Buffalo City freight industry gets wellness support

Fleet and warehouse operators and other companies along the logistics chain that have a presence in East London can help staff to be healthier through the services of the East London-based public benefit organisation, the Siyakhana Health Trust. Early in 2013 the organisation took delivery of a R600 000 mobile clinic. The cost of the mobile clinic visits to companies is highly subsidised, due the support of sponsors such as Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Hemingways Casino. Project director Dr Simeon Odugwu says the benefits for companies include higher productivity because of improvements in the health of a company’s employees, as well as ensuring that they are legally compliant. Siyakhana offers a comprehensive health screening service to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to assist them with managing health risks in their workplaces. In 2010 Mercedes- Benz South Africa received the coveted Stevie International Business Award for the Best Corporate Social Responsibility Programme of the Year in Africa and Middle East on account of the Siyakhana SME Project. Services are primarily administered through a membership subscription programme which is governed by a service level agreement. Alternatively, services may be rendered on a feefor- service basis.