UBTH @50: Activities in Top Gear With 5km Health Walk To Promote Preventive Health Care.
By Innocent Okoh
9th May, 2023
As part of activities to celebrate the 50th golden jubilee of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), the management and staff of the health institution on Monday, organized a 5 kilometer Walk in Benin city, as a way of promoting preventive health care among the people of the state.
The 5km walk tagged “Walk for Life,” which kicked off in the early hours on Monday, from UBTH premises at Ugbowo was extended to Uselu market and back to UBTH premises, as participants including UBTH board members, staff, students, patients and their families, expressed joy and excitement in the exercise. Other members of the public, fitness enthusiasts, journalists were not left out as they join in the health walk.
The Chief Medical Director, CMD, Prof. Darlington Obaseki, who addressed journalists, shortly after the walk said, the event was part of activities to celebrate the hospital’s 50th anniversary, he explained that walking is a form of exercise prevents wide range of diseases including hypertension, diabetes and some cancers disease.
He said,“The walk for life is a way to sensitize the public on the benefit of walking and how walking helps in preventing numerous diseases. And Engaging in different forms of exercise helps to keep the body fit and healthy.
“The first step in health care is disease prevention, hence we are creating awareness about the need to exercise always”.
The CMD added; “One of the dangers of modern day style of living is the sedentary life style. So many persons sit in their offices from morning to night without exercising their bodies. Once you are fit and have the right weight, a lot of diseases can be prevented”.
Also speaking to traders at Uselu market, Head of Physiotherapy department, UBTH, Dr. Taiwo Oyewumi, said, “Exercise is the cheapest way to stay healthy, and it is recommended that an individual does about 7,000 steps a day for healthy living.
“People who do exercise don’t fall ill often. Doing exercises makes you sleep well, improves brain function, and reduces bad cholesterol and hypertension. Exercise at less 10 to 15 minutes a day because exercise is good for your health” He added.
The event which kicked off last Friday 5th May, will continues on Thursday 11th, with interdepartmental football and golf tournament while the grand finale comes up on Friday 12th, with a long service award, alumni meeting and 50th anniversary lecture.
