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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified the reason for the rising spate of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.
WHO confirmed that, aside from factors like personal and environmental hygiene, poor record of physical activities and exercise among young people was significantly responsible for the increasing spate of non-communicable diseases and deaths in Nigeria.
WHO thus recommended regular exercise and other healthy lifestyle habits as key measures in reducing the spread of non-communicable diseases.
WHO’s country representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi, told journalists at the third edition of the global “Walk the Talk” health challenge in Abuja, at the weekend, that people between the ages of 30 and 69 die prematurely from non-communicable diseases in low and middle-income countries.
Kazadi added that the “Walk the Talk” campaign was an initiative of the WHO to create awareness for people to engage in physical activities: “This is an initiative of the WHO to make everybody to know more about NCDs and the effects.
“Globally, the burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer and chronic diseases is growing due to lack of physical activities. We do this once a year on the side to kick off World Health Assembly, which is starting tomorrow.
“We want to add our contribution to the global campaign for everyone to become active as part of our effort to beat non-communicable diseases. This is what we should be doing every day for at least half an hour, if we are to beat diseases.
“Non-communicable diseases, also known as chronic diseases, tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors.”
He challenged everyone to key into the campaign to ensure a healthy society and people that would meaningfully contribute to the gross domestic product of Nigeria and beyond.
