By Tabisa Mntengwana
June 26, 2009

A HEALTHY worker is a profitable worker, says the mayor, and to keep City staff in tiptop shape, Buffalo City’s Employee Wellness Centre was officially opened on Wednesday, 24 June.

The centre, which began operating in 2005, provides primary health care to City employees, with the main aim of promoting healthy lifestyles among its workers.

Speaking at the launch, Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku said: “Today we are witnessing the realisation of a key aspiration of the Buffalo City council, which is the provision of a facility that [provides] an impressive range of multifaceted health services to all its employees, including councillors.”

The day kicked off with a welcome note by Louis Wulff, the general manager of human resources.

Then Nick Bronkhorst, the centre’s occupational risk co-ordinator, spoke about its beginnings, saying it opened for operation in 2005. It was built with funds from the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida).

In 2001, Sida initiated an urban development programme to help improve the lives of the people of Buffalo City.

Faku also thanked the City’s Swedish development partners, “who unselfishly made available the necessary funds for this and other health-related programmes.”

Giving her keynote address, Faku said: “We believe that a healthy worker is a profitable worker and we endeavour to ensure that our attitude towards our employees reflects this perspective.”

The municipality had a moral obligation to safeguard the wellness of its employees physically, spiritually and otherwise.

Bronkhorst explained that the centre catered for all categories of City employee and was designed to accommodate the sick and provide a service beyond perceivable health infirmities, like trauma counseling, and voluntary counselling and testing for HIV and Aids.

The day continued with a candlelight session led by the centre’s health practitioner, Nocawe Gqola. She said the candles were lit in honour of all those who had died from Aids-related illnesses.

“The purpose of this act is also to raise awareness and educate people about the pandemic.”

The day concluded with the unveiling of a plaque by Faku. She said the centre would also help employees with drinking and other substance abuse problems.

“The end result will not only benefit the employee but also discourage absenteeism and improve the number of profitable work hours for the municipality,” she said.