By Nangamso Mabindla
12 June 2008

THE health of City staff is on the agenda this week at the municipality’s annual wellness week in East London. The programme started on Monday, 9 June and ends on Friday, 13 June.

To ensure its success, the City invited different partners like Netcare 911, medical aid schemes that serve municipal employees, the provincial department of labour and the City’s occupational health services, to take part.

The aim of the programme is to measure the physical, mental and psychological wellness of municipal employees. They underwent several tests - glucose and cholesterol levels, eyesight, weight and height - and were given advice on leading healthy lifestyles.

Advice for people with drug and alcohol-related problems were given advice by the City’s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) unit, which also counselled HIV-positive staff members through its peer education and treatment programmes.

EAP practitioner Nocawa Gqola said the unit also spoke about in-house programmes for trauma and substance abuse. “We refer people with sever alcohol and substance abuse problems to the South African National Council for Addiction; we work very closely with [it],” she said.

Staff member Nomthandazo Njingana said that the programme was very beneficial to her because it made her aware of her health status. “I am happy because I know that my blood level is very good; which means I am healthy and not diabetic. I was worried because I thought I had the illness.”

Emergency medical services provider Netcare 911 trained staff on providing first aid and the City’s disaster management unit trained people on responding to fires.

The wellness programme will move to King William’s Town for staff from the inland region.