11 Aug 2024

Members of the Tsabong region Sport Volunteers Movement (SVM) braced the cold Saturday morning to walk 10 kilometres in an effort to encourage the community to fight non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which are an emerging global health threat.

Speaking during the walk, chief walker, business woman Diana Kaartze said NCDs such as diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, heart disease, and cancer were the leading causes of death worldwide. 

She also noted that the NCDs were increasing at an alarming rate in Botswana hence the need to encourage every individual to take steps towards improving physical fitness.

The sharp increase of non-communicable diseases globally, she said, required every individual to rise and take charge of their health by going for regular medical check-ups. As such, Kaartze said it was imperative to hold collective fitness walks in the community as an encouragement to adopt healthy habits.

 Furthermore, she said such activities helped with improvement of physical fitness and also served to bring people together to network  thus enhancing social cohesion.

For his part, Tsabong region SVM chairperson Mohenyi Ntau said the event was organised under the theme:Community Health and Perseverance, targeted at encouraging members of the community to keep physically active. Ntau said this was the second installment of the event which started last year.

SVM is a voluntary movement structure under the Botswana National Sports Council and relies on sponsorships to carry out its mandate.

As such, Ntau appreciated different government departments and parastatals such as Water Utilities Corporation, District Health Management Team, TSAMAMA Trust, Botswana Network on Ethics Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA), Kaartze of Yonatan group and Botswana Sports Commission for making the event a success. ENDS