30 Jan 2025

A human body needs to be exercised regularly to keep fit and fight diseases, Francistown deputy mayor Uyapo Nyeku has advised residents of Donga township.

Speaking at wellness day organised by Donga Clinic and Ward Development Committee, Mr Nyeku also said physical fitness helped to strengthen muscles, improve bone density and regulate blood pressure.

He added that exercising also helped with weight loss and lowered risk of diseases. He further said health awareness programmes were important in assuring that fitness messages were delivered to all sectors of the community.

“A healthy body can easily fight diseases such as high blood pressure, sugar diabetes”, added Mr Nyeku.

 He also advised people to undergo medical checkups so that diseases could be detected and treated at early stages. He added that different efforts to spread awareness were important in helping to educate the public to take action.

Giving objectives of the day, Donga Ward Development Committee chairperson, Mr Ernest Makopo said the main aim of the wellness programme was to promote health fitness and raise community awareness on health issues.

He also said the awareness programme strived to create cancer awareness and remove the stigma and fear attached to cancer.

Mr Makopo said creating awareness could help people recognise early signs and symptoms of cancer, thus enabling them to seek treatment at an early stage. He added that the awareness day also attempted to encourage people to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Donga Clinic matron, Ms Sibongile Makhulumo said the wellness programme aimed to empower people in ways of promoting a healthy lifestyle through preaching exercise, eating a balanced diet, stress reduction through counselling and also living according to one’s means.

She added that stress could be reduced through venting to a trusted personnel rather than keeping problems to one self. --She further said that rest was one of the key factors to a healthy lifestyle as it relaxed the body and mind.

Ms Makhulumo said spiritual fulfillment was a crucial element of having rest and a stable personal being as it satisfied the mind and helps it to relax.

She advised that medical check-ups and health monitoring were vital in promoting a healthy lifestyle. Ms Makhulumo mentioned maintaining personal hygiene and environmental hygiene as vibrant parts of healthy living. ENDS