05 Dec 2023

Health workers have been advised to prioritse their health as they are not immune from health risks.

Officiating at the Ministry of Health’s inter-games in Francistown yesterday, the chief executive officer of Stockfort Health, Dr Mogwera Mogalakwe said health workers were the unsung heroes and were at the centre of  the healthcare system.

“They are on the frontlines of patient care, working tirelessly to save lives and improve health outcomes and in the process, they often put their own health at risk,” said Dr Mogalakwe.

 Dr Mogalakwe also appealed to health workers to support each other and to ensure that they were able to take care of themselves as well as their patients, adding that their well-being was essential to the health of their communities.

Dr Mogalakwe further said health workers were faced with increasing pandemics  including HIV/AIDS, mental health, non communicable diseases and road accidents.

Speaking at the same event, the SHE coordinator in the Ministry of Health, Ms Ellen Kaovera said the national inter-health games were a vital part of promoting healthy lifestyles and improving the wellbeing of staff members and the community. She said by engaging in physical activity and socialising with others, participants would improve their overall health and reduce stress levels. 

In addition to the physical benefits, Ms Kaovera said the games provided an opportunity for participants to build relationships and foster a sense of community.

She said the goal of the games was to promote health and wellness among all those involved, adding that  the games were an opportunity to honour healthcare workers and to remind them of the importance of compassionate and patient-centered care.

“Healthcare workers can be inspired to provide the best possible care to their clients and to make a positive impact on the lives of those they serve,” she said. She  added that the games provided a unique opportunity to recognise and celebrate the important work of healthcare professionals.

Ms Kaovera also underscored that healthcare workers were just like anyone else as they were vulnerable to illness and health challenges.

She added that despite the risks they faced, they were on the frontlines of patient care everyday.

She said the games encouraged health workers to participate in a range of physical and mental health activities, including sport competitions, healthy eating challenges and mindfulness exercises.

For his part, life coach, Mr Jeremiah Dikgang said suicide cases in Botswana had reached alarming levels with mental health issues being a major contributing factor.

He said the latest statistics indicated that mental health issues were responsible for a significant portion of suicide cases in the country. 

“This qualifies mental health as a pandemic, as it is affecting a large number of people and having a devastating impact on society,” he said, adding that everything must be done to address the mental health crisis in the country through both prevention and treatment.

The Ministry of Health inter-health games were first held in Gaborone in 2014 with to promote healthy lifestyles among employees. 

They games also provide an opportunity for staff members from various health facilities to come together and engage in friendly competition. Ends