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By Akpan David, Calabar
To mark this year’s World Heart Day, Cross River State Government has staged a 12-kilometre 1000 man walk round the major roads of Calabar, the state capital.
The state commissioner for health and chairman of COVID-19 Rescue Team, Dr Betta Edu led the walk.
This year’s commemoration has a theme; “Harnessing the power of digital health to improve awareness, prevention and management of CVD globally”.
Edu said, “As the world struggles to fight COVID-19 and more persons including young people die of Heart failure, there is need for everyone in the state to be more aware of the importance of ensuring good health and fitness.
The State Ministry of Health in Collaboration with over 12 Fitness clubs staged a 12km walk through the Calabar Carnival Route
The exercise was equally to sensitize people on the dangers of Cardiovascular disease and the need to exercise in order to keep fit as one major part of preventive healthy living.
Edu disclosed that Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the world’s number one killer, resulting in 18.6 million deaths a year across the globe.
According to her the disease has many causes ranging from smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, to air pollution, and less common conditions such as Chagas disease and cardiac amyloidosis while calling on everyone to reduce the intake of alcohol and cigarettes.
“For the people living with CVD, COVID-19 has been heartbreaking. They have been more at risk of developing severe complications from different forms of the virus”.
She expressed dismay that many have been afraid to attend routine check up, maintaining that many do not even know that they are hypertensive which can easily cause the lone to slump.
“Our daily exercise and regularly medical check up is very important. I use this opportunity to call those living with CVD to immediately adhere to the doctor instructions on medication, ensure they eat healthy and exercise as well as sleep as necessary, Edu said.
The Chairman of Healthy Billionaires Fitness Club, Mr William Archibong Jr disclosed that the walk aims to encourage a fitness and healthy lifestyle, which ultimately leads to more productivity and serenity of the mind.
