Category: MENA

CGTN publishes an article on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to a village in northeast China’s Liaoning Province, which was heavily affected by floods last August. The article highlights the president’s tradition of visiting ordinary citizens ahead of the Spring Festival, reviews heartwarming moments from his visits, and explains how Xi’s actions reinforce his commitment to ensuring a happy life for the people.

BEIJING, Jan. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With just over a week until the Spring Festival, the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar, families affected by flooding in Zhujiagou Village, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, are preparing to celebrate Chinese New Year in new homes.

Last August, torrential rains lashed Liaoning’s Suizhong County, triggering severe flooding and heavily affecting the lives of as many as 185,000 residents in 110 villages across 10 townships. The low-lying Zhujiagou Village was among the hardest-hit areas, with roads destroyed, over 70 hectares of farmlands inundated, and more than 50 homes damaged – 41 of which were deemed unsafe for repair.

The 186 villagers from the 41 affected households were collectively relocated to a new site on higher ground. A construction project then began in early September to ensure residents could have a roof over their heads before the arrival of the cold winter in northeast China. By October 24, 2024, all these villagers had moved into newly-built homes.

Braving freezing temperatures, President Xi Jinping took time out of his busy schedule to visit the villagers in Zhujiagou on Wednesday.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, inspected the progress in post-disaster restoration and reconstruction and asked locals about the quality of the reconstructed homes and the standards of their daily living conditions.

“Huludao suffered severe flooding last year. I have been concerned about you and came to see you before the Spring Festival,” Xi told the villagers.

“What I’ve seen today makes me feel relieved,” he added.

‘People can always count on Party, government’

Noting a number of natural disasters that occurred across the country last year, Xi on Wednesday expressed his belief that restoration and reconstruction in the affected areas will yield good results.

“We have always put the people first,” Xi said. “The people can always count on the Party and the government in their most difficult times, and we will help them overcome difficulties and rebuild their homes.”

Looking back at the footprints of the president’s visits ahead of the Spring Festival, “post-disaster reconstruction” has been a major corner to be addressed head-on.

In addition to the recent visit to Zhujiagou, last February Xi visited those affected by the floods in Diliubu Village, Tianjin Municipality. As he told the villagers, “Only when the people are secure can the country prosper,” adding that the Party’s central leadership has “made a resolution to improve the livelihood of the people by striving to enhance the construction of water conservancy and flood control projects.”

Back in January 2022, he braved the snow to visit people in a small village called Fengnanyuan in north China’s Shanxi Province that had been hit hard by autumn floods. “The CPC’s resolve to ensure all Chinese people live happy lives has remained unchanged for more than a century, and it will not falter,” said Xi.

He also visited Yingxiu, a township in Wenchuan County of Sichuan Province in February 2018, which was the epicenter of a major earthquake that claimed the lives of tens of thousands in 2008. “My job is to serve the people,” Xi said during the visit.

Spending time with people

The visit to Liaoning continues a tradition Xi has maintained for 13 consecutive years: visiting people at the primary and grassroots level ahead of Spring Festival, leaving many heartwarming moments.

During a pre-festival inspection in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province in January 2017, Xi visited Desheng Village, where he helped a villager meticulously calculate household income and expenses.

In February 2016, Xi visited Shenshan Village in Jiangxi Province and joined the villagers in making the festive snack ciba, a traditional glutinous rice cake. He quipped that pounding the snack with a mallet was a good workout.

When inspecting northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in January 2014, Xi went to a children’s welfare home where he used sign language to interact with the hearing-impaired. In his latest New Year message, Xi Jinping again stressed that “of all the jobs in front of us, the most important is to ensure a happy life for our people.” The president’s busy schedule is a vivid demonstration of actions backing up words.

For more information, please click:
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-01-23/Xi-Jinping-visits-flood-affected-residents-ahead-of-Spring-Festival-1AoP9YVemLC/p.html

Contact: [email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9336909

A new approach to holistic support, empowering employees and equipping managers for successful reintegration

RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Returning to work after a cancer diagnosis is a journey fraught with challenges—physical fatigue, emotional hurdles, and workplace reintegration complexities. To bridge this critical gap, Workplace Options (WPO), a global leader in holistic health and employee engagement solutions, introduces the Return to Work: Cancer Care Compass Program. This is the first global, inclusive program designed to provide unparalleled support for employees recovering from cancer and the managers who guide them through their transition back to work.

The Challenges of Returning to Work After Cancer
For employees recovering from cancer, the return-to-work journey often includes:

• Physical fatigue and cognitive difficulties impacting day-to-day productivity.
• Emotional challenges such as anxiety, fear of judgment, or stigma in the workplace.
• Uncertainty about navigating workplace dynamics and performance expectations.

Employers, too, face challenges in understanding how to provide meaningful support while balancing business priorities. Managers may struggle with designing flexible accommodations or fostering team inclusivity.

How the Cancer Care Compass Program Addresses These Challenges
The Return to Work: Cancer Care Compass Program is purpose-built to tackle these specific hurdles with a holistic, multi-layered approach:

• Emotional and Psychological Support: Up to 18 counseling sessions, combined with mindfulness sessions, help employees build resilience and manage stress.
• Vocational Reintegration: 12 tailored coaching sessions with a Coordinator of Occupational Reintegration and Adaptation (CORAT), a specialist who guides employees in setting achievable goals, enhancing skills, and addressing workplace challenges.
• Functional Assessments and Work-Life Searches: CORAT specialists evaluate employees’ holistic needs and connect them to essential resources, including dietary consultations, physical rehabilitation, mobility aids, and complementary therapies such as acupuncture or therapeutic yoga.
• Seamless Manager Collaboration: CORAT specialists facilitate communication between employees and managers, ensuring accommodation and reintegration plans are aligned with the needs of both parties.

Empowering Managers to Lead with Confidence and Compassion
The Cancer Care Compass Program recognizes that managers play a pivotal role in fostering a compassionate and inclusive workplace. The program provides:

• Unlimited Manager Consultations: CORAT specialists offer expert guidance on workplace accommodation and flexible reintegration plans.
• Manager Toolkit: A three-chapter guide offering practical strategies for every stage of reintegration:
  • Prepare: Understanding cancer treatments, legal compliance, and flexible planning.
  • Act: Implementing accommodations, managing team dynamics, and conducting check-ins.
  • Support: Sustaining emotional and practical support for employees and teams while encouraging self-care for managers.

“Managers are the architects of an inclusive and psychologically safe workplace culture,” explains Dr. Kennette Harris, Chief Clinical Officer at Workplace Options. “This program equips them with specific tools to create environments where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to be their best self.”

What Sets Workplace Options Apart
Unlike traditional programs that focus solely on medical recovery, WPO’s Cancer Care Compass Program emphasizes vocational reintegration and resilience-building. Its unique features include:

• A Single Point of Coordination: CORAT specialists serve as a central resource for employees and managers, streamlining the reintegration process.
• Global Adaptability: The program’s scalable design ensures it meets the diverse cultural and regulatory needs of organizations worldwide.
• A Holistic Focus: By addressing physical, emotional, and professional dimensions, the program ensures a sustainable return to work.

Seamless Integration with Existing Policies
The Cancer Care Compass Program complements an organization’s existing employee assistance and wellbeing program. By aligning with workplace policies, it enhances support systems while addressing employees’ unique challenges and fostering an inclusive environment.

A Commitment to Cancer Recovery and Workplace Inclusion
As a signatory of the Working with Cancer Pledge, WPO is dedicated to creating workplaces where cancer survivors feel valued and empowered at every stage of recovery.

“Cancer recovery isn’t just about surviving—it’s about thriving,” said Alan King, President and CEO of Workplace Options. “Through WPO’s Cancer Care Compass Program, we’re helping employees return to work with confidence and helping businesses create cultures of care that last.”

About Workplace Options:

Founded in 1982, Workplace Options (WPO) is the largest independent provider of holistic well-being solutions. Through customized programs, and a comprehensive global network of credentialed providers and professionals, WPO supports individuals to become healthier, happier, and more productive both personally and professionally. Trusted by 50 percent of Fortune 500 companies, WPO delivers high-quality care digitally and in-person to more than 88 million people across 127,000 organizations in more than 200 countries and territories.

Contact: Jennifer Dart, Senior Corporate Communications Manager [email protected]

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/87c8c114-e2ed-498f-8c98-a835046b9d6b

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9336708

A new approach to holistic support, empowering employees and equipping managers for successful reintegration

RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Returning to work after a cancer diagnosis is a journey fraught with challenges—physical fatigue, emotional hurdles, and workplace reintegration complexities. To bridge this critical gap, Workplace Options (WPO), a global leader in holistic health and employee engagement solutions, introduces the Return to Work: Cancer Care Compass Program. This is the first global, inclusive program designed to provide unparalleled support for employees recovering from cancer and the managers who guide them through their transition back to work.

The Challenges of Returning to Work After Cancer
For employees recovering from cancer, the return-to-work journey often includes:

• Physical fatigue and cognitive difficulties impacting day-to-day productivity.
• Emotional challenges such as anxiety, fear of judgment, or stigma in the workplace.
• Uncertainty about navigating workplace dynamics and performance expectations.

Employers, too, face challenges in understanding how to provide meaningful support while balancing business priorities. Managers may struggle with designing flexible accommodations or fostering team inclusivity.

How the Cancer Care Compass Program Addresses These Challenges
The Return to Work: Cancer Care Compass Program is purpose-built to tackle these specific hurdles with a holistic, multi-layered approach:

• Emotional and Psychological Support: Up to 18 counseling sessions, combined with mindfulness sessions, help employees build resilience and manage stress.
• Vocational Reintegration: 12 tailored coaching sessions with a Coordinator of Occupational Reintegration and Adaptation (CORAT), a specialist who guides employees in setting achievable goals, enhancing skills, and addressing workplace challenges.
• Functional Assessments and Work-Life Searches: CORAT specialists evaluate employees’ holistic needs and connect them to essential resources, including dietary consultations, physical rehabilitation, mobility aids, and complementary therapies such as acupuncture or therapeutic yoga.
• Seamless Manager Collaboration: CORAT specialists facilitate communication between employees and managers, ensuring accommodation and reintegration plans are aligned with the needs of both parties.

Empowering Managers to Lead with Confidence and Compassion
The Cancer Care Compass Program recognizes that managers play a pivotal role in fostering a compassionate and inclusive workplace. The program provides:

• Unlimited Manager Consultations: CORAT specialists offer expert guidance on workplace accommodation and flexible reintegration plans.
• Manager Toolkit: A three-chapter guide offering practical strategies for every stage of reintegration:
  • Prepare: Understanding cancer treatments, legal compliance, and flexible planning.
  • Act: Implementing accommodations, managing team dynamics, and conducting check-ins.
  • Support: Sustaining emotional and practical support for employees and teams while encouraging self-care for managers.

“Managers are the architects of an inclusive and psychologically safe workplace culture,” explains Dr. Kennette Harris, Chief Clinical Officer at Workplace Options. “This program equips them with specific tools to create environments where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to be their best self.”

What Sets Workplace Options Apart
Unlike traditional programs that focus solely on medical recovery, WPO’s Cancer Care Compass Program emphasizes vocational reintegration and resilience-building. Its unique features include:

• A Single Point of Coordination: CORAT specialists serve as a central resource for employees and managers, streamlining the reintegration process.
• Global Adaptability: The program’s scalable design ensures it meets the diverse cultural and regulatory needs of organizations worldwide.
• A Holistic Focus: By addressing physical, emotional, and professional dimensions, the program ensures a sustainable return to work.

Seamless Integration with Existing Policies
The Cancer Care Compass Program complements an organization’s existing employee assistance and wellbeing program. By aligning with workplace policies, it enhances support systems while addressing employees’ unique challenges and fostering an inclusive environment.

A Commitment to Cancer Recovery and Workplace Inclusion
As a signatory of the Working with Cancer Pledge, WPO is dedicated to creating workplaces where cancer survivors feel valued and empowered at every stage of recovery.

“Cancer recovery isn’t just about surviving—it’s about thriving,” said Alan King, President and CEO of Workplace Options. “Through WPO’s Cancer Care Compass Program, we’re helping employees return to work with confidence and helping businesses create cultures of care that last.”

About Workplace Options:

Founded in 1982, Workplace Options (WPO) is the largest independent provider of holistic well-being solutions. Through customized programs, and a comprehensive global network of credentialed providers and professionals, WPO supports individuals to become healthier, happier, and more productive both personally and professionally. Trusted by 50 percent of Fortune 500 companies, WPO delivers high-quality care digitally and in-person to more than 88 million people across 127,000 organizations in more than 200 countries and territories.

Contact: Jennifer Dart, Senior Corporate Communications Manager [email protected]

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/87c8c114-e2ed-498f-8c98-a835046b9d6b

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9336708