Bestmed Healthy Habits Initiative
Pretoria – 01 July 2013 – How many of us really know our skins well? As the largest organ of the body, the skin forms a vital barrier to protect the body. Many of us know the tremendous purpose that this vital part of our body serves, but few of us know how to look after our skins properly.
According to CANSA, Melanoma – which is the most dangerous form of skin cancer – is one of the 10 leading cancers in both males and females. Based on this, Bestmed Medical Scheme, one of the largest medical schemes in South Africa, joined forces with CANSA and Incolabs, SA specialists in quality personal care and household consumer goods, to embark on an educational drive that aims at providing the public and school children information about cancer and the realities of this disease.
Bestmed Healthy Habits Initiative for Schools
“In line with our strategic wellness pillars, Be Active, Be Safe, Be Nutri-Wise and be Happy, we believe that education is key to leading healthier lives. With this in mind, we are partnering with CANSA and Incolabs to launch the Healthy Habits Initiatives at 20 schools in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, as a way of giving back to the communities where we operate. Half of these schools cater for previously disadvantaged individuals,” says Sasja La Grange, manager of CSI at Bestmed.
The Bestmed Healthy Habits Initiative involves a theatrical skit featuring distinct characters that will not only educate the learners, but entertain them too. The characters include Dr Brilliant Bestie, who promotes a healthy lifestyle; Sally Sweetheart, who plays the heart; Healthy Hannah, who is healthy and eats lots of fruits and vegetables, drinks a lot of water and exercises; Bad Habit Ben, an unhealthy person due to the bad habits he has adopted; Toktokkie aka Tap-Tap (CANSA mascot), whose role is to encourage leading a balanced and healthy lifestyle; as well as Coughy Cigarette & Fast Phat Combo, who portray bad habits.
In addition, the schools will receive sunscreen lotion provided for free by Incolabs (Everysun and Tropitone) to ensure that learners and educators alike start caring for their skin.
“This drive will launch on 15 July 2013 in Gauteng. As children are our future, we believe that by educating them, we are educating the nation and that many people will be more aware of their lifestyle habits and change them for longer, healthier and happier lives,” concludes La Grange.
About Bestmed
With 49 years of experience under its belt and delivering healthcare benefits to more than 152,000 beneficiaries throughout South Africa, Bestmed is one of the oldest and most established medical schemes in South Africa and trusted as the scheme of choice to access quality healthcare.
Bestmed now provides medical benefits to second–generation dependants who have opted to become principal members. The company is one of the few schemes in South Africa that has succeeded in keeping its administration service levels close on 87%, and is one of the fastest paying schemes in the industry.
Based in Pretoria, Bestmed has representation in most of the country’s provinces. The scheme has ten benefit options that serve the total healthcare market.