By Immah Kimani
The World Health Organization (WHO) gathered people of all ages and abilities for a free walk/run event that ranged from three to eight kilometres, in the lead up to Monday’s 72nd annual World Health Assembly (WHA).
Health advocates and the general public joined Assembly delegates and the UN family in recognizing the value of healthy lifestyles and the importance of all people having access the health services.
Geneva, Switzerland — First lady Margaret Kenyatta was presented on Sunday with the 2019 Health Leaders award by World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom in recognition of her outstanding advocacy on global health matters.
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta made a clarion call to the world to embrace physical exercises as a way of promoting healthy living and curbing non-communicable diseases.
The First Lady pointed out that the burden of non-communicable diseases, especially in developing countries, has taken a toll on already fragile health systems, a situation that demands a change of tact to address the pandemic.
“It (the burden of non-communicable diseases) has shifted our health focus from mortality driven by infectious diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, cholera and typhoid, to mortality driven by non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases,” the First Lady said.
“We have been challenged to shift our thinking and consider long-term health system strengthening, that adopts a holistic lifestyle approach and behavioural change,” she added.
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta spoke shortly before she led participants of all ages and from all walks of life in the 2019 annual WHO’s “Walk the Talk” race in Geneva, Switzerland where she was the chief guest.