May 15, (THEWILL) – TTo improve the standard of healthy living, the Waka Community International Foundation, Q-Life Family Clinic and Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), in collaboration with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), among other related health agencies, organised a road walk titled, ‘Let’s Waka With Q-life And Hei.’
Speaking at the event in Lagos recently, the Director of Waka Community International Foundation, Olisaeloka Mba, said that cooperation among relevant foundations would ultimately advance the wellness and health of Nigerians.
According to Mba, the initiator of this collaboration, over 23,000 members in more than 30 countries and in many cities in Nigeria, are encouraged to walk for a minimum of 30 minutes daily and to eat healthy in controlled portions.
He said, “Walking is the oldest and safest form of physical exercise and is non-discriminatory on grounds of age, gender, level of physical fitness or location. Walking also has many benefits, such as helping to maintain a healthy weight and helping to lose unwanted and undesirable fat.
“Walking helps to prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes. Walking also helps to improve cardiovascular fitness. Walking contributes to clearing the mind and it boosts our moods. We encourage folks to walk indoors or outdoors, depending on choice, safety or convenience. Walking is also inexpensive. One can walk bare feet indoors and on beaches. To walk outdoors require nice fitting and affordable running shoes.
“We thank everyone who has come out here today and also the many who couldn’t be physically here today, but are walking remotely and in solidarity in over 30 countries around the world.”
Meanwhile, the highpoint of the event was a free first responders demonstration of Basic CaPR and First Aid by HEI. This will provide CPR and First Aid tips that can be vital during emergencies.
In addition, Mr Uchenna Achunine, NCF Director, Business Development and Communications, said, “There is a very strong connection between nature conservation and exercising for healthy living. NCF was excited to be among the partners. We urged Nigerians to eat right, be close to nature and visit natural sites.”
Achunine added, “Today’s walk, health talks and the Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid demonstrations by professional first responders is driven by our conviction that since a healthy Nigeria is a wealthy Nigeria, it is worthwhile to inform, educate and persuade Nigerians, as well as all residents of the country and indeed, the world, to take personal responsibility for their wellness by walking, eating right and getting enough quality sleep.”
Also the Co-founder and Medical Director of Q-Life Family Clinic Dr Adetokunbo Alakija noted, “We must commend our respective partners and sponsors for believing in the Vision and for supporting today’s event in cash and in kind and equally important, for coming out in good numbers to waka today.
The Executive Director, HEI, Mr Paschal Achunine, said that the aim of the programme was to inform, educate, and sensitise Nigerians to take personal responsibility for their wellness and safety by walking and eating right.
Achunine said that HEI had been equipping Nigerians with critical life saving skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), First Aid and capacity to handle heart attack, cardiac arrest, burns and other prehospital emergencies.
“HEI provides free medical interventions that ensure that the poorest member of society particularly children age 0 to five have access to basic healthcare in public hospitals at a cost usually not more than N30,000.
“We ensure timely emergency response for road crash victims via initial payment to commence treatment and resuscitation aided by MOU we signed with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and hospitals,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Lorenz Mba, Founder, Waka Community International, said that Waka Community is all about changing lives by sharing the benefits of walking every day, eating right and good quality sleep.
“Today, we make good on that announcement by holding a road walk titled: Let’s WAKA with Q-life and HEI. We made a promise and we are delivering on that promise. We gave our word and we are keeping our word. Our organisation encourages members in over 30 countries to walk a minimum of 30 minutes daily and to eat healthy in controlled portions. We got sick and tired of hearing gone too soon and gone to sleep with the Lord at young age. Walking helps us maintain healthy weight and also helps us keep away a couple of cardiovascular diseases among others,” he said.
NANTA Appeals to FG to Wade Into AON Position
The President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mrs Susan Akporiaye, has called on the Federal Government to help resolve issues affecting domestic airline operations in Nigeria.
“We cannot afford another COVID-19 pandemic look alike regime where Nigerians cannot move freely about simply because airlines cannot operate due to poor operational environment,” she appealed, adding that the government must quickly intervene beyond mere promises.
Akporiaye stated that her phones had been busy through the day as travel agents and travellers from all over the world called to find out what happened to the industry and travel plans of most people within and around Nigeria, barely a few months of ease in local and global travel.
“We cannot continue like this and in a situation where we are not sure, our aviation architecture is up and doing, that we can go to the airport and get a flight where we cannot advise the travelling public and our clients that they can make it to any destination in Nigeria without hazels and to think of it, the mere announcement by airline operators of Nigeria that they are off the sky on Monday has sent panic around the globe as Nigerians returning home and those coming to do business in our country, have cancelled their flights to the country.
“NANTA’s appeal to the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, to rally around support for AON members and to think that we are also in the heat of preparations for the 2023 general election when electoral materials and campaign trains will move from one end of the country to another, calls for serious measures. We cannot continue like this. It is damaging to our businesses and the image of this country,” Akporiaye said.
About the Author
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
