Message from the District Health Director:
October 2005
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Greetings Southwest Health District!
It is with great joy that I announce to you that beginning January 6, 2006, the Southwest Health District will launch a yearlong worksite wellness campaign. Designed to promote and encourage good health, the campaign will focus on the adoption of healthier lifestyles via proper nutrition, regular exercise, stress reduction, and smoking cessation. Without a doubt, the most valuable resource of the Southwest Health District is you, our employees. Therefore, let’s vow to protect our most valuable resource individually, by embodying healthier attitudes and practices; and collectively, by committing ourselves to support each other in this endeavor and settle for no less than 100 percent participation.
I believe that the health benefit of a successful wellness campaign is the first step towards the realization of our vision of Healthy People in Healthy Communities. Hence, the time has come for us to practice what we preach.
With the creation of teams for friendly competitions and buddy systems for support, the campaign is intended to enhance staff camaraderie and workplace morale. Other expected outcomes include improvements in personal fitness level and stamina, increased self-esteem, and the attainment and/or maintenance of desired cholesterol level, blood pressure, glucose control, and weight.
We will begin promoting the campaign during the month of November. Please periodically check our web site (http://www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org) for surveys, polls, the updated wellness policy, lists of participating local fitness clubs offering discounted memberships, instructions on how to enroll and join teams, and information on how to receive baseline screening tests at a special reduced rate.
Our first survey will be available early this week. I am asking all employees who have Internet access to promptly complete the survey on-line and notify their supervisor. Supervisors please download the survey for employees without Internet access and send all completed surveys to Jackie Jenkins. County Nurse Managers, Program Managers, and Administrative Staff please notify Jackie when you and your supervised staff have completed the survey.
Enrollment will take place the first two weeks in December. The campaign will initiate just after the new year with a kick off celebration with music, nutritious food, and team building activities to help pave the way towards a life long commitment to better health choices. The following January we shall come together to celebrate and reward our accomplishments as well as renew our commitment to worksite wellness.
I am energized and eager to accept the challenge of improving my health as I approach my 45th birthday. I implore you to join me in this journey. What have you got to lose? Take the challenge- let’s fully engage the entire district in seeking good health!
Jacqueline H. Grant, MD, MPH, MPA
