Medbury Healthcare Advocates for Psychosocial Wellbeing as Core Pillar of Workplace Health

Dike Onwuamaeze

Medbury Healthcare, a Nigerian provider of corporate and occupational health solutions, has called for the advancement of a holistic approach to workplace safety that place psychosocial wellbeing at the centre of organisational performance.

Medbury made this call recently at a program it held in collaboration with British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) that aligned with this year’s global theme, “Good psychosocial working environments: A pathway to thriving workers and strong organisations.”

The session further reinforced BATN’s belief that employee wellbeing extends beyond physical safety to include mental health, emotional resilience, and a supportive workplace culture.

Speaking at the session, the Med-Advisory Manager Dr. Uba Onyenefa, who is also the ICM Operations Manager at Medbury Healthcare, emphasised the critical link between mental and physical health.

Onyenefa noted that unmanaged stress could manifest in physical conditions such as insomnia, chronic headaches, and musculoskeletal disorders.

He explained that unmanaged stress could manifest in physical symptoms such as insomnia, headaches, and musculoskeletal discomfort.

He reiterated the availability of BAT Nigeria’s Employee Assistance Programme, a confidential support platform that offers employees access to professional mental health resources for both work-related and personal challenges.

Led globally by the International Labour Organization, the 2026 campaign spotlights the importance of managing workplace stress, preventing harassment, and fostering environments where employees can thrive.

In line with this, BATN convened an interactive session bringing together employees and senior leaders to drive awareness, encourage open dialogue, and promote practical solutions for addressing mental health and well-being risks in the workplace.

A key highlight of the event was a panel session that provided actionable insights into identifying and managing employee mental health hazards such as work-related stress, burnout, and ineffective communication, factors that, if left unaddressed, could impact productivity, safety, and overall employee well-being.

Speaking on the realities of operating in a high-performance manufacturing environment, the Manufacturing Manager of BATN, Mr. Waqas Khan, emphasised the importance of realistic planning and transparent communication.

Khan noted that setting achievable timelines and fostering open dialogue between employees and line managers are critical to reducing workplace pressure and building trust.

The discussion also highlighted the necessity of emotional intelligence in managing the high-pressure environment of manufacturing.

The Head of Supply Chain, BATN, Mr. Dele Alabi, noted that self-awareness, empathy, and self-regulation are critical leadership qualities required to deal with pressures like production deadlines or equipment breakdowns without passing stress down to the team destructively.

Alabi emphasised that by treating others with respect and considering perspectives before making decisions, leadership could move away from intimidating leadership toward a supportive model where employees feel safe to speak up about risks without fear of retaliation.

The Area Head of Talent & Engagement, Sub-Saharan Africa, Ms. Monisola Adebayo, reinforced the need for clarity in roles and expectations, noting that uncertainty often translates into pressure.

Adebayo emphasised that creating a psychologically safe workplace is a shared responsibility and encouraged employees to actively engage with performance management processes, seek feedback, and leverage available support systems to manage workload effectively.

BATN used the event to reaffirm its commitment to embedding people-centred ESG principles across its operations, by ensuring that employees are supported not only in terms of physical safety but also in their mental and emotional wellbeing.æ

The participants at the event reflected on BATN’s workplace philosophy that “silence increases risk. Conversations create solutions.”

BATN said that by placing equal emphasis on mental health, employee wellbeing and physical safety, it has continued to foster a resilient, inclusive, and high-performing environment where its people can truly thrive.