Workers urged to do exercises to fight against NCDs

SINGIDA: DEPUTY Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment, and Persons with Disabilities), Ms Zuhura Yunus, has urged employees across various sectors to cultivate a culture of doing regular physical exercise to strengthen their health and prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Ms Yunus made the remarks recently while officiating the closing ceremony of the OSHA Bonanza, an event organized by the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA) as part of the National Commemoration of the International Week of Safety and Health at Work, held at Mandewa Grounds in Singida Region.

She highlighted that the sixth-phase government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan has consistently promoted the importance of  exercises among citizens as a strategy to fight NCDs, including cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, and hypertension.

“According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, about 75 per cent of all annual deaths globally are caused by non-communicable diseases. Locally, the Ministry of Health estimates that out of every 100 deaths recorded each year, 30 are due to these diseases. Therefore, I strongly encourage all workers to avoid unhealthy lifestyles and embrace regular exercise to prevent such illnesses,” said.

Meanwhile, OSHA’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms Khadija Mwenda, stated that the primary goal of the Bonanza was to encourage employees to engage in exercises to improve their health and strengthen workplace relationships.

She affirmed that OSHA will continue to protect the workforce through various programmes, including workplace safety and health inspections, to ensure that workers remain safe and healthy in their roles.