Health ministry to launch Corporate Wellness Challenge to combat NCDs

In a decisive move to tackle the rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Jamaicans, the Ministry of Health and Wellness is currently developing a workplace policy aimed at integrating wellness into organisational mandates across the island.

The announcement was made by Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie while delivering the keynote address at the Press-Box long service awards banquet held at the Pollyanna Restaurant in St Andrew on Friday.

“In response to the pressing need to enhance employee wellbeing, the Ministry of Health is proud to announce the upcoming launch of the Jamaica Moves Corporate Wellness Challenge, aimed at fostering friendly competition among workplaces to promote increase physical activity, healthier eating habits and regular annual health screenings,” Bisasor McKenzie emphasised.

Highlighting the urgent need for proactive engagement, she stressed that the traditional approach of waiting for individuals to seek care after falling ill must change.

“We cannot wait until people become sick and present to us in the health facilities; we have to reach them in the setting in which they are and one of those is the workplace,” she said.

The ministry’s focus on lifelong health and wellness aligns with the broader goal of reducing Jamaica’s NCD burden.

Bisasor McKenzie pointed out that, with most individuals spending between 40 to 45 years of their lives at work, wellness programmes should be an integral feature of the Jamaican workplace, not merely another human resource initiative.

“In keeping with the Ministry of Health and Wellness thrust to focus on the health and wellness of an individual throughout their entire life course, we see it as a national imperative to implement workplace wellness programme,” she stated.

Drawing on the findings of the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey, Bisasor McKenzie revealed sobering statistics: half of Jamaica’s population is overweight or obese, one in three individuals live with hypertension, and one in eight have diabetes.

These figures, she said, “underscore the urgent need for a proactive approach to health, especially given the global rise in lifestyle-related diseases”.

Citing the World Health Organization (WHO), Bisasor McKenzie noted that employees spend nearly 50 per cent of their working hours at the workplace during an eight-hour shift, making it a strategic location for health promotion.

“Employers must be encouraged to create the enabling environment where employees can get moving, to combat inactivity and foster a culture of health. We encourage incorporating movement into the workday, simple actions like standing for a few minutes every hour, using a standing desk, or giving staff five minutes stretch breaks during long meetings can make a significant difference,” she urged.

She also emphasised the importance of achieving a balance between work and health, highlighting various dimensions of wellness.

“It is important to find the balance between work and health. So employers have to encourage occupational wellness—making sure that the workplace is safe and hazard-free, spiritual wellness—encourages team members to practise their faith and engage in meaningful discussions around spirituality, physical wellness—which includes physical activities to encourage regular movement, nutrition—promote bringing healthy meals from home, drinking water also encourage screening to create awareness about terminal diseases are important factors,” Bisasor McKenzie outlined.

The evening also celebrated decades of dedication and excellence at Press-Box Printers, a family-operated business under the Lopez family since 1972. Twenty-five employees were honoured for long service, with years of tenure ranging from 15 to 55.

The highlight of the evening was the special recognition of Richard Barnett, who has lived with permanent mutism and has been an integral part of Press-Box Printers since 1982. During a citation read by Joni Lopez, Barnett was celebrated for his remarkable career journey.

He was praised as “a loyal employee who with precision, patience and pride quickly establish himself as a reliable and skilled press department operator, adopting to change and high standard”.

editorial@gleanerjm.com