21 May 2017

Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development programme officer for Kanye, Ms Mmapula Diphetogo says they intend to change approach of celebrating national fitness day.

Speaking during national fitness day held in Kanye recently, Ms Diphetogo said the ministry wanted the event to have a permanent impact on the participants.

“Our main objective as a ministry has always been to encourage people to exercise and maintain a good healthy lifestyle.

However, we have decided that in the coming events, we will incorporate other aspects such as finance education,” she explained.

She explained that they also wanted to keep a track record of participants’ progress and also get feedback from them on how they could improve their wellness.

“If someone had financial crisis or was obese, we would want to know whether or not they have made any progress,” she said.

Ms Diphetogo pointed out that they also wanted to engage other villages and communities.

She however highlighted that consistent failure by some departments and organisations to turn-up for the ministry fitness activities was a worrying development.

Ms Diphetogo was hopeful that even though they had not reached their target of attracting 270 participants in an event, such a feat would be achieved soon.

Again, Ms Diphetogo said they were working towards changing the mindset of some departments who purport wellness was all about the youth.

As such, she encouraged organisations to send a mix of both youth and old during wellness days.

One of the participants, Mr Celous Julius, applauded the ministry for the good initiative.

He said it would assist in combating both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Mr Julius challenged participants to continue exercising even outside work environment. ENDS