Aiming to promote a healthy life-style among the Health Department‘s employees and the senior citizens of Randfontein, the West Rand District Municipality’s Health Departmetn embarked on a Wellness Day event on Friday, 16 September.
The fun-walk participants, spectators and service providers from various government departments, Department of Health partners and non-governmental organisations assembled on the open ground at the corner of Sutherland Avenue and Pollock Street, where stakeholders strategically displayed their banners and exhibitions.
Giving a briefing about the event, Zelda Marite, one of the organisers said, “Physical fitness results in healthy minds, healthy minds result in positive attitudes.
As the Department of Health we decided to embark on this initiative in order to build awareness of health risks and provide information on how an individual can make behavioural changes to enhance his or her health.”
The day started with 5 km walk on an identified area around the inner city of Randfontein. Phindi Chuenyane, 60, who resides in Greenhills happened to be among the walkers and was seen finishing the walk.
“I have managed to finish the walk without any challenge. Normally, I walk a maximum of 15 km. I enjoy walking the most as it allows individuals to interact as they walk. The benefit of walking is that during the process individuals can establish friendships and become fit at the same time,” she said.
“I encourage people to walk daily, more especially men, because most men are lazy about walking,” she concluded.
The fun-walk was followed by an aerobics session which ran concurrently with tests conducted by the health services.
Information on various health programmes was displayed on the stalls and tests for HIV and AIDS, blood pressure and glucose were done and tuberculosis screenings were performed.
At least 34 people screened for tuberculosis, with not one screening positive. Eighteen clients tested for HIV and AIDS, and they all tested negative too. Nutritional assessments were also conducted on 44 clients, of whom 11 were found to be obese. They were referred to their nearest clinic for a consultation with a dietitian.
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