Africa-Press – Seychelles. The health, safety and risk management section of the Ministry of Education held its first Wellbeing Day, comprising a number of activities geared at overall health and wellbeing, yesterday.
The activity which was targeted primarily at ministry staff and professionals from different schools consisted of an exercise and yoga session, as well as opportunities to interact with health professionals from various departments of the Ministry of Health.
Director of health, safety and risk management, Regina Prosper, noted that the emphasis was on promoting health practices within the workplace, as well as day-to-day life, and to encourage healthy lifestyles.
Asides from tips regarding healthy practices, staff could also undergo certain tests on-site and setting appointments with the relevant health units.
Despite the less than expected turnout, there is demand for the ministry to repeat such activities.
The Wellbeing programme was initiated and implemented at the beginning of the year. So far, the section has organised a number of training sessions with the support of the Ministry of Health.
Through such sessions, ministry staff, as well as those from professional centres, have been trained to conduct basic blood pressure and blood sugar level checks, measure height and weight and calculate body mass 5 dex (BMI).
Importantly, one of the programme’s focus is on nutrition and healthy eating. Trained education professionals have had the opportunity to put into practice the skills acquired during the sessions, within their respective institutions.
The ministry will be expanding the programme to staff of primary and secondary schools, although the programme is yet to be finalised.
“We have established safety teams in schools whose focus is health and safety within their respective schools. They have a sub-group whereby each member has a specific responsibility, but we are still training people,” Ms Prosper.
“As part of the programme, we will be acquiring at least one blood pressure testing equipment for each school, so they can conduct the tests. This will allow for such tests to be conducted on school compound, and save someone from having to go to a health facility to have a simple blood pressure test,” Ms Prosper noted.
The ministry has already acquired two testing devices and also has facilities to test for blood sugar levels.
This will also help to reduce pressure on health facilities, Ms Prosper added.
Considering that teaching professionals stand and sit for long periods of time during the course of a typical work day, the ministry thought it important to implement the programme.
“We are satisfied with what we have achieved so far, considering the size of the section and the limited resources. We want to do more. We want to touch more people and roll-out more activities, which is why we want the schools to initiate their own activities, while we focus on the coordination,” Ms Prosper added.
Yesterday’s Wellbeing Day activity was a great success, Ms Prosper remarked.
Importer of foodstuffs International Food Solutions (IFS) donated yoghurts to all the Wellbeing Day participants. The company has vowed to support the section with the programme at school-level.
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