Wellness Fair growing bigger and better

Healthy ways: Sue Key (seated) and Brett Roden of the Safety, Health and Environment Department showcase their services to Nompendulo Gosa and Vuyokazi Mdingi of the Research Department during the Wellness Fair.

The Human Resources Department-run annual Wellness Fair, underway until 15 October, is fast becoming bigger and more popular among UCT staff and students. The Atrium in the Humanities Graduate School Building was buzzing as people took advantage of the scores of internal and external health and wellness service providers, who assist people with physical and psychological problems.

The event was so big that by midday on 14 October the health screening to check blood pressure, body mass index, and HIV-status, as well as glucose and cholesterol levels was full for the day, and people were required to make appointments for tomorrow. The staff unions are also among the service providers exhibiting.

Other services include eye screening, financial advice, fitness centres, counsellors, a guide to UCT's employment benefits and beauty massage therapists. Blanche Claasen-Hoskins, manager of organisational health at the Human Resources Department, said the aim is to ensure that staff know how to take care of their own health, thus reducing absenteeism.

"For instance, if you are diabetic, you will know how to manage it," Claasen-Hoskins explained.