Montego Bay, July 12, 2019 – Jamaica – The Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) is encouraging more corporate entities in St. James to establish health and wellness programmes for employees.
Regional Health Promotion and Education
Officer at the WRHA, Marcelene Wheatle, says more than 20 corporate entities in
the parish have taken steps to develop a health and wellness programme for
staff, and the Authority is making an
effort to engage more companies to join the thrust.
“If they (corporate entities) want to
be good corporate citizens, they should consider implementing a workplace
wellness programme. Presently, as part of the thrust of the Minister of Health
and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, we [the Ministry] want to
increase the number before year end,” she said.
Mrs. Wheatle was speaking with JIS News following the launch of global
customer care and technology company, 24-7 Intouch’s corporate wellness
programme, on July 3 at the company’s office, Freeport, Montego Bay, St. James
“Thirty minutes of physical activity
five days per week is the take-home message we are pushing for our workplaces
and any other wellness initiative. We want individuals to get physically active,
because data is showing that a great portion of the Jamaican population is
inactive,” Mrs. Wheatle said. She argued
that a healthy workforce will likely result in enhanced productivity and can
lead to substantial healthcare cost-saving opportunities.
“Evidence has shown that within a
workplace wellness programme, with peer support it goes a long way. In terms of
the cost factor, you would have reduced absenteeism, as well as [there is] the
likelihood of less health insurance being paid, so these are some long-term
benefits,” Mrs. Wheatle noted.
Contact: Nickieta Sterling
Release: JIS