The President, Defense and Police officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Oghogho Musa, has advised wives of servicemen and police to pay attention to their health and exercise daily to keep fit.
Musa gave the advice on Saturday at the monthly Health Walk organised by the association at Mogadishu Cantonment Parade Ground, Abuja, aimed at keeping the Barrack Community fit.
She said that it was important for the wives to be healthy in order to be more productive and properly take care of other members of their families.
Musa said that the monthly exercise was organised by the association to educate its member on healthy lifestyle and to organize physical activities to keep fit.
“We do a lot of things as women, if we are healthy, conscious and engage in physical activities daily we will be more productive and we will be able to take care of others around us,” she said.
Musa advised them to be conscious of their eating habit and get engaged in daily exercise at their own pace to keep fit.
“I want to share with you the words of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States; he said ‘Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far for a healthy body.’ So, we must engaged on exercise.
“The importance of this exercise is for you to continue at home at your own pace, at your own time and it should be done on daily basis.
“You can start with 30 minutes and then gradually increase it. The way you eat your food daily, exercise like that for a healthier body and a healthier system.
“When you engage in physical activity daily, you will be more productive and that is really what we have done today,” she said.
Musa said that the association would sponsor 20 of its members, who are aged 40 and above and have not yet been screened,- for mammogram test next week.
Dr Promise Ogar, in her health talk, also called on DEPOWA members to take charge of their lives and go for regular medical checkup.
“What we have come to tell you today is to take charge of your lives by taking some lifestyle modifications and changes that will help you to live healthy.
“Eat healthy diets, lot of fruits, vegetables and drink a lot of water. They are not too difficult to do. They are basic things, but if we implement them we will have healthy lives,” she said.
Ogar also advised the officers’ wives, as women to keep an eye on their blood level and sugar level.
“The population of Nigeria we are over 200 million. Out of this number 76 million are hypertensive and half of these people that are hypertensive they don’t even know and they are not on medication.
“We call hypertension a silent killer. One can be hypertensive and will not have any symptom. You will be going about your daily activities not knowing that your blood pressure is elevated,” Ogar said.
She listed some of the risk factors associated with hypertension to include obesity, sedentary lifestyle among others.
The medical expert said that every three out of 10 Nigerian have hypertension, “but it could be managed and well taken care of by being physically active, eat healthy, reduce alcohol, cigarette and salt intake.
“If we observe this healthy life style changes, we are going to have a healthy blood pressure, “ she said.
Ogar advised people with hypertension or diabetes to keep doctors’ appointments and take their medications.
“If you do not take your medications you are increasing your chances of having complications associated with these diseases,” she said.
The highlights of the event includes free medical checkup for members, aerobic exercise, walk, among others
