Taking good care of your health at work

“I do not have time to workout, I am caught in between delivering my daily work targets and at the end of the day, I am beyond exhausted, all I want to do is shower, eat and sleep,” says Julie Namara, an administrator at a company in Kampala.

Does she ever find time to exercise? As if feeling guilty, she quips,” but I try to eat a healthy diet.”

Namara is not alone. She is in the same situation with majority of Ugandans who work the 8am – 5pm jobs - the so called “white collar jobs.”

“The only time I leave my desk is when I have a meeting outside office and even then, there is an office car to drive me to the meeting. I take my lunch at the office,” Julie adds.

Her work routine like many who are employed in the formal sector does little to improve her health but is a rather large contributor to major health complications when compared to somebody whose work routine involves a lot of physical activity. The latter burns thousands of calories.

Exercise regularly
What does this mean in terms of one’s health and risk exposure to the so-called “lifestyle diseases”?

Dr Kaddu Mukasa, a specialist in non-communicable diseases (NCD), says while some NCDs take long without detection, they can be avoided through regular exercises and a dietary watch.

“Diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cancers, arthritis, obesity and cardiovascular diseases are slowly eating their way into our society, NCDs share common risk factors like an unhealthy diet, smoking, excessive alcohol use and physical inactivity,” Dr Mukasa warns.

“All of us need to do regular health assessments to help detect these diseases earlier.

“Apart from the check-ups which may be a little costly, we can incorporate regular exercises in our daily routine which can be done at home like jogging or rope skipping,” he advises.

Dr Mukasa says lifestyle diseases have become common in our society due to poor eating habits and lack of exercise.

A wide range of fitness exercises can help one meet their needed fitness levels so as to uplift wellbeing and health to the optimum levels, something that will go a long way in helping prevent lifestyle related diseases.

Change your lifestyle
The doctor says making right lifestyle choices will largely stop non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes – which the World Health Organisation (WHO) reckons, are neglected globally from striking early.

Worrying statistical trends indicate that by 2025, the burden of NCDs will reach epidemic levels which will be largely due to demographic transition, a population that is increasingly aging with urbanisation, mechanisation and sedentary lifestyles.

Dr Mukasa says, “We can all change our routine. Our health is the most important thing that we should guard. If we are not healthy then how can we take care of our families?” he asks.

He advises Namara to incorporate exercises in her daily routine, wake up early in the morning to jog or skip rope.

“This will not only rejuvenate her day but will go a long way in burning up the calories. She can also opt to do the same in the evening after work.”

Employee wellness programmes
According to the doctor, another option that has already been well received in the western world is providing Employee Wellness programmes at work.

“Employee wellness programmes provide workers with healthy lifestyle choices and may just be the cure for companies struggling to keep up with rapidly rising health care costs,” he says.

He says the programmes are an effective way to help employees, live healthier lives.

Such company initiatives that promote worker wellness – from on-site yoga classes to smoking cessation programmes are becoming more widespread in the western world as employers wrestle with soaring health care costs.

“Companies can set up health clubs with facilities for workers to exercise. Amenities like cafeterias that provide workers with healthier foods like vegetables can be set up,” Dr Mukasa stresses.

According to the doctor, such programmes help the employees stay fit, healthy and also impact on their output.

“To the employer, the benefit will be reduced medical insurance costs and absenteeism from work because of sickness,” says Patrick Waweru, the Employee Benefit Manager at Aon Uganda.

“It is a smart and cost-effective way to promote employee wellness and morale, which in the long run could help reduce the firm’s medical costs,” adds Waweru.

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