30 Jul 2017

 A representative from St Elias Foundation has hailed cultural and traditional practices that promote a healthy living.

Speaking at the St Elias Foundation health and wellness fair recently in Maun Mr Lesang Mahupu said a healthy living was a gateway to many good things and urged the community in Maun to support cultural and traditional activities directed towards good health.

The health and wellness fair brought together local and international health stakeholders to promote good health among the communities through the accessibility of health services.

The fair also imparted health education and advices to Maun community.

Mr Mahupu commended communities like Baherero and Bakgatla who he said had cultural practices that were promoting good health such as circumcision. He said the two communities had long practiced circumcision, noting that it was important for such communities to collaborate with government.

“We should appreciate the cultural diversities in our country and recognise traditional food that promote good health”, he said

He advised the attendants to align their lifestyles to better living and to promote physical fitness which was also seen within different cultures like walking for distances.

For her part a Director from Ohio University in the USA, Dr Gillian Ice also said there was need to promote those cultural aspects that encourage a healthy living.

Dr Ice emphasized the need for cultural exchange so that researchers and health stakeholders could come up with informed decisions on some cultural aspects that promote good health.

He said his coming to Batswana among others was to benchmark on different Batswana cultures and ascertain kinds of traditional food that promote healthy living.

“We are looking forward to learn more from you and your culture through this collaboration as that will help us to make research and improve where there is a need for improvement”, he said. ENDS