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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health is soon introducing the National Physical Activity Guidelines to control non-communicable diseases.
Speaking to journalists at the ministry headquarters on Thursday, Dr. Gerald Mutungi, the Assistant Commissioner of the Non-Communicable Diseases Department, said that the guidelines have been developed through the guidance of the World Health Organization and will provide overall guidance to the government and the private sector Organizations and the public.
He said that the guidelines will include which physical activities to do, the appropriate age group, and how much physical activity one needs to carry out. Mutungi added that different age groups and categories of people need different levels of physical activity.
“Those guidelines will give all those details and guide the public on which physical activity to do and also tell the public that you don’t need to go to the gym to do physical activity,” Dr. Mutungi added.
Margaret Muhanga, the State Minister for Primary Health Care, emphasized the need for Ugandans to carry out regular medical checkups since the burden of NCDs is high.
Golola Moses, a physical activity instructor and kickboxer, said that he started a campaign to educate the public about the importance of carrying out physical activities.
On Sunday, Uganda will mark the National Day of Physical Activity at Makerere University Business School sports grounds, under the theme, “Exercise is Medicine.”
In March, the government issued a directive to all public servants to have a two-hour physical exercise every week to keep them fit and healthy.
The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week, or do at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both.
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