Health experts have advocated the inclusion of walking as part of activities to improve life span, mitigate health challenges and enhance overall well-being for increased productivity and economic development.
They spoke at a Walkathon on Saturday in Lagos organised by Waka Community International Foundation, Q-Life Family Clinic and Health Emergency Initiative to honour the memory of Dr Ade Alakija.
BRANDPOWER reports that Alakija was the Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency, former Medical Director of Q-life Family Clinic and pioneer member, Waka Community International Foundation.
Lawrence Mba, Founder, Waka Community International Foundation, described walking as the oldest and safest form of physical exercise which was non-discriminatory on grounds of age, gender, level of physical fitness or location.
Mba said the collaborative event used to immortalise the memories of the late Alakija who was a fitness enthusiast, aimed to contribute to the wellness and health of Nigerians and residents of Nigeria.
He persuaded the general public to take personal responsibility for their wellness by walking, eating right, hydrating well and getting enough quality sleep.
“Nigerians are encouraged to walk a minimum of thirty minutes daily and to eat healthy in small portions, drink lots of water and get adequate sleep so they will be fitter, leaner, healthier and ultimately happier.
“Walking; the oldest and safest form of physical exercise is a low impact exercise and so is gentle on the knees and ankles.
“Walking also has many benefits such as helping maintain a healthy weight and helping lose unwanted and undesirable fat.
“It helps prevent or manage various conditions including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes and also helps improve cardiovascular fitness.
“This event being held in honour of Ade Alakija is to help build consciousness about the importance of health which is the ultimate wealth and we remain committed to building a community of people that are healthy,” Mba said
Dr Olayinka Olowolu, the Medical Director, Q-Life Family Clinic, said the walkathon was to promote wellness, in honour of Alakija who was passionate about exercising and impacting the lives of people.
“At Q-Life, we are your partner in promoting your health as we focus on not just the curative but the preventive care of healthy living.
“As Nigerians and humans all over the world, we can take steps to ensure that we are in good health and not wait until we are ill by engaging in physical active, a proper nutrition and by avoiding things that can negatively impact one’s health.
“If you walk up to 150 minutes weekly, it is enough to have a positive impact on your health,” he said.
Mr Paschal Achunine, the Executive Director, Health Emergency Initiative, said the event was to raise awareness about healthy living, keeping a good life style and addressing emergency situations via the application of first aid and Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
He emphasised the need for joint efforts to save the lives of accident victims which he stated accounted for about 40 per cent of deaths in the country.
“We aim to raise awareness to provide access to health care for Nigerians and as this initiative saves lives, we can all work together to save lives together too,” he said.
Alero Alakija, daughter of the late Alakija and a medical practitioner, pledged to continue educating the general public on the benefits of walking via the walkathon in honour of her late father.
BRANDPOWER also reports that the event featured health checks, CPR and First Aid demonstrations by professional first responders, driven by the conviction that a healthy Nigeria is a wealthy Nigeria.
