GIYANI – The Department of Health and Social Development, Greater Giyani, Vhembe and Mopani Districts launched the Vuka South Africa, Move for Your Health 2005 campaign at the Giyani Stadium on Monday.

The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of health risks emerging from physical inactivity as it has been recognised that hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer are major contributing factors in humans’ health.

Health and Social Development MEC Seaparo Sekoati said that research conducted by the World Health Organisation has found that physical inactivity is one of the major health risk factors for developing non-communicable diseases, global mortality and morbidity. Sekoati said that almost 60% of adults worldwide are insufficiently active to achieve health benefits, adding that, in South Africa, 50% of men and 78% of women between the ages of 15 to 25 years do not participate in physical activity.

“The elderly and women are the most vulnerable to inactivity. Physical activity has been shown to play a crucial role in the prevention and management of chronic non-communicable diseases, which account for a greater percentage of deaths than both communicable diseases and HIV/Aids,” he said. The MEC said that, if people can increase their daily levels of physical activity, they will benefit a lot.

Government health lifestyle programmes focus on four elements: promotion of regular physical activity, promotion of good nutrition, safe sexual behaviour and decreasing smoking, and alcohol abuse. The MEC appealed to community members to accumulate 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least three days in a week.

During the launch, the MEC and his entourage took a 1 km walk from the former parliament buildings to the Giyani stadium. Various sports activities took place and a 71-year old, Mr David Mashau, said that playing soccer helps to relieve pains and stress and it always makes him strong.