School of Clinical Medicine Holds Healthy Lifestyle Event for Staff

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UKZN’s School of Clinical Medicine (SCM) closed its awareness campaign for the year with a healthy living event which was well attended by SCM staff.

A healthy lifestyle is a way of living that lowers the risk of being seriously ill or dying at an early age. Good health is not only about avoiding disease it also involves physical, mental and social wellbeing.

‘Not all diseases are preventable but a large proportion of deaths, particularly those from coronary heart disease and lung cancer, can be avoided,’ said Operations Manager at the School of Clinical Medicine, Mrs Antoinette Botha. ‘As a School we encourage staff to work towards leading healthy lives, which include healthy eating, physical activities, and weight and stress management,’

Chiropractor, Dr Lauren Bezuidenhout spoke on ways to reduce pain and improve the functionality of patients as well as educating them on how they can manage their own health through exercise, ergonomics and other therapies for back pain.

Dietician, Ms Phumelele Mthembu stressed the importance of a person being aware about what they are eating by doing research on the nutritional value of food. ‘It is important to know how much sugar, fat or salt are in food we eat in order to minimise risks of diabetes, obesity and other issues. To see people benefit from changes they make to their eating habits and know I contributed to those changes gives me great joy and pleasure,’ said Mthembu.

Dr Monique Olivier stressed the importance of taking good quality multi-vitamins regularly to supplement one’s immune system.

Words and Photograph: Lihle Sosibo