GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - A number of health staff from across the Garden Route and Hessequa received recognition during an award ceremony in Cape Town recently for promoting wellness within their communities as part of the Western Cape on Wellness (WoW!) initiative.
WoW! is a healthy lifestyles-promoting programme of the Western Cape Government and its partners.
The overarching purpose of WoW! is to promote health, reduce health inequalities and strengthen social inclusiveness/connectedness by co-creating enabling environments for sustained healthy lifestyle choices.
The programme was implemented in 2017 and wellness champions were identified and trained to promote wellness within their facilities and communities. The winners in Hessequa:
- Silver: Jolly Gymmers programme in Riversdale
- WoW! Champions: Chanel Louw.
The Jolly Gymmers consists of 26 group members of which 18 members are committed and consistent. They focus on physical activities, such as exercise sessions three times per week from 17:00 to 18:00 and participate in community events such as fun walks and the CANSA Relay for Life.
They also participate in continuous healthy eating/lifestyle challenges as motivation and encouragement to live healthily.
These challenges focus on eating more healthily, drinking enough water and getting enough sleep.
Many of the women have chronic diseases and through the group activities they aim to "decrease uncontrolled vitals" and reach a level of consistent good health.
"The Jolly Gymmers are a bunch of dynamic adults with beautiful souls and vibrant personalities. You can't but be enriched after spending time with this group," said Louw.
Silver: Hessequa, for the programme "Restore total wellness"
WoW! Champions: Dina-Marie Dwyer (lead champion) and Chanel Louw (co-champion). Projects included funding and distributing gifts for Nurses Day 2021, running a healthy lifestyle competition with a twist and starting a food garden.
Their main focus, however, was the emotional and mental wellness of staff.
They have established an onsite wellness clinic via the Employee Health and Wellness Programme for staff to be able to attend sessions.
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