The
Director of Health Services of the Cameroon Baptist Convention CBC has
presented alcohol misuse and tobacco use as risk factors that lead to the ever
increasing rate of Non Communicable Diseases NCDs in society.
Prof Tih Pius
Muffih was speaking in Bamenda Thursday September 13 during the launching of
the Physical Exercise Program of the CBC Health Services Central
administration. |
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Family picture at the close of the Physical Exercise
Program Launch at the Nkwen Baptist Center
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“We
are using Physical Exercise as a window of opportunity to talk about the rest
of the risk factors such as alcohol misuse, tobacco use and unhealthy diets.
This is within the context of the upcoming 3rd UN High Level Meeting on NCDs,
set to review progress since the world came to an understanding of the risen
threat of NCDs.” He said
Being
a Faith base organization, the Director provided biblical evidence and justified
the need for Physical Exercise saying “Through this event, our major focus is
to raise awareness that Physical Exercise is important for health both for the
sick and especially for the healthy. As important as our spiritual lives are,
God has done a wonderful thing in showing us that physical exercise is
important. As recorded in 1 Timothy 4:8, God created work and assigned us to
work, even before the fall. God’s initial assignment to Adam was to till the
soil and cultivate it. In doing so, Adam was going to be exercising and hence
putting into motion, a form of disease prevention.”
Mindful
of the current changes due to technology and globalization that has made many
prone to trading their health because of the easy and fastest means of living, working,
playing and recreation, Prof Tih expressed the need for all to intentionally,
create individual opportunities and as a community to practice physical
exercise.
“The
CBC Health Services is launching this exercise program, as a way of setting an
example so that other organizations and companies with staff can adopt similar
work place health programs. We also invite the community in like manner, to
adopt Physical Exercise and avoid sedentary lifestyles.” He added.
Announcing
CBC Health Services’ readiness for collaboration Prof Tih said “The CBC Health
Services NCD Prevention and Control Program has networked widely including at
national and international levels and gained expertise within the past two
years and are ready to provide such support as is needed to establish services
and interventions that will mitigate the problem of NCDs in our region. Without
such multi-sectoral collaboration, it is IMPOSSIBLE to handle the burden of
NCDs, including the economic burden which is worse for a growing economy.”
Speaking
on behalf of the authorities of the CBC, the Administrative Assistant to the
Executive President described the Physical Exercise Program as a pacesetter and
as a call to order on health matters which comes as part of the mission of the
Convention. According to the Rev Ngalla Godlove, the holistic proclamation of
the Gospel which is central to CBC activities needs healthy people. He promised
that the Convention leadership will provide an enabling environment in all her
institutions for Physical activities.
After
an elaborate presentation NCDs, it’s causes and effects during the launching
event, the Program Manager disclosed that so far the program has started the
know your numbers program which encourages people to once every six months to
check their vital signs which is happening in seven health facilities in seven
districts in five regions of Cameroon. Mbiydzenyuy
Ferdinand also added the intentional strengthening of CBC diabetes services,
advocacy reaching out to community leaders and the Ministry of health for
collaboration in search for policy that can allow for the reinforcement of NCDs
in Cameroon.
As to the activities of the program in the coming
days the Project Manager says “The CBCHS will be representing civil society in
Cameroon at the UN High level meeting from the 27th of September in
New York…we will continue with the physical exercise program as an organization
every Friday …. We want to intentionally put one hour every week for the staff
to come together and do physical exercise. We will also continue to raise
awareness in the community bout NCDs through our health facilities and our
committed staff in the field.”
According
to available statistics, Non Communicable Diseases are responsible for 70% of
deaths globally and 31% of annual deaths in Cameroon and rising.
As a demonstration of commitment and
collaboration According to CBCHS authorities, the Government was represented by
the Regional Delegation of Sports and Physical Education through the Chief
Service for Physical Exercises and the Regional Delegation of Public Health
represented by the Focal point person for NCDs.