NIGERIANS have been urged to walk a minimum of thirty minutes daily, to eat healthy in small portions, drink lots of water, and to get adequate sleep so they will be fitter, leaner, healthier, and ultimately happier.
Founder of the Waka Community International Foundation, Mr Lawrence Mba, made the call at a walkathon event in Lagos. It was organised by the Waka Community International Foundation, Q-Life Family Clinic and Health Emergency Initiative in honour of the memory of Dr. AdetokunboAlakija.
He stated that walking is the oldest and safest form of physical exercise that was non-discriminatory on grounds of age, gender, level of physical fitness, or location.
The long walk took place between 7.00m and 9.00am from Catholic Church Admiralty Road, Lekki, through lkoyi link bridge to Falomo and back to the church.
According to him, walkathon is done globally in 46 countries by members, just as it is done in Lagos Nigeria.
“Walking helps prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes and also helps improve cardiovascular fitness,” Mba said.
The Executive Director, Health Emergency Initiative, Mr. Paschal Achunine, said the event was to raise awareness about healthy living, keeping a good lifestyle, and addressing emergency situations via the application of first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
“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.
On his part, the Medical Director, Q-Life Family Clinic, Dr. OlayinkaOlowolu, said: “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 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. Daughter of the late Alakija, AleroAlakija, a medical practitioner, promised to continue educating the general public on the benefits of walking via the walkathon in honour of her late father.
