09 Jun 2024

Out door gym contributes in combating escalating numbers of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti has said during the handing over of Nkoyaphiri upgraded outdoor gym.

He said latest statistics indicated about 50 per cent of all deaths in the health facilities were due to NCDs, the diseases he acknowledged could be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle.

He said prevention and control of NCDs had been prioritised and included in high level national strategy documents and national essential health service packages.

“Non-communicable diseases are an existential threat to the achievement of Vision 2036 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore as a ministry we are tasked with ensuring that all Batswana remain healthy hence we get worried whenever there is an increase in the number of non-communicable diseases,” stressed Dr Dikoloti.

However he said good health was not just the absence of disease or illness, but a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.

“I am excited to see such developments as this gym, which I believe will help Batswana and Mogoditshane community to be healthy,” he said.

Member of Parliament for Mogoditshane, Tumiso Rakgare appreciated Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet) and Huawei Technologies Botswana for installing more equipment and paving the floor for exercises.

“This reflects our commitment to the health and wellness of Mogoditshane residents,” he said.

He also urged Mogoditshane residents to use the facility with care and guard against vandalism, adding that the gym would promote the creative industry in Botswana and showcase talent throughout the world.

Kgosi Keabetswe Dihutso thanked BoFiNet and Huawei Technologies for extending their social corporate responsibility to Mogoditshane community.

He said availability of the gym called for an urgent need to shift focus from solely pursuing medical interventions, but to tackle social and environmental determinants of health. ENDS