Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC), in collaboration with UMC Victoria Hospital have convened a training session on a healthy lifestyle to promote healthy human resources at the Corporation. Aspects of a healthy lifestyle promoted at the training involved physical, mental, and social well-being.
The training session held at the UPPC headquarters in Entebbe was conducted by Dr Sarah Achola Jordanah, an administrator at UMC Victoria Hospital. Dr Achola started the session with an emphasis that health is more than simply being free from disease to debunk the idea that people should only think about their health when afflicted with disease. “True health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being”, said Dr Achola, citing the World Health Organization (WHO). He added that a healthy lifestyle is a way of living that reduces the risk of serious illness while improving overall quality of life and longevity.
Dr Achola outlined several practical customs that everyone can incorporate into their daily routines to promote their health and avoid diseases. She urged staff to engage in regular physical activity, explaining that exercise strengthens the heart and muscles, improves mental clarity, boosts energy levels, supports emotional well-being, and lowers the risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and certain cancers. She recommended at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week, as advised by the WHO. A minimum of 150 minutes a week translates into 30 minutes of exercising for five days a week, leaving provision for a two-day rest.
Another key healthy living practice is healthy eating. Dr Achola says that people should consume a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and adequate amounts of water while reducing their intake of processed foods, unhealthy fats, excessive sugar, and highly refined foods. “Lean protein such as chicken and fish are the best option. It is better than red meat,” stressed Dr Achola before identifying adequate sleep as another important catalyst for healthy living. “You need to sleep for at least eight hours. If you sleep for 3, 4, 5, 6 hours, it means there is a problem. Proper rest is important for your health,” she said. According to Dr. Achola, sleep allows the body and brain to repair and recover, improves concentration, supports emotional stability, and helps regulate hormones. She advised adults to aim for seven to eight hours of quality sleep each night and to maintain a consistent sleep schedule.
Recognizing that stress is part of everyday life, Dr. Achola encouraged employees to develop healthy ways of managing it before it begins to affect their mental and physical health. She explained that prolonged stress can contribute to depression, anxiety, hypertension, and other health complications that could have been avoided. She emphasized the value of maintaining strong social connections, noting that supportive relationships with family, friends, and colleagues contribute significantly to emotional well-being and resilience during difficult times.
In addition, Dr. Achola advised employees to avoid harmful habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and substance abuse. She explained that these behaviours increase the risk of serious health complications and can negatively affect both physical and mental health. Throughout the session, she reminded participants that adopting healthy habits does not require drastic changes but rather consistent daily choices that promote long-term wellness.
The wellness session demontrated UPPC’s continued commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles among staff by equipping employees with practical knowledge that supports healthier, more productive, and balanced lives both at work and at home. UPPC operates on five core values, namely Teamwork, Integrity, Professionalism, Innovation and Customer focus. Recognizing that teamwork only works when there are human resources, UPPC promotes employee welfare not just through respecting employee rights but also by offering additional services such as convening educative sessions to enlighten them about issues concerning their health. At UPPC, human resources is the first client that is served to ensure that other clients are ultimately served well.