By Alvin Lansana Kargbo
NP Sierra Leone Limited on Saturday, 29th November 2024, held its monthly staff health walk from the Freetown Golf Club to Aberdeen as part of its renewed efforts to promote employee wellbeing, improve productivity and strengthen its internal wellness culture.
The initiative, which has become a key feature of the company’s Employee Wellness Program, is designed to encourage routine physical activity among staff and highlight the importance of health in maintaining an effective workforce.
The health walk brought together staff from various departments who participated in the early-morning exercise session. The activity was aimed to foster team bonding, reduce stress and promote a sense of community within the company, while also addressing the growing national concerns over lifestyle-related illnesses.
The Chief Executive Officer of NP Sierra Leone Ltd, Dr. Mohamed S. Kanu, said the health walk is an important part of the company’s commitment to staff welfare and operational efficiency. He explained that regular physical exercise has proven to lower stress levels and decrease the risk of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes and high blood pressure, conditions that are becoming increasingly common in Sierra Leone.
According to him, when employees are stressed, their productivity drops, which ultimately affects the company’s overall performance. “High stress negatively affects productivity and that has a direct impact on the output of the company,” he explained. He stated that the initiative is not only beneficial to staff on a personal level but also strengthens the company’s ability to deliver on its mandate.
The CEO revealed that while the health walk is intended to take place monthly, it had not been held for some time due to leadership changes within the company. He confirmed that the program has now been fully restored and will function effectively with the majority of staff participating regularly. Only employees on leave, those on official engagements outside Freetown, security personnel on duty and medically excused staff are usually absent.
He added that the health walk reflects NP Sierra Leone’s broader vision of creating a healthy and resilient workforce adding that the company believes that investing in employee wellbeing reduces workplace accidents, cuts down on medical expenses, improves overall morale and job satisfaction.
The CEO used the occasion to encourage other companies and institutions across Sierra Leone to adopt similar wellness initiatives. He emphasized that promoting a healthy lifestyle should be seen as a long-term investment for both employers and employees. “Health is wealth,” he said, noting that companies with physically fit staff are more likely to achieve their productivity targets and maintain a safe workplace environment.
He concluded that employee wellness is a responsibility employers must take seriously as the benefits extend beyond the workplace to families, communities and the national health system. He also reaffirmed NP Sierra Leone’s commitment to sustaining the monthly health walk and strengthening other components of its wellness program to ensure staff remain healthy, motivated and productive.
