Fides Media Living the Faith
By Ifeoma Ezenyilimba
As part of her health programmes to ensure healthy life and graceful ageing of her members, the Knights of St Mulumba (KSM) Nigeria, Awka Sub-Council, alongside their ladies, on Saturday, October 20, 2018, held her 1st Walk For Life Activity.
The event tagged, “2018 Pro-Life Activity”, which was held at St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, Anambra State, saw the knights and the ladies engage in various forms of exercise such as jogging, road walk, stretch out, and the likes round the giant St Patrick’s Cathedral premises.
In his reamarks, the Sub-Council Physician, Bro James Eze, KSM, said the health programme which was in line with the directives of the Metropolitan Physician, was initially billed for Oct 18, but for convenience took place in the morning hours of October 20.
Bro Eze, KSM, who is the CEO of Joez Pharmaceutical Ltd, said the walk for life and exercises, were necessary to enable them be fit and healthy for the discharge of their duties as knights and ladies of the Church. He noted that the knights were not supposed to be lazy, but instead, be active as soldiers of the Church.
‘Even though we the knights of the Church do not carry guns, we should equally be active and healthy while we carry the sword in defense of the Church and the Catholic faith. This health programme is necessary for our health and active benefits’, Eze said.
Speaking to Fides, the Worthy PRO, KSM, Awka Sub-Council, Bro Chris Obiora Okafor, KSM, described the Walk For Life which was quite beneficial to the members as worthwhile. Dr. Okafor,Order of KSM, who is the Director, Consultancy Services, Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, said the KSM has resolved to make the health programme a quarterly event.
Baring her mind to Fides, Lady Rosemary Nweke, LSM, noted that they had benefited health-wise through the physical exercises.
In her Pep Talk Paper titled: Two Major Ways to Promote Healthy Ageing and Longevity, Prof. (Lady) Oby C.N. Okonkwor, LSM, described regular moderate exercises as one of the very important anti-ageing remedies, saying that sedentary life was an invitation to premature ageing. She noted that exercise improves health, promotes physical alertness, promotes sportsmanship and maximizes ability to resist fatigue.
Prof. (Lady) Okonkwor, LSM, who is a professor of Department of Human Kinetics & Health Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, noted that physical exercises were of immense benefit to every individual as it brings about flexible joints, relaxes muscle tension, aids digestion, improves functions of the lungs and cardiovascular system, strengthens the heart, reduces pre-menstrual pain, helps in building a desirable self-concept, aids labour, prevents miscarriage, prevents postural defects as well as facilitates relaxation and sleep, among other benefits.
This was even as she identified excess consumption of alcohol, smoking, over feeding, eating after 6 pm, fatty foods, sugar consumption, as well as consumption of red meats, soft drinks, junk foods and processed foods, among others as lifestyles that negatively affect ageing. According to her, intake of natural foods, fresh juice, vegetables, fruits and nuts, improve healthy life, longevity and ageing.
