Old Mutual Life attended the Southern District Health Management Team (DHMT)’s ‘Walk for Life: Make your feet your friend’ campaign, press briefing at Blue Tree in Gaborone this morning.
In attendance was the host, Coordinator of the Southern DHMT, Mr. Conrad Ntsuape, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ministry of Health), Dr. Tshepo Machacha, Director of Public Health (Ministry of Health) Mr. Samuel Kolane, General Manager of Old Mutual Life, Mr. Daniel Matlhagela and Chief Public Relations Officer (Ministry of Health), Mr. Christopher Nyanga as Director of Ceremonies.
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Conrad Ntsuape mentioned that the purpose of the press briefing is to share the Southern DHMT’s plan regarding the ‘Walk for Life’ campaign with this year’s slogan ‘Make your feet your friend’. “Last year we were tasked as a district to take up this initiative, to make sure we are in touch with the community we serve. We are continuing what the Ministry of Health started last year, walking from Kanye to Old Naledi. This year we intend to complete a 80km walk starting from Kanye to Jwaneng over a period of four (4) days from the 5th to 8th July 2023. Furthermore, there will be other activities scheduled around the walk, such as, Kgwakgwe hike and activities for the elderly in Lotlhakane East.
With this initiative, we want to educate the communities on NCDs, and to encourage them to take care of their health through exercise not just during the 4 days but even after.” said Mr. Ntsuape.
As one of the main sponsors, Old Mutual Life was invited to the brief session. In his speech, General Manager of Old Mutual Life , Mr. Daniel Matlhagela stated that “although our DNA is insurance, Old Mutual has come a long way in proving under its Responsible Business Framework, it interests and commitment to the communities it operates in. Under this Framework, in 2020, we donated over 25 000 surgical masks to the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Basic Education. The era of the COVID -19 left us reflecting on our mental and physical health. Post the pandemic, Old Mutual saw the need as an insurer that deals with pay-outs for death resulting in NCDs and other health related issues to raising health awareness in the workplace to increase productivity, reduce absenteeism and presenteeism. This will benefit both employees and employers, as well as us the insurer, by helping us to identify potential risks and put measures in place to prevent future losses.”
Mr. Matlhagela also spoke on how the company is enthusiastic to once again be a part of such an initiative by the Ministry and commended the Ministry on the work they continue to put in for the sake of the health of all Batswana and its citizens.
“The Ministry of Health intends to hold the ‘Walk for Life’ every year. As a Ministry we cannot rest when the health of our people is at stake. The Ministry has been mandated to safeguard the health of Batswana and a task we intend to take seriously “stated Dr. Machacha.
“In Botswana, 46% of all deaths are from non-communicable diseases. The top NCDs include hypertension, heart diseases, type-two diabetes, and several cancers Botswana’s healthy life expectancy is 56%. This can only be changed through our life choice, exercising, and eating healthy will help us maintain a healthy life.
We are happy to share that this year our main sponsors are Old Mutual Life and Storkfort Health. We are thankful to our sponsors for their support. They supported us last year and again this year. It is because of these partnerships with our sponsors that we can conduct this campaign in full force”, he concluded.
In delivering the closing remarks, Mr Samuel Kolane, indicated how following the ‘Walk for Life’ initiative in 2022, to promote healthy lifestyle within the Ministry of Health team, they set targets internally to achieve 10 000 steps a day which they still follow.
“Behavioral change although difficult can be achieved if we work together in promoting healthy living in Botswana. The use of cigarettes or e-cigarettes, hubbly and alcohol also impacts negatively on one’s health. “he added.
He encouraged the nation also to participate in this year’s ‘Walk for Life’ campaign as a start towards achieving good health.