New approach in dealing with mental health problems

DAR ES SALAAM: THE government said it was well prepared to work closely with various stakeholders in fight against mental health problems particularly at workplaces.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability), Prof Joyce Ndalichako made the assurance over the weekend in Dar es Salaam when she graced  employers bonanza organised by the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE).

Prof Ndalichako stated that the government will effectively collaborate with the stakeholders in strengthening infrastructures for services provision.

This includes constructing more health centres countrywide and recruiting more health experts for mental health.

“I understand apart from mental health challenge, workers at workplaces have been facing a threat of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, heart diseases and others,” she said.

Most of these diseases are result of the lifestyle and failure to do physical exercises.

“So, I ask you to invest in our health by embracing healthy lifestyle and follow advice from health experts,” she stated.

On her part, Chief Executive Officer of the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA), Ms Khadija Mwenda, said due to the magnitude of the problem of non-communicable diseases it was necessary to have joint efforts by the government and stakeholders.

“Our statistics show that 40 per cent of 350,000 workers whom we tested in the 2022/23 financial year were obese,” Ms Mwenda stated.

Commenting, Chief Executive Officer of the ATE, Ms Suzanne Ndomba-Doran, said the association continued collaborating with the OSHA in provision of education to employers over issues of safety and health at workplaces in order to bring productivity.

The theme for this year’s bonanza is based on strengthening mental health at workplaces.