On Wednesday, the federal government trains 500 civil servants across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) at a one-day sensitisation programme to promote healthy living in the nation’s civil service.

The sensitisation programme on ‘Optimising health and wellness for improved productivity’, organised by the office of the head of the civil service of the federation (HOCSF), is to promote work productivity.

Mahmud Kambari, a permanent secretary at the office of the HOCSF, said the initiative was in line with Pillar Six of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP25), which aims at enhancing the value proposition for civil servants.

Mr Kambari said the federal government had acknowledged the increasing mortality rates among civil servants, adding that the urgent need to address the situation brought about the idea of a sensitisation programme to educate civil servants.

According to him, NCDs have become a global public health challenge, casting a shadow on the health and efficiency of the workforce.

He said the challenge was compounded by the stress and sedentary nature of civil service work, which needed discussing causes and actively seeking solutions and strategies to overcome them.

Comfort Adeosun, a director at the office of the HOCSF, urged MDAs to show more concern over health-related issues and the well-being of their employees.

Ms Adeosun, however, used the event to advise government and private organisations to create recreational facilities, organise regular medical checks, and organise mental health counselling, among others, for their employees.

Meanwhile, Al-Quadiriyyah Adeola, a participant from the office of auditor-general of the federation, expressed delight in the government’s initiative, saying the initiative would serve as additional support to the public servants.

(NAN)