The Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala has lectured the Masters’ Fitness Wellbeing Club, Awka, on dangers of non-communicable diseases and benefits of exercising.
Dr Okpala speaking at the health awareness talk organised by the group at Dr Alex Ekwueme square, Awka, emphasised healthy living and importance of exercising to the body.
He said that non-communicable diseases were non-infectious health conditions that could spread from person to person; it lasts for a long time and also known as chronic diseases.
According to him, a combination of genetic, psychological lifestyle and environmental factors can cause these diseases.
He listed Some of the risk factors to include unhealthy diets, a lack of physical activity, smoking and secondhand smoke and excessive use of alcoholic drinks.
The commissioner while commending the association for organising the health awareness campaign and making sure to invite officials of the ministry of health to fully be on ground to discuss certain pertinent health issues with them, said they discussed excercises, non-communicable diseases like breast cancer, cancer of the lungs, prostate, diabetics and hypertension.
The commissioner pointed out that his ministry was working through some of the structures on ground to strengthen the Non-Communicable Disease aspect of the Department of Public Health/Disease Control.
He went further to say that the ministry mandated the State Coordinator, Non-Communicable Diseases to oversee the programmes in the state and also inaugurated 21 Focal Persons across the 21 Local Government Areas (LGA’s).
He pointed out that individuals whose jobs in LGAs are to be contact persons for non-communicable diseases will work through the structure at the Primary Healthcare Centres in order to identify people with certain diseases and to help them get help also said that they were designing down to the grassroots.
The commissioner also revealed that they are presently designing a card to be known as `Akwukwo Ndu’ – Book of Life – and Ndi Anambra will be expected to obtain the cards.
He explained that the card will have columns for blood pressure, sugar, a person’s weight, heights and others. Each individual will have this card when visiting a healthcare provider as the doctor will document all the information found.
He then declared that the card would help the healthcare providers to make quick decisions and also to know the type of intervention that would be required for a particular patient.
In conclusion, the commissioner then urged everyone to imbibe the culture of routine checks of their health status while advising them to stop eating non balanced foods but `eat rightly and exercise
Dr Ugochukwu Chukwulobelu, Director Medical Services informed also them that the Ministry of Health was partnering the Nigerian Medical Association, Anambra chapter to end quackery and close down unlicenced hospitals.
Chairman of the Group, Mr Emeka Nwude said that the club, a fitness club, is a club where the wellbeing of members were given special attention.
Mr Nwude explained further that they deemed it necessary to create awareness at this time so that people will be in the know of how to manage their health conditions.
He then commended the commissioner for honouring their invitation and for educating them on non-communicable diseases and benefits of exercising.
