Reducing Downtime and Improving Workers Efficiency in Oil Servicing Companies in the Niger Delta through Health Promotion Progammes Advocacy

Abstract

Godspower Imie*, Kpang Meelubari Barinua Tsaro and Prince Ch. Mmom

Over the years, work place accident occurrence has been a day to day event in many oil servicing firms globally leading to morbidity, mortality and also incapacitation or disabilities of oil servicing workers. Significant capital expenses are made in health by companies globally not necessarily to keep their employee’s healthy rather to keep them in shape for production to yield consistent rise in productivity. On the contrary, expenditure in treatment/health cost of employee ranging from morbidity rate, absenteeism and loss of work hours remains quite alarming. Consequently, this study was established to survey the existing health promotion programmes practiced in selected oil servicing companies in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria and ascertain its level of effectiveness. It was aimed at improving workers performance the encouragement of health promotion programmes. Meanwhile, 395 copies of structured questionnaire were administered to the workers of the oil servicing companies that were sampled. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied for the analysis. The findings revealed that there are health promotion programs in place in the organisations surveyed and excellently rated by the workers in terms of pursuit and achievement of company’s objectives and improvement of employee’s performance. However, management’s commitment to the workability of the health promotion programmes is not commendable as more than 70% of the workers are unsatisfied with management approach so far. Furthermore, the analysis reveals that there is a significant variation in the health risk reduction programmes across the organisations surveyed (F=495.211; p<0.05). It was concluded on the bases of the findings the study that health promotions programmes across the area vary from company to company. Therefore health promotion programmes such as work site health promotion, wellness programmes, and improved access to health care services aimed at disease prevention and comprehensive health-promoting activities such as improved sensitization, health education, behavioural change communication, and organizational health initiatives were highly recommended.