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Mauritius: A one-day Health Promotion Campaign, offering free non-communicable diseases (NCDs) screening tests and raising awareness on preventive measures and related medical treatments, was launched this morning, by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, at the BM-MCCI Building in Ebène.
The Chairman of Business Mauritius, Jean‑Pierre Dalais, the Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Ramkaloan, and the President of the Business Mauritius Provident Association (BMPA), Clément Cartier, were present on this occasion.
The campaign is an initiative of Business Mauritius in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and is being organised in the context of the 40 years celebration of BMPA. The event comprises services such as breast and cervical screening, electrocardiography test, Ayurvedic services, sensitisation on the importance of physical activity, exhibition on healthy foods, and blood donation.
In his address, Minister Jagutpal commended Business Mauritius for its engagement towards ensuring the well-being of its members and their employees through its Mosante healthcare scheme. “The scheme,” he stated, “is targeted at small and medium enterprises, especially those who cannot afford a health care scheme of their own.”
He underlined the government’s continuous efforts to sensitise the population on the need to take necessary precautions and measures to reduce the risks of NCDs. “My Ministry,” he stated, “is doing its best to reach out to a larger population by conducting NCD screening and health promotion campaigns around the island and as well as in private companies and hotels.”
The Minister pointed out that Business Mauritius represented over 1,200 local businesses and had, through them, a national, regional and international reach, which according to him, could be beneficial in increasing health awareness.
He further dwelt on the importance of necessary preventive measures, such as daily exercise, consumption of healthy products, balanced diet, and early detection of diseases, that could help reduce NCD risks.
The Health Minister called on the population to remain vigilant and take additional precautions, especially during the winter season, as an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases has been noted. He also urged the elderly and people with comorbidities to get vaccinated and to avoid going out in crowded places.
For his part, Mr Ramkaloan indicated that the BMPA, through the Mosante scheme, was operating under a new mindset, namely disease management and health consciousness. “The emphasis should be put on prevention rather than cure, ” he said, adding that the BMPA significantly contributed to improving healthcare facilities for the employees of Business Mauritius member enterprises and their dependents.
As for Mr Cartier, he pointed out that the BMPA was a non-profit association set up in 1982 intending to provide health and care coverage to the beneficiaries. “The campaign,” he said, “will enable members to tackle and treat NCDs in time and take care of their health proactively.”
