Dear UP employee

The University of Pretoria is proud to announce that our Corporate Wellness Programme, presented in partnership with Bestmed Medical Scheme, will continue in 2017. We remain committed to our stated goal, which is to improve the health and wellbeing of all our employees through education and stimulating activities in support of positive lifestyle changes. This programme is not limited to Bestmed members, but is open to all University employees who want to live a healthy life.

The UP Corporate Wellness Programme was launched towards the end of 2011. During 2016, a total of 1 253 health risk assessments were completed and the results (high, medium, or low risk of disease) were communicated to the employees who had been assessed. All activities and interventions were well supported and positive feedback was received.

The 2017 activities for the UP Corporate Wellness programme will kick off with the Health Risk Assessment (HRA) screenings that will be available from 6 February to 31 March 2017, when Bestmed nurses will be visiting the different campuses and buildings. Appointments have already been arranged in advance with faculties and departments, and screenings will be conducted between 8:00 and 15:00 on the abovementioned dates. Employees appointed to the staff of the University after the completion of the screenings will be invited to HRA screenings and the relevant information will be communicated to them.

To take part in the UP Corporate Wellness Programme, please follow these easy steps:

Step 1

• Print out the Health Check Risk Assessment questionnaire.
• Complete the lifestyle questionnaire.
• Make sure that you have your completed questionnaire with you on the day of the screening.

Step 2

• By completing the lifestyle questionnaire, you qualify for a free biometric screening (height, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose).
• Please hand your questionnaire to the nurse, who will fill in the results of the biometric screening.
• Screenings will be done from 6 February 2017 to 31 March 2017.

Step 3

• A confidential, individual report based on the lifestyle questionnaire and biometric screenings will be sent to you via email.

Step 4

• Become involved in group interventions for all UP staff, which will be advertised in the course of the year.
• All UP employees will have access to group interventions, such as the Mini-Olympics, support groups and information sessions on various diseases.
• Bestmed members have access to all these interventions, as well as health screenings.

Please click on the link below to download the Health Risk Assessment form.

http://bestmed.co.za/docs/Wellness/HRA-application-form.pdf

In terms of the agreement between the University and Bestmed, only Bestmed members who presented with a high-risk disease profile will be referred to a biokineticist, dietician and/or counsellor for free individual consultations. All Bestmed members who have completed a health risk assessment and lifestyle questionnaire are invited once again to make use of the individual consultations with the abovementioned service providers, which will commence in March 2017. Bestmed will be in contact with individuals who qualify for individual interventions.

Group interventions will continue and information on the scheduled events will be communicated via email, so be on the lookout! Group interventions for 2017 will include the following:

• Pilates classes will commence on 20 February 2017 at the different campuses during the official UP lunch hour (12:30 to 13:15).
• Disease information sessions on a variety of topics such as ADHD, TB, hepatitis, osteoporosis, cholesterol and heart health, and finally asthma will be presented from March 2017 to October 2017
• Support groups will kick off with the Nutrition Awareness launch during April 2017, which will be followed by Nutrition, Fitness and Smoke-free support groups.
• Health screenings for Bestmed members only will commence during April with flu vaccines, followed by mammoscans in May, smoke-free awareness in August, lung function screenings in October and finally HIV/Aids screening towards the end of November 2017.
• Our popular Mini-Olympic events are open to all UP employees and are held twice a year, usually in autumn and spring. The dates for the Mini-Olympics are:

• 15 March 2017 at the Groenkloof Campus (remember to ensure your place in time as only 500 participants can be accommodated)
• 13 September 2017 at the LC De Villiers Sports Campus (UP annual Spring Day)

Should you require more information, please do not hesitate to contact our new Wellness Coordinator, Stembiso Magagula, at 012 420 2870, or send an email to [email protected]

Let's make health and wellness a way of life!

Kind regards