The National Parliament Office is embarking on promoting a healthy workforce after all its officers underwent a Non-communicable disease (NCD) test on Monday and Tuesday this week.
The health check for NCD was made possible after some senior officers of the National Parliament participated in a health program last year through an IPAM’s Leadership Development Program for public servants.
These Parliament Officers then came up with a health project that is aimed at having healthy human resources at workplaces that can produce excellent outcome.
Executive Personal Secretary to Clerk Ms Kristina Sogavare who was a participant of last year’s IPAM health program stressed the need for Parliament staff to have a Non- communicable Disease (NCD) screening or checkups.
“Parliament staff is made up of mainly young workers, and it is important that we know our health status is in order to be able to best perform at work and for our family” Ms Sogavare said.
The Clerk to Parliament Mr Clezy Rore further pursue the idea of NCD screening as he himself wanted to make sure all his officers are healthy and be able to perform their duties to the best of their ability.
Mr Rore then made arrangements with the NCD staff from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to facilitate the tests.
“We are always busy with our work, that we often do not have time to go down to the doctors to do routine checks. Therefore seeing that the NCD staff part of their program is to visit offices and organizations, we arranged for them to come up to Parliament and have the staff check their Health Status” Mr. Rore explains.
Health Video presentations about the causes of non communicable diseases are also part of promoting healthy workforce in Parliament. Just last week the staff screened their first video presentation by Dr. Chester Kuma on the topic of the heart.
NCD screening includes checks for height, weight, blood pressure and blood sugar level.
“This is important because the risk of non- communicable disease such as heart problems, stroke and diabetes increased for those who are overweight and obese” explains one NCD nurse.
She added that an increase in blood pressure also increases the risk for heart problems, diabetes and stroke.
The NCD nurses also took the time to counsel Parliament officers who have abnormal results to change their life style. They’ve been warned to eat healthy meals; do physical activities as well as to refrain from unhealthy habits like cigarette smoking and taking Alcohol. Staffs that have normal results were advised to keep on staying healthy.
Small Malaita MP Hon. Rick Hou and West Kwara’ae MP Sam Iduri coincidently join the health checkup.
However, it is anticipated that during the next Parliament sitting, the Office of the Clerk will arrange such health checkups for all Members of Parliament.
Clerk to Parliament Mr Clezy Rore said his Office will continue to liaise with the NCD staff from time to time to make the health checkups an ongoing program.
