Representatives from My Dawa assist employees of USIU-Africa during the week-long medical camp. PHOTO: Taigu Muchiri

By Ernest Mwanzi

In efforts to foster better health for university employees, the Health Services department in partnership with our medical service provider First Assurance Company Limited, launched a wellness program to help students, staff and faculty members increase their knowledge about health matters, explore fun ways to encourage a healthier lifestyle and improve levels of physical fitness.

During the camp, employees had the option to choose from three packages to suit their individual needs and had a choice of sharing the package with their spouses.

In an interview the Principal Medical Officer Dr. Tasneem Yamani explained that inculcating healthy habits and lifestyles are paramount in leading healthy lifestyles but the benefits and importance of wellness checks must not be under emphasized. Routine wellness checks and tests help detect high risk and existence of disease in its early stages and it is recommended to have a wellness check done annually.

She added that the right type of health check-up is important and factors like age, lifestyle, family history and high risk are parameters that are taken into consideration when choosing the right wellness package for each individual. Opting for a right health check-up, screenings, and treatments means one is taking steps to help one live longer and healthier life.

“A wellness screening provides information for necessary lifestyle adjustments to be made to improve on disease outcomes”, said Dr. Yamani

The wellness camp took place from Monday, May 20, 2019 all through to Friday, May 24. However, due to employees demand the camp was extended by an additional day to end on Monday, May 27. Employees together with their spouses got the opportunity to get expert opinions on topical issues touching on matters fitness, nutrition and stress management, talks on the practical aspects of setting and meeting new health improvement goals and finally got medical checkups that included general physical examination.

The checks assed the eyes and teeth, functioning of the heart, lungs, digestive system, liver, kidneys and immune system status, specific tests like Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) for men and mammography and some gynecological examinations for women.

In conclusion Dr. Yamani stated that in an era where non-communicable diseases are on high rampage, the focus for the Health Center has been shifted to preventive care.