25 Nov 2019

University of Botswana vice chancellor, Professor David Norris has advised that poor lifestyle choices were some of the causes of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Speaking on Friday in Goodhope during the Rolong Land Board wellness day, Professor Norris said even though NCDs were largely preventable, they continued to kill millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa.

He indicated that the most common factors that caused NCDs included tobacco use, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity.

He said that globally 70 per cent of deaths were caused by NCDs.

However, he advised that simple lifestyle changes, improved diet, increased physical activity and smoking reduction helped in cutting the likelihood of getting the diseases.

“Walking 30 minutes for five days can reduce the risk of getting a heart disease,” he said.

Furthermore, he said there was a need for employers to invest on gym facilities, especially for employees in rural areas.

He said employees’ health impacted negatively on productivity, hence the need to have such facilities to maintain a good health.

He said the Cardiovascular Journal of Africa indicated that only 7.2 adults in Botswana had normal weight; therefore there was need for Batswana to exercise and remain healthy.

On his part, Rolong Land Board chairperson, Mr Nathaniel Motshabi said healthy living and exercising improved someone in many areas of their lives.

He said one element to avoid stress was a healthy lifestyle, adding that spiritual upliftment was also vital.

Mr Motshabi advised on the need for people to pray.

He also said spirituality had helped people to deal with stress, noting that religions which have spiritual, mental and physical practices such as yoga helped people to live a healthy life.

The wellness event had activities such as football, testing for non-communicable diseases and many other health activities. ENDS