……As Waka Community International Foundation, Q-life Family Clinic and Health Emergency Initiative honour late Dr Ade Alakija
Nigerians have been urged to embrace walking to help prevent or manage conditions including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
The Founder, of Waka Community International Foundation, Lorenzo Mba gave the advice on Saturday in Lagos during a walk event with Q-life Family Clinic and Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) to honour the late Dr Ade Alakija, a former the Chairman of Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) Board.
Mba, who noted that walking also helped improve cardiovascular fitness, said the walk, in its third edition, was held to immortalise Alakija who wore many caps and was a pioneer member of the Waka Community International Foundation.
“Today’s walk and free health check for interested participants and the public is driven by our conviction that a healthy Nigeria is a wealthy Nigeria.
“It provides us with the opportunity to inform, educate and persuade Nigerians and indeed the world, to take personal responsibility for their wellness by walking, eating right, hydrating well, getting enough quality sleep.
Mba also encouraged Nigerians to walk a minimum of 30 minutes daily, eat healthy in small portions, drink lots of water and get adequate sleep to be fitter, leaner, healthier and ultimately happier.
“We encourage everyone to walk indoors or outdoors depending on choice, safety or convenience.
“Walking is also inexpensive as one can walk barefeet indoors and on beaches,” he said.
Medical Director of Q-life, Olayinka Olowojulo explained that in addition to the walk, the Clinic provided free health checks for all attendees, reinforcing the event’s focus on wellness.
He also underscored the significance of taking personal responsibility for health through regular exercise, balanced nutrition and adequate hydration.
On his part, the Executive Director of Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), Mr Paschal Achunine said walking was a call to healthy living without strain.
He said HEI would continue to train first responders and enlighten the general public on practical steps to save lives.
“Exercise is an escape route for certain diseases and calling people’s attention to exercise is a noble move that the late Alakija stood for,” he said.