Develop Policy Framework For Physical Activity To Prevent And Reduce NCD
The Institute of Leadership and Development is calling on physically inactive people to accumulate at least 30 minutes of physical activity in a day and urges government to develop appropriate policy framework based on global best practices to encourage and enhance physical activity in the country so as to prevent and reduce the disease burden on the national health delivery system.
The 2017 World Day of Physical Activity (WDPA) will fall on Thursday 6th April 2017 on the theme ‘Active People, Healthy People’; with a call for every person to accumulate at least 30 minutes of physical activity in a day.
Physical inactivity has scientifically been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths globally. Globally, it is estimated that 1 in 4 adults is not active enough.
As confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO); physical activity “can reduce the risk of cardiovascular (heart) diseases, cancer, diabetes, obesity, colon and breast cancer and depression. Moreover adequate levels of physical activity will decrease the risk of a hip or vertebral facture and help control weight.”
NCDs are estimated to kill around 38 million people every year, accounting for 68% of all deaths worldwide, and causing half of all global disability. Although the burden is universal, low and middle income countries (LMIC) are hit the hardest, with over three quarters of all deaths occurring in these countries.
NCDs account for an estimated 31% of disease burden in Ghana. It constitutes 55% of Ghana’s annual death.
“Government will be reducing the disease and financial burden on the already over stretched National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) if appropriate policies, programmes and structures on physical activity are urgently put in place. It should be emphasized that, physical activity is life since it has significant health benefits and contribute to prevent NCDs amongst the population” Issah Ali; Policy Adviser
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