By Victoria Onyisi
The Federal Government in its determination to ensure a healthy workforce in the Federal Civil Service structure, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in line with its mandate of optimizing the health and wellbeing of its workforce by providing mental health, behavioural health and general health counselling services for employees, has concluded a one-day training workshop for five hundred (500) officers in the Federal Civil Service.
The workshop has as its theme: “Optimizing Health and Wellbeing for Improved Productivity” held on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office (SWO), Mr. Mahmud Kambari, who has been redeployed to the Ministry of Environment, in his opening remarks said the training is hinged on promoting healthy living and wellness amongst the workforce in-line with pillar 6 of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP-25).
The training he said is aimed at enhancing the value proposition of civil servants for improved productivity and effective service delivery.
He noted that the service is confronted with a sobering reality of increasing mortality rate among civil servants and there is the need to urgently address the situation.
“As I review the several death notifications that come to my desk every day for death benefit claims, a glaring truth emerges: The need to address preventable non-communicable diseases and sudden deaths amongst the workforce is of paramount necessary” he said.
Kambari, also stated that non-communicable diseases have become a global public health challenge, casting a shadow on the health and efficiency of the civil service workforce.
He noted that this challenge is further compounded by the stress and sedentary nature of Civil Service work.
“This is why we have placed premium on this sensitization to educate officers on healthy living and wellness.” he added.
The Permanent Secretary stated further: “The commitment of the OHCSF to the wellbeing of her workforce is not just a mere policy statement, it is a moral obligation.”
Earlier, the Director, Occupational Health, Safety and Environment (OHSE), in the OHCSF, Dr. Comfort Adeosun, described workplace wellness as vital to employee wellbeing and the efficiency of organizational operations, adding that there is a linkage between personal wellness and productivity.
She called on managements of Ministries Departments and Agencies of Government (MDAs) to show more concern over health-related issues and well-being of their employees.
The Director also advised government and private organisations to create recreational facilities, organise regular medical checks and organise mental health counselling among others for their staff.
In his closing remarks, the Deputy Director Health, Safety and Environment in the Office, Engr. Bello Kwali, thanked the participants for being enthusiastic about improving their health and wellbeing, he also encouraged participants’ to put all that they have learnt to good use by replicating the wellness centre in the OHCSF in their various MDAs for improved productivity.
Presentations were made on the following topics: Optimizing Health and Wellbeing, Addressing mental health in the workplace, Preparing for retirement, work life balance and starting a small business, Hypertension and your overall wellbeing and Building Resilience among senior public servants in Nigeria.
The practice of a healthy living and improved work life balance amongst civil servants is expected boost workplace productivity and enhance service delivery.