By Yashim Katurak
Abuja – The World Health Organisation (WHO) office in Nigeria has organised a health walk in the FCT to raise public awareness on importance of physical activity in addressing Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs).
The walk, organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, was also to commemorate the 2019 “World Health Day”, celebrated every year on April 7.
It commenced at the Unity Fountain and ended at Rivers House in the Central Area.
Dr Evelyn Ngige, the Director, Public Health in the ministry, said that the Federal Government had great concern for the health of Nigerians.
Ngige said that the ministry with the support of the government would continue to make efforts toward improving the health of all citizens.
“The federal government is concerned about the health of all Nigerians and it is our desire to ensure that we provide optimum health for our citizens from the greatest to the least.
“We are starting to create awareness on the need for continuous physical activity and exercise which will help prevent non-communicable diseases.
“Our walk today is to create awareness on this issue and let Nigerians know the importance of exercise in maintaining good health.
“It is also a commemorative walk in celebration of the 2019 world health day marked every year on April 7.
“The theme for this year’s celebration is “Universal Health Coverage’ which is a call to countries to double efforts toward achieving health for all by 2030.
“We at the federal ministry of health with the support of our partners, including the WHO are committed to achieving this goal,’’ Ngige said.
She commended partners, including Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for participating in the exercise, saying that their participation signified commitment to achieving health for all.
Dr Rex Mpazanje, the WHO’s Nigeria Head of Communicable and non-communicable diseases, said that the organisation remained committed to helping the country achieve universal health coverage.
Mpazanje said WHO would ensure that everyone everywhere had access to quality healthcare without out-of-pocket spending.
He added that even the poorest child would not be left behind as health remained a human right of all citizens.
Some organisations which participated in the walk include Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigeria Red Cross Society.