A double dose of health for staff at Wellness fair - a nutritious smoothie by their own steam

27 Aug 2015
27 Aug 2015

From 8-9 July 2015 the UCT Human Resources Organisational Health department held a Wellness Fair at the Faculty of Health Sciences. Open to all UCT staff, health and wellness screenings conducted at the fair were aimed at monitoring common manageable conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, HIV, and psychological distress. The purpose was to provide UCT employees with an opportunity to identify possible health concerns, in order to address them before they become serious or life threatening.

A highlight at the recent UCT Wellness fair was the opportunity for staff to make a smoothie using their own energy. Staff could ‘ride’ a retro bicycle, and through their propelled power create delicious and healthy smoothies. The novel attraction, exhibited by Blevenda Smoothies, to encourage fitness, saw eager staff receive a double dose of health from the short exercise followed by a nutritious smoothie created by their own steam.

“At UCT HR: Organisational Health and Wellness we believe that individuals can play a more meaningful role in promoting their own health, preventing their own and their families’ onset of diseases, and participating positively in their treatment,” says  Ms Blanche Claasen-Hoskins, manager of the Organisational Health, Appointment and Benefits team. UCT HR: Organisational Health partnered with a number of providers who offered examinations and advice including the Independent Counselling and Advisory Service (ICAS), the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), Independent Debt Management (IDM), the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA), the Sports Science Institute and staff unions to name a few.

In addition to nurses performing health screens, several massage therapists were on site to pamper staff and help relieve the tensions of a busy day.

The UCT HR Organisational Health team was thrilled with the turn out but encouraged more staff to take advantage of subsequent fairs.  “We want to encourage staff to look out for upcoming health screening events, in particular our Wellness Fair which is scheduled to take place in September 2015,” said Ms Claasen-Hoskins.