14 November 2005

By Ofentse Mokubetsi

THE mood was buoyant as City staff got into the swing of things at a recent wellness day, held by Mogale City to promote healthy living.

Held at Bob Van Reenen Stadium, council employees were tested for HIV/Aids, hypertension, diabetes and high blood pressure. They were also able to show off their sporting skills - soccer, netball and indigenous games like chicago, diketo, kgati and morabaraba were played.

According to organiser Priscilla Lekgetho, a specialist social worker in the Employee Assistance Programme, the initiative was to maintain employees' wellbeing in the working environment.

"Employees' health goes hand-in-hand with service delivery and it is important to have knowledge on their health status," she explained.

She added that few council employees had chronic disease; those who did needed to be treated regularly. HIV/Aids was the main concern in the working environment.

Based in the City's human resources department, Lekgetho kick-started her duties when she organised a candlelit memorial to remember those workers who had died of Aids-related illnesses.

She is also responsible for providing measures aiming at enhancing the quality of life of all City employees. The Employees Assistance Programme provides help to staff who are infected with or affected by HIV/Aids, the disabled and those with emotional problems, like depression, anxiety, stress, grief or loss.

Councillor Lashman Baloyi, the governance portfolio head, attended the event and urged employees to deal seriously with diseases such as HIV/Aids.

"We have learn to abstain from sexual activities or condomise so that we can have a productive achievement in the workplace," Baloyi said.

There was also voluntary counselling for employees on offer on the day.

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