Matsapha Town Council (MTC) on the 27th November 2020, observed World AIDS Day 2020 by initiating a special event for its employees to educate and remind them on health and wellness matters, including HIV/AIDS.
The event, themed ‘Eswatini ending HIV/AIDS in solidarity by 2022,’ was hosted at the Matsapha Civic Centre in the presence of the Chairperson, Councillor Alice Russo and her Councillors. The event started off with a candle lighting ceremony at the Civic Centre Parking lot, in recognition of the lives that have been lost due to HIV/AIDS. Council invited its strategic partners including NERCHA, Eswatini AIDS Health-Care Foundation (AHF) and the Luke Commission. The strategic partners were able to provide health education services to those present.
In the month of October 2020, 17 MTC employees were trained on Health & Wellness. Council saw a need to develop Wellness champions within Council that will be of great assistance in dealing with Wellness matters within other Council employees. While providing health talks, the strategic partners highlighted that ‘a healthy employee is a productive employee.’ Council was proud to award Certificates of Recognition to the 17 Wellness Champions, who participated in the Health and Wellness training programme.
The Council Chairperson, recognized the importance of Council’s on-the-ground employees and appreciated the effort they put in their daily basis in making Matsapha a sustainable and liveable town. “You are never left unnoticed; the town is the way it is today because of you,” said Russo.
This was inspired by Council’s values as it recognizes Accountability and Participation. As mentioned by the Town Clerk Lucky Sukati, responsibility for Council starts from within. Every role Council plays in the Community has to start from the internal team. The Town Clerk advised Council employees to make use of the Wellness Champions to create a healthy environment.
The need to be well knowledgeable with Health and Wellness matters including HIV and AIDS was constantly emphasized during the day. Council showed full support and participation towards its strategic partners in ensuring means to eradicate the virus by 2022.
The Wellness Champions representative Nhlonipho Dlamini appreciated the leadership of the town for being this considerate and caring for their employees, in terms of providing such a great initiative for them. He further confirmed that they were well trained and they are ready to be a shoulder to cry on for everyone who needed assistance.
