Any workplace should promote health activity and policy to support healthy behavior among employees and to improve health outcomes. Known as ‘corporate well-being’.
It can consist of diverse activities such as on-site health education/fairs; free medical screenings; health coaching; weight loss, stress management and smoking cessation programs; wellness communiques, on-site fitness programs and facilities; health club memberships with spa , company wellness competitions; and financial and other incentives for participation.
Workplace wellness has been expanded over the past decade to encompass the creation of a “culture of health” within the worksite but very small slice of the working populations around Africa are benefiting from it through various programs and Malawi is far behind in introducing such initiative.
Workplace wellness programs have been touted as ways to enhance morale, boost productivity, reduce turnover, and lower health care costs, in addition to improving health.
Opportunities exist for employers to alter physical workspaces; influence how employees spend their time; facilitate employees’ interactions; share information with employees; finance health insurance; and motivate employees through a variety of mechanisms, including financial incentives.
Policy makers should take note of the expanded set of benefits that may result from effective wellness programs. For example, older workers who have participated in wellness programs and successfully reduced their risks of chronic disease may have lower medical care spending as they transition into Medicare at age sixty-five.
on the continent while we continues to focus on basic rights facilities, primary health care, working conditions and safety.
Where countries with the middle class in fast-growing economies, such as South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, are becoming more interested in fitness and healthy eating.
Introduction corporate wellbeing should be an integral part of development in Africa
