Harare, 4 June 2012 -- In line with WHO’s call for people to adopt healthy lifestyles, WCO Zimbabwe held its annual wellness days for staff, their dependents, and partners at their Highlands complex.

The wellness days, which were organized by the Medical unit and the Eastern and Southern Africa Staff Association (ESASA), were bigger and better, with more service providers and a sports tournament for local schools and staff. Some of the people who graced the 2 day event include, The WFP Representative, Mr F. Bamezon, The Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador of the DRC, Mr Mawampanga Mwanananga and Mr Mukania Mpalata Constantin, the UN Physician, Dr Tekou, Mr Banda representing the Director Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, and other Deputy Directors from the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.

Different service providers and practitioners set up tents within the WHO compound and people were visiting them for free consultation and advice. Among them were dental specialists, allergy specialists, cancer specialists, herbal medicine practitioners, family planning experts, and voluntary counseling and testing.

New exhibitors this year included male circumcision practitioners, airlines, and medical insurance providers who were offering staff a complimentary package to staff health insurance (SHI). Services that were available included, diabetes screening, blood pressure monitoring, breast cancer screening, allergy profiling, HIV counseling and testing, eye tests, dental tests, and counseling on the care of the elderly in line with this year’s World Health Day theme Ageing and Health: Good health adds life to years. There was also a mobile blood bank for people to donate life saving blood.

WHO Representative, Dr Mandlhate congratulated the Medical Unit and the Staff Association for organizing the event and said the wellness days are important because staff need to take care of their own health, instead of focusing only on the health of others.

Speaking on the theme of this year’s world health day, Dr Mandlhate said the theme shows that if we adopt healthy lifestyles we will live longer healthy lives. “We have the mandate to ensure that our population lives a healthy lifestyle from an early age until they reach old age,” said Dr Mandlhate. She urged everyone to take advantage of the wellness days and acknowledged the efforts of the Staff Association in encouraging staff to take up sports and physical exercises to stay healthy.

Dr Mandlhate took the opportunity to hand over on behalf of the WHO Director General, Dr Margaret Chan, a certificate and award to Mr Tinashe Munjoma of Meikles Hotel for his efforts in tobacco control. She also handed over to HelpAge Zimbabwe some clothes, money and other items which were donated by staff members towards the upkeep of the elderly.

The wellness days culminated in a sports tournament on Friday 1st June, and the WHO grounds erupted into song and dance as people cheered on their teams. WHO staff fielded a 5 -a– side soccer team, which put up an entertaining match and won against the service providers. Different schools took part in the Inaugural WHO ESASA Wellness Days Tournament.

In the girls category Girls High School took the inaugural ESASA Wellness Days ALTFIN shield and a $500 cash prize, with the runners up Queen Elizabeth Girls School pocketing $250. The boys category was won by Allan Wilson High School which also won the ESASA Wellness Days ALTFIN shield and $500.