Ag. Director, CPPMD, Dorothy Mwera, has underscored the importance of strengthening staff well being as the State Department for Foreign Affairs undertakes a review of its Staff Wellness Policy. The review seeks to ensure that the policy provides an effective and coordinated wellness framework for officers and staff serving both at Headquarters and in Kenya Missions.
Mwera noted the importance of a comprehensive approach to wellness that responds to the diverse occupational, psychosocial, physical, financial, family and environmental factors that may affect staff well being and performance. The review provides an opportunity to strengthen access to appropriate support while fostering a workplace culture that promotes dignity, privacy, inclusion and freedom from stigma.
The proposed framework provides for integrated wellness interventions covering mental and psychosocial wellness, physical health, nutrition and healthy lifestyles, financial wellness, bereavement and family support, conflict management and safe, healthy and supportive working environments.
It also provides for critical-incident and emergency support, including psychological first aid, counseling, professional referrals, peer support and structured follow-up.
For the Foreign Service as a whole, the framework proposes a wellness cycle spanning per-deployment preparation, support during deployment, critical-incident response and post-deployment reintegration, ensuring that wellness remains part of the employee experience throughout the service journey.
The review reflects the State Department's commitment to building a healthier and more supportive working environment across its entire workforce, recognizing that the well being of staff at Headquarters and in Missions is integral to a resilient and effective Foreign Service.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign & Diaspora Affairs, Kenya.
