DIRCO Annual Report

The Occupational Health and Safety Committee was established and convened to deal with occupational health and safety matters. In order to maintain a safe environment, health and safety inspections were conducted to assess and deal with any risks and hazards that might be identified. No injury on duty was reported during this period. One fire drill was conducted. The COVID-19 pandemic became central to occupational health and safety in the department. Through the establishment and the functioning of the COVID-19 Steering Committee, the COVID-19 health and safety protocols and measures were implemented. As a result, guidance and support were provided to missions, business units and employees on how to implement COVID-19 health and safety measures. Guiding documents, such as the standard operating procedures on how to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 in the workplace, the protocols on how to deal with a COVID-19 employee and guidelines on remote working, were developed and circulated organisation-wide. The EHW practitioners conducted COVID-19 contact tracing to curb the spread of the virus. Through the on-site Occupational Health Clinic, travel and flu vaccines were provided. The nurses conducted blood pressure checks on a needs basis. In addition, COVID-19 tests were conducted as and when required. The department has implemented corporate governance of ICT in line with the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA)’s Corporate Governance of ICT Framework. All strategic ICT matters are discussed at various governance structures. ICT is a standing agenda item on the agenda of the following structures: Ministerial Management Meeting (MMM); Director-General Forum (DGF); ICT Steering Committee, Audit Committee; and Risk Management Committee. The department adopted and approved the Digital Strategy 2020 – 2025 and its implementation plan as part of the Digital Transformation Agenda. During the reporting period, ICT’s main focus was to enable business and ensure continuity. Collaboration capabilities were adopted and implemented to ensure that the department delivered on its strategic objectives. There were delays in the modernisation of the ICT infrastructure and procurement of computers. The procurement process has been initiated and is envisaged to be concluded in the 2021/22 financial year.

and support to all those employees and their families at Head Office and missions who required Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) services. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an increase in EHW services, specifically a significant rise in the categories of services relating to health, bereavement/trauma and anxiety/depression. As a result, psychosocial support was rendered to 554 officials. Additionally, the EHW practitioners conducted random courtesy calls to missions to determine how the transferred officials and their families were coping under different stages of COVID-19 lockdowns across the globe. Through the Spousal Support Programme, 44 courtesy calls and eight counselling sessions were rendered specifically to the spouses of transferred officials.

Regrettably, the department lost 13 employees who succumbed to COVID-19 and other illnesses. Equally, many employees across the board also lost some of their family members. All this resulted in an increase in bereavement counselling to employees and their families. On health promotion activities, electronic health articles were circulated on various topics, ranging from how to cope during lockdown, resilience, back care, grief and loss and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, among others. A total of 37 female employees participated in a breast cancer screening drive. In addition, webinars on stress management and interpersonal skills during COVID-19 were facilitated in conjunction with GEMS.

Annual Report 2020/2021 I Vote No. 6

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