How can Nigerians improve on their health? It is by doing regular exercises, appropriate choice of good stable food, routine medical screenings and having a meaningful relationship with God, the Convener/Founder, ‘Arise Women Conference’ (‘Arise’, for short), Pastor Siju Iluyomade, has said.
She spoke at the Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos before her group embarked on a walk round major streets of Victoria Island to create awareness on healthy living.
Thereafter the NGO carried out a free medical screening and disease prevention talk.
The walk was accompanied by dancing, music, exercises, eating of fruits, drinks, medical talks, and lots of fun. There were many stands and mobile clinics that catered for participants’ medical, spiritual and welfare needs.
Mrs Iluyomade, the wife of the Regional Pastor of Region 20, City of David (COD) of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), explained the reason for the event tagged: ‘Walkforlife’.
She said regular exercises keep lifestyle diseases at bay. “If people can add some regular movement into their routines throughout the day, they will feel better and be less susceptible to health problems. In the long term, they may not see big changes in the mirror, but they will prevent further weight gain. So it is being suggested that people take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk to a colleague’s office rather than phoning them and taking short strolls during the day to help increase the number of steps they take”.
Shedding light on the various booths, she said: “Arise is committed to the building of our great nation, Nigeria, through its women by equipping them spiritually, morally, ethically, to the physical health of women by the provision of free medical screening services in several areas, including diabetes and cancer. It is committed to the establishment of mobile clinics which has been bringing primary health care to the doorsteps of different communities and a Free Women’s Clinic at Healing Stripes Hospital, Victoria Island as an out-patient clinic for women. Arise is a faith-based non-governmental organisation committed to accelerating nation building through the empowerment of women in the society and also passionate about the health of women through free preventive medical care in the area of HIV tests, eye test, Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar level tests.”
Mrs Iluyomade then called on the government to improve on delivering healthcare systems, initiatives and well drilled practitioners to ensure a more productive society.
She said in order for Nigerians to achieve their potentials on a day- to-day basis, the government has to improve on delivering more sound healthcare systems, enlightenments and practitioners in almost every local government.
“A lot of our people die needlessly just simply because they are not looked after on a day-to-day basis. So it is important that we imbibe the spirit of wellness and learn to take care of ourselves through exercise and good eating habits and I am sure by doing this, we will have a more productive society. I believe very strongly in health and I believe that we need to take care of ourselves in order for us to achieve our potential and what I will like to see in the near future is that we have general practitioners (GPs) in almost every local government for every 10 minutes walk from every home, so that it becomes a part of us”, she said.
“We operate here in Lagos and main focus of the health areas we cover have been expanded to prostate and cervical cancer screening, and sickle cell anaemia. I need to point out that hypertension is prevalent in virtually almost all the people who have trooped out here, this is because in Lagos, people hardly exercise and most indulge in bad habits such as drinking alcoholic beverages, drugs and self medication. All these impair and must be stopped,” said Mrs Iluyomade.
Corroborating, Head, Clinical services, Healing Stripes Hospital, Foundation of the RCCG, Dr Akinsiku Adedamola, said he was not surprised by the life expectancy rate in Nigeria, adding that government needs to curb the illicit sales of herbal concoctions and kick start health re-enlightenment programmes.
“Today the ailment we picked up the most is hypertension. Unfortunately, hypertension is a silent killer, a lot of people don’t know. Presently the life expectancy in Nigeria is very low compared to Western Worlds and this is because of the things we indulge in, there is therefore a need for government to curb the illicit sales of herbal concoctions.
”Our fast foods points also need re-education to reduce the amount of spices or seasonings added to foods. The government also needs to come up with programmes that will keep re-enlightening people on the truth about health”, he said.
According to Akinsiku, “Advocacy is integral and just as we have come up with this initiative to promote healthy living, governments need to partner with religious ministries to create awareness as people are suffering due to poor health seeking behaviour”.
