Nigeria ranks amongst the highest in sub Sharan Africa with over 10 million people living with diabetes.
In order to promote occupational health, The Hydro Electric power producing Areas Development Commission HYPPADEC has flagged off a medical outreach to cushion the effects and spread of this disease and other medical conditions amongst its staff.
The average worker is believed to spend one third of their lives at work.
This paves way for the work environment to have a significant impact on their health and wellbeing.
For too many workers today, they are forced to work in unhealthy work environments.
They are far more likely to experience mental and physical health problems including stress, anxiety, depression hypertension and other negative outcomes which does not only affect their productivity at work but their family lives as well.
Corporate organisations and government agencies are beginning to square in on Occupational health hazard in order to promote and maintain the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of their staff.
The Hydro Electric power producing Areas Development Commission HYPPADEC, is a federal government agency set up to address ecological challenges confronting communities that host Hydro power producing dams
It is organising a health week for its staff to check for hypertension and diabetes and provide treatment.
Effective workplace health and wellbeing programmes have a positive impact on worker productivity and performance .
Staff of the commission were screened for diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis, high blood pressure and other health conditions.
A box of strips for testing blood sugar is about N6,000 and patients need one or two per month Which is why they believe the medical outreach will benefit them greatly.
While physical health is receiving attention mental health should equally be considered for true wellness to be achieved.
The HYPPADEC decision is a confirmation of the mantra that a healthy workforce is an effective Workforce.
