“Self-care becoming a daily habit Bayer says”
As the demands of modern life continue to intensify, Bayer South Africa is encouraging people to view self-care not as a luxury, but as an essential survival strategy. Marking International Self-Care Day, Bayer hosted an insightful media roundtable that brought together healthcare professionals, journalists and industry stakeholders to discuss the growing importance of everyday health and wellbeing on 24th of July 2026 at modderfontein golf club
The event highlighted how financial pressures, demanding work schedules, family responsibilities and an increasingly uncertain world are reshaping the way people think about their health. Bayer emphasised that empowering individuals with trusted health information and practical self-care solutions can help create healthier and more resilient communities…which also ended up with padel games as part of networking.
Opening the event, Kelly Widdop, Consumer Health Cluster Division Head for Bayer Sub-Saharan Africa, welcomed guests by acknowledging the realities facing many South Africans.
“We are carrying demanding careers, family responsibilities, financial pressure, uncertainty and the constant noise of a world that rarely switches off. Somewhere along the way, our own health often falls to the bottom of the list. Self-care is not an indulgence—it is an essential part of how we build healthier lives and more resilient communities,” she said speaking with S.A BUZZ
Widdop explained that Bayer’s commitment extends beyond providing consumer health products. The company aims to empower individuals through education, health literacy and evidence-based solutions that enable people to make informed decisions about their wellbeing before illness becomes more serious.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Dr. Renissa Naidoo, who stressed that self-care should become a daily habit rather than a reaction to illness. She encouraged South Africans to embrace preventative healthcare through healthy nutrition, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management and responsible use of over-the-counter healthcare products when appropriate.
Dr. Naidoo noted that self-care empowers individuals to take ownership of their health while reducing unnecessary strain on already overburdened healthcare systems. She also emphasised the importance of consulting healthcare professionals whenever symptoms persist or become severe, ensuring that self-care complements rather than replaces professional medical care.
Discussions during the event also referenced recent research supported by Bayer, showing that integrating self-care into healthcare systems can improve health outcomes, expand access to care and reduce pressure on healthcare facilities. The findings reinforce the growing recognition of self-care as an important pillar of sustainable healthcare worldwide.
Media representatives engaged with healthcare experts on topics ranging from nutrition and immunity to mental wellbeing, preventive healthcare and the importance of improving health literacy among South Africans.
The event concluded with a call for individuals, healthcare professionals and policymakers to work together in creating a culture where self-care becomes part of everyday life. Bayer reaffirmed its global purpose of “Health for All, Hunger for None,” stating that informed self-care has the potential to improve quality of life while building stronger and healthier communities.
As uncertainty continues to shape daily life, Bayer believes that investing in personal wellbeing is no longer optional—it is one of the most effective ways individuals can protect their physical, emotional and mental health for the future…follow more on @BayerSA and @sabuzz99