By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

Health promotion is vital in improving work productivity and in reinforcing occupational safety and health in Mariano Marcos State University. This was underscored in a university-wide webinar held today, March 24. 

Dubbed “Championing MMSU Occupational Safety and Health toward Quality Workplace,” the online activity aimed to increase the employees’ knowledge in ensuring physical and mental health, and in preventing occupational injuries and illnesses in their work environment. 

In the event, Dr. Policarpio Joves, dean of the MMSU College of Medicine, emphasized the need to intensify health promotion in the university, which, he emphasized, is a multi-sectoral collaboration between the offices and colleges. 

“Through health promotion, we can create social and physical environments that promote good health for our university constituents,” Dr. Joves said.

The medical doctor shared that promoting health and safety in the university can be done by creating health policies and supportive environments, strengthening community action, developing personal skills, and reorienting health services. Health promotion should make employees and students health literate, nurture a health-enabling university workplace, and to craft health-supportive and protective policies. 

For her part, Prof. Christine Joy Lim, chief of the university psychological testing center, said ensuring mental health in the workplace benefits both the individual and the organization, and it is the responsibility of both the employer and the employees. 

“Encouraging and assisting employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance is crucial to their health and that of the workplace,” Prof. Lim said. 

Dr. Prima Fe R. Franco, vice president for academic affairs, commended the MMSU Occupational Safety and Health Committee for conducting the activity “for us to appreciate the value of safety and health, and to put up a program that will allow everyone to reflect and enhance our safety and health as we move forward as one university family.” 

Dr. Leonisa Silvestre, director for health and wellness services, hopes the webinar will pave the way in inculcating effective and efficient quality workplace safety and health culture in the entire university. 

Aside from the webinar, university employees participated in the 30-minute physical activity held this afternoon before the flag retreat.

These activities are in support to the nationwide celebration of the first Occupational Medicine Week, which is pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation No. 1316 issued by then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The observance of the celebration is led by the Occupational Safety and Health Center of the Department of Labor and Employment. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)