Africa Centre Wellness Day

BY: .

Research shows that many employee wellness programmes reduce absenteeism, staff member turnover rates, and healthcare costs, and often lead to higher productivity.

Studies have also confirmed that the programmes can also boost morale, and improve health and fitness.

A partnership between UKZN, the UKZN Medical Scheme, Discovery Vitality Health and the Africa Centre, resulted in a successful annual Wellness Day event at the Africa Centre. This year, the programme was run while UKZN was launching its employees’ wellness website that aims to support all UKZN and Africa Centre staff.

‘It is vitally important that we encourage employees to regularly be screened for common but lethal ailments like diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure since these are manageable if diagnosed in time,’ said Ms Phillipa Hempson, the Principal Officer of the UKZN Medical Scheme.

Mr Russell Mnguni of the UKZN Human Resource Development Unit highlighted that a healthy-habits survey conducted by Discovery Vitality in 2014 revealed that diabetes was highly prevalent. It also revealed that there was a need to educate South African people around nutrition intake, and physical and mental fitness.

Lihle Sosibo