MEC launches Move for Health campaign

THE NORTHERN Cape MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene, launched the Move for Health campaign in Tsineng near Kuruman earlier this week as part of the department’s continued efforts to promote physical activity, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.

The event was attended by councillors from Joe Morolong Local Municipality, tribal council member Kgosi Shuping, senior management and community members.

The day’s programme included full physical activity, due to the main focus being on the importance of an active lifestyle.

The programme aims to help members of the community take the first step towards a healthy lifestyle.

Department spokesperson Lebogang Majaha explained that the core message was that physical activity, a healthy diet and a tobacco and alcohol-free lifestyle are effective for a healthy lifestyle and, in principle, an easy and cheap way to prevent disease and to improve health.

“It is a cost-effective and affordable public health tool with great potential,” said Majaha.

“The World Health Organisation lists physical inactivity among the risks contributing to global chronic disease morbidity and mortality, especially unhealthy diet and tobacco use.

“Non-communicable diseases, better known as diseases of lifestyle, have reached alarming proportions in our country and also right here in the Northern Cape.”

Lekwene urged community members to engage in activities that exercise the body daily so that they remain healthy and stop diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension that creep into people’s lives as they grow older.

“Your contribution today in the aerobics session is indicative of the fact that our country is steadily progressing towards building a stronger and healthier nation. The partnership between government and the people can only find expression when our people take the initiative and their destiny in their own hands,” Lekwene encouraged.

“Exercise builds stronger bones, brings down blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, burns off excess weight, boosts immunity, reduces cancer risk, increases self-esteem, improves mental sharpness, lessens depression and anxiety and eases stress levels.”

Lekwene concluded by emphasising healthy eating, which he said is necessary to supply the nutrients the body requires.

He further encouraged everyone to also drink lots of water, because water helps with digestion and absorption of foods and with the removal of waste products.