The Ministry of Education hosted a Mini Health Fair for its employees on Thursday in an effort to promote a healthy workforce.

Senior Education Officer of the Guidance and Counselling Unit, Zoe Powell touted the initiative, stressing that healthy staff members have proven to be more productive.

Ms. Powell added that there are many factors including stress that can affect an employee’s productiveness.

“At the Ministry of Education we implemented the Employee Assistance Programme to address needs and we have seen a positive response because persons come for individual counselling concerning relationships, job matters, conflict, family matters and finical matters because healthy employee is a productive employee,” she said.

Event organiser and counsellor for the Employee Assistance Programme Iris Strachan said the fair was designed to address the overall needs employees.

“We brought persons in, agencies that the employees would become familiarise with so that in the event that they need assistance they can go to them,” she said.

“We have brought in persons from healthy lifestyles, Department of Health and also HIV and AIDS centres so that they can get their free testing, we also have a podiatrist on duty today to assist those persons who might have diabetes or might need foot or wound care.”

The fair is a part of the third annual employee health initiative.

There were free screenings for glucose, cholesterol, weight, blood pressure and HIV testing.

The one day fair was also opened to the public.