Botswana: Police officers and support staff at Botswana Police Headquarters have been encouraged to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
Speaking at the event held at Police Headquarters today (15/09/2023), Dr Knort Mwantembe of Always Open (A.O) Clinic said that police officers, as essential workers, ought to be physically and mentally fit at all times to cope with their demanding work. He said exercising, resting, socializing on and off duty enables officers to re-energize, which helps them carry out their duties diligently.
He said that there are prevalent mental health issues that adversely affect society and generally have a negative impact on their socio-economic wellbeing. This, he said, could result in poor performance at the work place as well as family support system.
Dr Mwantembe said some of the notable signs of mental instability are self-isolation, withdrawal from normal activities and anxiety, to mention but a few. He advised participants to seek professional help whenever they feel mental uneasiness. He noted that it is imperative to inculcate a culture of wellness in their lifestyles.
For his part, Director Departmental Management Services, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Boeletswe Gobotswang, said the event came at a time when the nation was engaged in the Month of Prayer against HIV/AIDS and other social illnesses.
The Director encouraged officers to maintain a healthy lifestyle by continuously engaging in daily exercise.
The event held under the theme “A healthy wellbeing, an aptitude for Mindset Change” was characterized by screening of non-communicable diseases such as Diabetes and high blood pressure and eye tests.
Meanwhile, in a separate wellness event held at Maruapula Community Hall today (15/09/2023), various speakers, including health subject experts, urged police officers to embrace the Mindset Change Concept in order to do things differently, particularly dealing with their overall wellness.
When addressing the audience, the Director of the Air Support Branch, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Arthur Johnson, said mindset change would also mean people changing their eating habits to become a healthy nation, able to contribute positively to the economy.
Various health and financial professionals buttressed the need for regular screening of non-communicable diseases as they have the potential to cause premature death. They encouraged police officers to promote mental wellness in their families because depression and anxiety affect all people irrespective of their age.
Tebelopele, FNBB, Diagnofirm, Virgin Active, and members of the Botswana Defence Force also attended the wellness day.