GEORGE NEWS - It was with great excitement that members of the Sonskynhoekie Senior Club in Blanco received their Western Cape on Wellness (WoW!) starter kit.
The kit contains portable equipment for members to do basic health screening (such as a scale, blood pressure monitor and tape measure) and to encourage indoor and outdoor physical activities (such as exercise mats, skipping ropes and weights).
The group also received a WoW! branded banner for use at group events to increase visibility and create awareness.
All 40 members have been part of the WoW! initiative since March this year.
"My first visit was in March to introduce the concept and from there on we have had great interactive sessions with the club members," said WoW! champion Claudel Draai.
The club has existed for 21 years and meets three times a week. Draai and other health staff visit the club once or twice per month and concentrate on physical activities, information sessions and health screenings.
"During our first session we did baseline screenings - weight, height and blood pressure - and issued each member with a Wellness passport. This enables members to measure personal health indicators, set personal healthy lifestyle goals, identify actual or potential barriers to change, and record and track personal progress.
"It also emphasises the responsibility of group members in promoting, protecting and managing their health," said Draai.
Club member Pam van Wyk said they love the presentations. "And we do appreciate the new ideas to help us manage our chronic conditions. WoW! also encourages us to live a healthier lifestyle with balanced meals, being active within our individual capacity and keeping our brains active."
The group also enjoyed talks on nutrition by a dietician and an informative session on World Elderly Abuse Day.
WoW! is a partnership platform that promotes a healthy lifestyle. It is coordinated by the Western Cape Government (WCG) Department of Health and Wellness in partnership with a range of valued partners from government, community organisations and groups, private companies and academic institutions. Interested people and organisations are encouraged to join WoW!. The aim is to co-create a culture of wellness in the Western Cape. Promoting healthy lifestyles is a major priority for WCG to prevent and reduce the burden of chronic or non-communicable diseases (NCDs) - diseases of lifestyle.
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