By Cleopatra Eki
No fewer than 500 participants of Waka Community International Foundation,Health Emegency Initiative have embarked on a 9.4 kilometer walk from Lekki through Ikoyi link bridge to Falomo Lagos.
The participants of Waka with Q-Life and HEI started the walk from The Catholic Church of Divine Mercy on Admiralty Way Lekki Phase l through Ikoyi to Falomo and back to the church in Lekki.
Honourable Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro MHR representing Eti-Osa Federal Constituency who took part at walk advised Nigerians to be conscious of their health and life style by getting enough exercise, eating healthy food and having enough sleep.
Hon. Ibrahim Obanikoro, said”Health is Wealth” urged participants to conscious of their total health, mental, physical and emotional health.
He cautioned against excessive drinking, smoking and drugs saying it is not healthy but moderation in habit and lifestyle is essential to prolong life,.”
Obanikoro disclosed that he operates an open door- policy and people in the constitution can reach out to him as he is accessible.
Lorenz Mba, founder Waka Community International Foundation disclosed that “On March 18, Waka Community International Foundation, Q-Life Family Clinic and Health Emergency Initiative announced to the world their collaboration aimed at contributing to the wellness and health of Nigerians and residents of Nigeria.
He said”Today’s walk and health talk about Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid is driven by our conviction that that since a healthy Nigeria is a wealthy Nigeria, it is worthwhile to inform, educate and persuade Nigerians as well as all residents of Nigeria and indeed the world, to take personal responsibility for their wellness by walking and eating right as well as getting enough quality sleep. “
According to Mba, Waka Community International Foundation, the initiators of this collaboration, our 2500+ members in over 35 countries and in many cities in Nigeria, are encouraged to walk a minimum of thirty minutes daily and to eat healthy in controlled portions and get adequate sleep. 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.
He added that” Walking also has many benefits such as helping maintain a healthy weight and helping lose unwanted and undesirable fat. Walking helps prevent or manage various conditions including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes. Walking also helps improve cardiovascular fitness. Walking contributes to wellbeing.
Executive Director Health Emergency Initiative , Mr. Paschal Achunine recalled that :On May 7, we made good on that announcement by holding a road walk titled “LET’S WAKA WITH QLIFE AND HEI” “Today is Season 2 of Waka with Q-Life and HEI.We made a promise and we are consistently delivering on that promise. We gave our word and we are keeping our word.”
“We are here to build consciousness among Nigerians on healthy living. Walking is a very healthy exercise; it is an exercise that is accessible to the young and old, and across gender.
“But there are also shared values that necessitate our making this journey. We have heard that so many people die of heart attacks and other emergencies.
What our organisation has done in the last four years is to design a system that ensures that when an emergency happens, instead of taking pictures as a bystander, any Nigerian will know the immediate thing to do, to give the victim chances of survival. We want to change the narrative.”
Speaking on HEI, he said: “A lot of Nigerians die because of medical conditions, especially chronic conditions that require less than 30,000 and below to survive. So we have been working with public hospitals across Lagos especially for children of zero to five.”
We enjoin you all to continue to keep faith with Waka Community International, Q-Life Family Clinic and Health Emergency Initiative so together we can keep changing lives one.
Agatha Emina Managing Director Wild Fusion and a participant at walk said “I thoroughly enjoyed walking with the waka community, Q-Life and HEI. She added that ” it was an opportunity to not just burn those calories but to meet and network”.
While walking might seem like an easy exercise, “I have learnt that physical activities doesn’t have to be complicated, regular brisk walking can help improve our overall health, from cardiovascular fitness to strengthening our immune system, reducing stress and tension and so many positive benefits”
Emina thanked the organizers of the walk and I look forward to more walks and to getting more people involved. Let’s Waka!
