A day of education
The annual Health and Wellness Forum organised by the Eastern Gauteng Chamber of Commerce and Industry took place at Impala Platinum on November 21.
The forum is designed to inform and educate peer educators of companies and even school about the health, both mental and physical, of themselves and their fellow employees.
The day sees peer educators getting together to network and listen to talks from speakers in the mental and physical health fields who give them information and guidance on how to help their co workers.
The Health and Wellness Forum began as an initiative of the Springs Chamber many years ago when the country had been overwhelmed by the AIDS Pandemic.
“Many companies and especially the large corporates in Springs like PFG, Impala, Sappi and Cobra have instituted Peer Educator Programmes in the workplace where volunteer employees communicate information to the other employees concerning health and wellness matters in order to empower their fellow employees, their families and communities,” says Chairman of the forum Pule de Ronald-Phillips.
Peer educator and wellness programme coordinator at Impala Platinum Peter Empringham says the forum has grown a lot over the years.
“Before, the event was only half day, but last year we had members asking for more speakers to be added, so this year is the first time we have made it a full day event.”
Gift Ngwenya and Hamilton Mathibela are peer educators from Sappi who have been attending the forum for 5 years.
“The forum helps us to help our peers. We have seen a big response from our peers at work,” says Ngwenya.
“We have seen the forum grow while we have been here. If you listen well during the presentations you will pick up on contact details that you were not aware of that can help your peers and you get a lot of information about health and well being,” says Mathibela.
