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By Akpan David, Calabar
No fewer than 5000 persons, including younger generation, the middle class as well as some government officials took part in a 12.6 kilometers street walk in Calabar early Saturday morning.
The exercise was to discourage people who have fallen into depression not to resort to suicide which is reported to be on the increase in parts of the country as a result of the socioeconomic difficulties impacting Nigerians.
Some of the participants were robust men and women from different clubs who believed that such street walk would help to cut down their weight.
The morning exercise tagged Calabar Walkathon: A Walk Against Suicide and Depression, was organised by Healthy Billionaires.
A participant, Charles Ekanem said the exercise has helped many of them who spent all week at their desks or at home without time for regular exercises.
“I have seen several in my situation here as well as senior friends participating. So an exercise like this is very important to our health and minds, and I recommend it strongly.”
Vice chairman of Cross River State planning commission, Dr Bong Duke who also led his officials to the street walk said it can help much in reducing suicide and depression in view of the current times.
“The present circumstances in the world has brought about depression and suicide. There have been many cases in Nigeria. Even though not so bad in the state yet we have taken practical steps to further reduce the socioeconomic tensions with programmes such as this street walks, welfare support, payments of school and exam fees, to help reduce pressures on people.
“Other states should devise social programmes like this to help enliven and reduce socioeconomic pressures to save people from suicide and depressions.”
Chairman of the Calabar Walkathon, Eric Anderson said the staging of the event was deliberate in order to help reduce the rate of obesity, depression and suicide amongst the people.
He advised people to continually socialise, exercise and free themselves from depression.
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