Doha: Total launched the ‘Step into Health Programme’ as part of its healthy lifestyle initiative, in partnership with Aspetar.
It engaged over 130 employees to walk an average of 10,000 steps per day. A milestone of almost 100,000 collective steps was reached by an average of 35 participants over one month.
Pedometers were distributed by Aspetar allowing them to track progress. Employees logged in their profiles created by Aspetar to monitor daily food intake and benefit from nutrition-related features. The challenge was an extension of Total Cup, the annual sports competition for employees and families for one month.
An award ceremony was held at the end of the challenge, also attended by Aspetar officials.
Winners were Joy Pereira, Pascal Delille and Madusoodanan Parambath based on Aspetar’s random choice system, and honoured. Other participants were also congratulated. Employees shared success stories on how the challenge has helped change their habits and lives.
Mohamed Basser, HSE Manager, Total, said: “We have made a commitment to move towards healthy lifestyle and are trying to inspire our colleagues to do the same in a fun way.
“Due to employees expressing lack of energy for full physical exercises after work, we encouraged them to make small changes in the workplace, whether it be using stairs instead of the elevator, or taking a longer route to the office printer.
“They were more active than before, and it was interesting to see results as they progressed in the final weeks and almost all were near the minimum 10,000 steps per day.”
Abdulla Al Mohannadi, Senior Health Promotion Officer, Aspetar, said: “Total has set a good example for promoting a healthy workplace I believe will encourage other organisations to do the same. Sitting daily for a long time in the office leads to chronic diseases, it is important to be active and maintain the minimum number of walking steps, if not increasing it.”
The programme continues for participants feeling encouraged to carry out more physical activity. An inter-company competition by Aspetar resumes next month and Total employees will compete.
The Peninsula
