The International Olympic Committee, through its Olympism365 programme, and PATH, the Ghana National Olympic Committee, celebrated the International Olympic Day in Kumasi’s Afigya Kwabre South District.
PATH is a global non-profit organisation that works towards health equity. With over 40 years of experience forming multisector partnerships, PATH has expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other fields. PATH develops and scales up creative solutions to address the most important health issues facing the globe.
This is part of the Community Sport and Health Cooperation Initiative which focuses on the role of community sport in promoting healthy lives and achieving the WHO target of 15% relative reduction in the global prevalence of physical inactivity.
With the theme, “Let’s move to advocate for increased physical activity and contribute to the reduction of non-communicable diseases in Ghana.”
Speaking in an interview with Dr Robert Yeboah, Senior Technical Advisor, Non-Communicable Disease, PATH Ghana, he said that this year’s theme aims to inspire people around various communities to make time for daily physical activity.
“This program implemented by PATH in Ghana will serve as the delivery lead for the Community Sport and Health Cooperation Initiative, which will focus on the role of community sport in promoting healthy lives and achieving the World Health Organization (WHO) target of a 15 percent relative reduction in the global prevalence of physical inactivity,” he said.
Dr. Robert added that the program will also help to reduce non-communicable which continue to burden health systems, with insufficiently active individuals facing a 20% to 30% increased risk of premature death.
He added, ”With regular physical activity helping to prevent noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers, the importance of living an active, healthy lifestyle cannot be over-emphasized.
“Research has shown that just 30 minutes of physical activity or exercise a day has significant health benefits for hearts, bodies and minds.”
According to the WHO, in Ghana, 22% of adults aged 18 years and above and 81% of adolescents are not physically active.
Physical inactivity is one of the main risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and some cancers.
The program featured groups such as the Moving City Fun Club, Onuado Fun, Sunday Special Fitness groups, and others from the Afigya Kwabre District who graced the occasion.
