Namib Poultry launches poultry clinic

BRANDON VAN WYKTHE first Namib Poultry Industry clinic was launched in Windhoek on Monday in order to promote the company’s vision to provide excellent poultry products in the country, and promote basic employee needs.

The clinic was officially launched by the NMI Group of Companies’ chief executive, Ian Collard, at the Namib Poultry farm, on behalf of health minister Bernard Haufiku.

The chief executive said the purpose of the clinic is to offer their employees a range of medical services on the premises, in line with catering for occupational health services.

“These services will include annual medicals, according to food handlers’ medicals and hazards, and the pre-employment for all new candidates,” Collard said.

He added that the company’s vision is to provide excellent poultry products to Namibia.

“Along with being a leading supplier of poultry products in the country, we also want to create exceptional and sustainable prosperity for all stakeholders,” he said.

Collard added that they produce on average 1 850 tonnes of poultry products per month, enabling the company to significantly contribute to local value-addition, in line with Vision 2030.

“With this facility, we aim to provide quality health and social welfare services that are receptive to the needs of our employees,” he noted.

They also firmly believe that occupational diseases and illnesses can be prevented, provided that risks are properly identified, managed and controlled. This occupational health, hygiene and wellness centre will thus be aimed at preventing ill-health, but also promoting good health and well-being.

“By investing in these programmes, both employer and employee are benefitting in terms of health and economic benefits,” he added.

The senior brand manager at Namib Mills, Marne Bouwer, said it was a proud moment for them as an organisation.

“Occupational safety and health is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment,” she said.

The goal of this programme is to foster a safe working environment, while “as a secondary effect it may also protect co-workers and family members, employers and customers,” Bouwer added.