Wesley Corporate Health in Papua New Guinea!

Situated in the mountainous highlands of the Western Province, amidst the thick jungle and the meandering Fly River, is the Ok Tedi Mine Site.  Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) now operates the mine, which has become the single largest business contributor to the economics of the Western Province and PNG.  The Ok Tedi mine is a large-scale, cost-competitive producer of copper concentrate, but also extracts gold and silver for export. 

In mid 2009, OTML introduced an Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) Program to help staff maintain, or regain, health and fitness for both their personal and working lives.  The introduction of the program followed a number of adverse health outcomes in employees due to natural causes, but it was acknowledged that most of these had a strong link to lifestyle diseases. 

OTML enlisted the support of Wesley Corporate Health (WCH) in response to the request for an expert team of health professionals to help them refine and improve the program. Since coming on board in early 2010, WCH has been successful in training and engaging local health staff, improving access to healthier food options, and marketing the importance of a healthy lifestyle in the community. 

One of the most eagerly anticipated and valuable outcomes of the program has been the development of OTML’s very own version of the WCH Wellbeing Book - Health for Life. In consultation with local staff and the community, coupled with a great deal of research into best practice guidelines for the PNG population, WCH was responsible for introducing a new and improved Employee Health Evaluation for the company, and a book that employees are now able to take home containing their results and further educational material to share with their families. 

The much anticipated launch of the OTML Health for Life book was supported by attendance from OTML Managing Director Nigel Parker, and captured on film by the local media team. Since its roll out, the book has inspired a dramatic increase in the number of staff presenting to have an annual health assessment, and they are now able to share the education it provides with those at home. 

WCH Primary Health Professional Michelle Spillane with OTML 
Managing Director Nigel Parker,EHW Program Coordinator 
and Program Manager.

The next publication set to go to print will be a local cookbook providing advice on healthy, balanced meal and snack options for a community that is often faced with the challenges of being quite remote and isolated. WCH will be providing expert nutrition guidance, but will also draw on assistance from the local people who have been called to submit their favourite recipes for inclusion.

In a community where luxuries as we know them are few and far between, it is a great privilege for WCH to be involved with this project, and to have the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of the people in the Western Province of PNG.  Congratulations must go to OTML for providing their employees with such a fantastic health and wellness program to improve the lives of their employees, families, and the wider community.