Jamalco launches wellness initiative

HALLS HALL, Clarendon:

Jamalco now has an official Wellness Plan as part of its Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) programme, following the official launch on Friday, April 5, as part of Alcoa's worldwide wellness initiative under the theme 'Good Health Lasts a Lifetime'.

The company-wide programme is designed to get employees to make improved health a lifelong goal by adhering to the wellness programme, which is supported by four pillars: eating well, being active, improving well-being, and being tobacco free.

Guest speaker, nutritionist Debbie Ottey-Golding, emphasised the importance of healthy eating and engaging in physical activity on a regular basis. She noted that while more than 60 per cent of deaths worldwide are caused by chronic non-communicable diseases, individuals have the power to help reverse this trend.

Optimal health

Ottey-Golding stressed the importance of achieving a balanced diet by eating the right proportions from the six food groups, avoiding excessive salt, and drinking more water. She also recommended a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity daily for optimal health.

In endorsing the initiative, EHS Manager Andrea Spence pointed out that it was no accident that wellness forms part of Alcoa's new vision and values statement. She added that this was an opportunity for everyone to know their health status and what steps to take to improve it.

Nurse Administrator Claudette Walters Simpson, who led the team that organised the launch, announced a range of projects designed to promote wellness and drive behaviour change among the workforce. These include stretching exercises at the beginning of every toolbox meeting, a health fair for employees at a date to be announced, and a special event for World Tobacco Day on May 31.