Public servants urged to take regular health checks
DODOMA: PUBLIC servants across the country have been urged to adopt a culture of regular health check-ups to detect illnesses early and take swift action, an approach considered essential for maintaining a healthy and productive workforce.
Director of Disaster Management in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament and Coordination), Brigadier General Hosea Ndagala, made the plea over the weekend during the closing of a special training session on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) for directors and public servants from various government institutions.
Brig Gen Ndagala said the rising burden of NCDs, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and certain cancers is closely linked to lifestyle factors including unhealthy diets, limited physical activity and excessive alcohol consumption. He emphasised that tackling NCDs requires consistent collaboration among public institutions, the private sector and the general public.
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“If each public institution prioritises interventions to control non-communicable diseases, the nation will make significant progress in protecting the health of its people,” he said.
He commended the organisers of NCDs Week for promoting awareness, expanding screening services and encouraging stakeholders to join national efforts to curb the growing threat.
Meanwhile, Director of Non-Priority Diseases in the Ministry of Health, Dr Omary Ubuguyu, said the government is committed to creating an enabling environment for NCD interventions by strengthening policies, upgrading health infrastructure and promoting partnerships with health stakeholders.
Dr Ubuguyu said public education remains one of the most effective tools for combating NCDs, adding that every public institution and servant should act as a “health ambassador” by championing positive behaviour change.
He stressed that betterinformed, healthier citizens are key to building a stronger, more sustainable and productive nation.
