Malawi launches ‘sport for health’ initiative

Physical and mental health that arise from intensive physical activity are critical for Malawi’s social economic development according to Chief Secretary to Government, George Mkondiwa.

The Chief Secreatary speaking at CIVO stadium Friday during launch of ‘Sport for Health’ initiative for civil servants, a development geared towards enhancing their health and a preventive measure against Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

“There has been lots of physical inactivity according to survey by Ministry of Health (MoH) and communicable diseases like diabetes, heart diseases and cancer have been on the rise due to this inactivity,” said Mkondiwa who explained that the resultant poor health would also mean less activity to contribute to development.

The launch took place along cancer awareness commemoration where Mkondiwa explained that government remained committed to battling cancer citing the construction of national cancer centre as one example.

Also present at the event was one of the country’s two (oncologist) cancer specialists from Kamuzu Central Hospital, Dr. Richard Nyasosela who gave a lecture on the disease explaining its causes and preventive strategies.

He explained that cigarette smoking was one of the major causes of the cancer and that quitting the habit would to a great extent reduce one’s chances of getting infected.

He also said the disease was curable but only if detected in its early stages and thus advised that it was critical that people should regularly go for cancer screening and medical check-ups.

Supporting this assertion were two ladies and one gentleman who successfully battled that disease and recounted their experiences and post-cancer life.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Health, Christopher Kang’ombe has disclosed that government intends to have more cancer specialists by sending doctors on training courses.

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