Health Minister urges corporate firms to promote workplace wellness

By Racquel Porter    

 

Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton is calling for corporate Jamaica to promote workplace wellness.

 

Dr. Tufton made the call Tuesday at the launch of the 2025 staging of Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run.

 

He said he's hoping companies will take advantage of the 27th staging of one of the Caribbean's premier road events, set for Sunday February 16, to promote the concept of corporate wellness as a culture.

 

In the meantime, Dr Tufton said a corporate wellness manual developed by the ministry can be used to support employee wellbeing.

 

"It's about screening, it's about nutrition, it's about physical activity, and there is a road map for that and I would love to see that be a part of the theme and conversation. And I tell you why. We are a sick population. The sick profile is not good as it relates to lifestyle in particular. It is the choices we make that makes us sick, and therefore the option for better health and wellness is to adjust the choices that we make to nudge people into more health-seeking behaviour," he suggested. 

 

In the meantime, Christopher Zacca, Chairman of Sagicor Foundation, said it has set an ambitious target to raise $115 million from the 5K walk, run, and wheelchair race.

 

Noting that the target may seem daunting, Mr. Zacca said he's confident that the foundation will meet the goal.

 

The proceeds from this year's staging will go to the Kingston Public Hospital Intensive Care Unit, Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre and Father Ho Lung and Friends Foundation.

 

Cedella Marley, philanthropist and daughter of reggae legend Bob Marley, along with recording artiste Nigy Boy were announced as this year's patrons for the annual event.

 

Olympians Rasheed Broadbell and Stacey-Ann Williams are also supporting the 2025 staging of the Sigma Corporate Run.

 

New KPH  

 

Meanwhile, the Health Minister said the ministry is seeking to identify land for the construction of a new Kingston Public Hospital.

 

Speaking in Parliament in May, Dr. Tufton said the ministry had been given the green light to develop a proposal to construct a new hospital.

 

On Tuesday, he said the ministry is yet to secure land. 

 

"The government is now looking for a site, appropriate lands in and around KPH to construct a new KPH. We're in the business of building new hospitals now. We are doing a lot with a number of them, but KPH is well deserved. The challenge, of course, is the logistics of an active hospital being totally overhauled while at the same time performing its duties. And we don't want what happened at Cornwall to occur," he noted.