Public servants urged to take regular health checks - Daily News
DODOMA: Public servants across the country have been urged to adopt a culture of regular health check-ups to detect illnesses early and take swift action, an approach considered essential for maintaining a healthy and productive workforce. This call comes as a growing concern over the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and certain cancers, which are closely linked to lifestyle factors including unhealthy diets, limited physical activity, and excessive alcohol consumption.
The plea was made by Brigadier General Hosea Ndagala, Director of Disaster Management in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament and Coordination), during the closing of a special training session on NCDs for directors and public servants from various government institutions. He emphasized that tackling NCDs requires consistent collaboration among public institutions, the private sector, and the general public.
If each public institution prioritizes interventions to control NCDs, the nation will make significant progress in protecting the health of its people, he said. Ndagala commended the organizers of NCDs Week for promoting awareness, expanding screening services, and encouraging stakeholders to join national efforts to curb the growing threat.
Meanwhile, Dr. Omary Ubuguyu, Director of Non-Priority Diseases in the Ministry of Health, expressed the government's commitment to creating an enabling environment for NCD interventions by strengthening policies, upgrading health infrastructure, and promoting partnerships with health stakeholders. Public education remains one of the most effective tools for combating NCDs, he added, and every public institution and servant should act as a 'health ambassador' by championing positive behavior change.
Dr. Ubuguyu stressed that better-informed, healthier citizens are key to building a stronger, more sustainable, and productive nation. This initiative is a crucial step towards ensuring a healthier and more productive workforce, which is essential for the nation's development and prosperity.
