Sundaymail Editor
SECURICO opened the doors of its Staff Wellness Clinic on December 1 in Harare, an idea that was mooted right from the time the company was founded.
Founder and MD Dr Divine Simbi-Ndhlukula spoke on how the business has placed emphasis on health and wellness for its employees. “Right from the beginning, we have had focus on ensuring people work in a healthy environment, hence we went for international standards, being certified not only to 9001 QMS, but also to Occupational Health and Safety 18001 and Environment 140001 so that we can have a positive impact on many aspects of our work and the people.”
Being one of the first security companies to put together a robust medical aid scheme for all employees, SECURICO has worked with experts on health issues, for example, the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe, doing rigorous awareness. Again, on HIV and Aids, they put together a comprehensive HIV/Aids policy with the support of the Swedish Workplace on HIV/AIDS Programme, as well as the Zimbabwe AIDS Prevention and Support Organisation.
The SECURICO Wellness Committee – represented by their safety, health, environment and quality officer Isheunesu Tsanzira – elaborated how they have a wellness champion in each and every department. Safety, health and environmental issues are discussed every day before work starts.
Officially opening the Staff Wellness Clinic, Dr Innocent Hove, who represented the Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care, commended SECURICO for being one of the companies that have a strong workplace programme on wellness.
Dr Hove spoke about wellness being an active process through which people make choices towards more successful existence.
He also highlighted the huge benefits wellness programmes bring. Staff are less stressed and become more productive. Covid-19 and its impact was an unexpected shake-up not just in Zimbabwe but globally. SECURICO managed to get to the end of the pandemic with just one employee who passed away. This is despite that the firm is a mass employer, and secondly, its employees are frontliners in retail chains and banks, among other organisations. This clearly demonstrates how its proactive responsiveness to the pandemic and decisions taken were key in achieving such a commendable position during the pandemic.
The wellness clinic will be manned by fully qualified medical staff, including doctors. Not only will it look after physical health, but also mental health as there is now a major challenge on mental health issues in this country and globally.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter