A1322 The lamplighter program on health promotion at the workplace.- The India experience

Monday, March 19, 2012: 14:35
Coba (Cancun Center)
Kishore Madhwani, Medical & Occupational Health, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Mumbai, India
Hv Ravi Mohan, Medical & Occupational Health, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Bengaluru, India
Sudip Gupta, Medical & Occupational Health, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Kolkotta, India
Himanshu Shukla, Medical & Occupational Health, Hindustan Unilever Limited,, Mumbai, India
Ravindra Udiavar, Medical & Occupational Health, Hindustan Unilever Limited,, Mumbai, India
Ranjana Thate, Medical & Occupational Health, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Mumbai, India
Mira Santiago, Medical & Occupational Health, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Mumbai, India
Dean Patterson, Medical & Occupational Health, Unilever, london, United Kingdom
Thirumalai Rajgopal, Medical & Occupational Health, Unilever, Mumbai, India
Introduction
Unilever strongly believes that health, wellbeing & performance are interrelated & employees are its biggest asset. In 2006, the Global Lamplighter Program was launched to create health consciousness and motivate employees to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Methods
As part of Lamplighter Program in India we measured Personal Vitality of individual employees by calculation of Vitality Index ©- comprising 4 parameters (Blood Pressure, Body Mass Index, S.Cholesterol & S.Glucose).A baseline evaluation was undertaken in 2006 , where 88% of employees participated (N =14,233). Based on the values of health parameters, a Vitality Index Scorecard was prepared for each employee & conveyed individually to ensure confidentiality. Employees having score 0-4 were designated as Greens, 5-6 as Ambers & 7 and above as Reds. From 2006 .employees are closely followed-up to ensure reduction in risk factors by a combination of lifestyle changes assisted by Vitality Evangelists’, treatment & specialist consultations & the result is shared with them as an ongoing Workplace Health Promotion Initiative.

Results
Baseline evaluation in 2006 revealed 75% employees were green, 17% ambers & 8% reds. Follow-up from 2007 -2010 revealed that total no of reds reduced to 4.99%.

Discussion
With Vitality Index, we are able to focus on individual employees with higher scores as it gives us a unique opportunity of giving personal attention to employees with risk factors for chronic diseases. The Health Care Model at Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) combines the element of caring for an employee while making it sustainable from a business perspective. The World Economic Forum has showcased this initiative as a model in their Publication entitled: “The New Discipline of Workforce Wellness – Enhancing Corporate Performance by Tackling Chronic Disease” , 2010. The World Health Organization in 2011 invited HUL to showcase their lamplighter program in an International Consultation on Healthy Workplaces at New Delhi, India. 

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