administration in hiring temporary replacements.

Mr Radisigo said the wellness programmes in the workplace should help increase employee morale, loyalty and retention. Through such a forum, he encouraged leaders to constantly engage, dialogue and benchmark from one another through different experiences in company wellness initiatives.

He said mentally healthy workplaces should be optimistic and beneficial to maximise the skills and talents of employees. 

“The BBCA through the support of National AIDS & Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA) is currently strengthening, sustaining coordination and partnerships of the private sector in the national response through the guidance of the National Strategic Framework,” he said.

The relationship, he said, was expected to help address health issues among them human capital in the private sector, which equally contributes to the economy of Francistown and the country at large. 

Giving an update on national response to HIV/AIDS and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), NAHPA acting chief research officer, Ms Stella Keipeile, said the goal was to closely monitor progress towards the burden of NCDs in the country through surveys.

“Our prevention pillars include targeting the key population, adolescent girls and women as well as encouraging voluntary safe male circumcision among others,” she added.

Ms Keipeile encouraged individuals and communities to fight sugar diabetes and obesity by creating healthy lifestyles and engaging in physical exercises. 

She said in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture and Ministry of Health they were assisting those who were already affected or infected to manage their health.

However, she advised men to reduce smoking tobacco and urged women to exercise. 

She further confirmed viral load suppression among adults living with HIV aged 15- 64 to be at 91.1 per cent surpassing the targeted 90 per cent. The BBCA project will cover 26 districts. ENDS