Health
Making Family Exercise a Fun Activity
In today’s world where modern technology has us glued to our screens, teens and adults alike are woefully inactive. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), global estimates show that one in four adults and more than 80% of adolescents do not do enough physical activity.
Physical activity is critical for human health, and adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity is one of the most important things a person can do to improve their health and well-being. Evidence is emerging that shows that physical inactivity is associated with a heightened risk of serious illness and death. On the flip side, researchers have concluded that it takes a mere 11 minutes of daily movement to extend one’s lifespan!
Encouraging children and teens to put down their devices and get up to move around more may seem like an impossible challenge to parents, but, says Dr Helen Okoye, medical expert and spokesperson for the World Thrombosis Day (WTD) campaign, the trick is to find fun activities that align with your family’s interests and preferences.
“If your family exercises together, it can be both fun and beneficial for everyone, and when you enjoy the exercise, it’s more likely to become a sustainable part of your routine,” says Dr Okoye. People love social interaction, and exercising with others is a powerful motivator. Research shows that if you enjoy exercise, you are more likely to stick with it. Exercising with others can supply that enjoyment even if the activity itself is difficult or otherwise not something you love.
Plan fun activities
Create family fitness challenges. Set achievable goals and celebrate achievements together. This could be a certain number of steps per day, minutes of exercise, or completing a workout routine as a team. Encourage everyone in the family to join in on this year’s World Thrombosis Day 60 for 60 Challenge, which invites everyone globally to move against thrombosis by getting up and moving every 60 minutes for 60 seconds from October 1 until October 13.
Schedule regular family walks, either in the neighbourhood or at a local park. It’s a simple way to spend time together while being active. Or plan family bike rides. Choose scenic routes and make it an enjoyable outing for everyone. Outdoor games together are a great way to get the family moving, such as football, basketball, tennis, or even a game of catch. Explore nature together by going on family hikes. Find trails suitable for all fitness levels and ages.
You could also designate a specific night each week for family sports. It could be anything from a game of volleyball in the backyard to playing tennis at a nearby court. Take advantage of local playgrounds. Engage in activities like playing tag or having a friendly family race. Or try short online exercise videos – YouTube has tons of short exercise classes online, from yoga to dance and cardio, that families can do together.
The benefits of getting everyone in the family to learn to adopt an active lifestyle are endless, points out Dr Okoye. As a spokesperson for WTD, she is only too aware of how being sedentary for extended periods of time can lead to medical complications, one of them being the danger of a blood clot.
“When you’re sedentary for too long, your blood flow slows down, which can lead to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), where clots form in the legs. If a part of the blood clot breaks off it can travel to the lungs, forming a pulmonary embolism (PE), which can be fatal. Just getting up and moving around to get your circulation going again is a simple, effective way to reduce that risk,” she cautions.
According to Dr. Okoye, it’s a common misconception that only the old and sickly develop blood clots. Thrombosis can happen to anyone, at any time, and although some people are more at risk, and blood clots are far more prevalent in adults than children, our modern lifestyles see teenagers spend far too much time being inactive. Shockingly, the term gamers thrombosis has been coined, referring to teens who have presented with blood clots after being immobile for extended periods of time while playing video games.
Globally, says WHO, 81% of adolescents aged 11-17 years are insufficiently physically active. Teenage girls are less active than adolescent boys, with 85% vs. 78% not meeting WHO recommendations of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity per day.
It’s vital, says Dr Okoye, to ensure that everyone in the family learns the value of regular exercise. “Make sure to create a positive and supportive atmosphere. The goal is to make exercise enjoyable and something the family looks forward to doing together,” she says. Additionally, involving everyone in the decision-making process can help ensure that the activities chosen are enjoyable for each family member.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The chairman of Rite Foods Limited, Mr Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, has been commended for donating an ultra-modern Trauma Centre to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) in Sagamu, Ogun State.
The facility, donated to mark his 80th birthday, is a one-stop trauma centre with all the medical equipment and healthcare personnel to handle about 2,000 trauma cases in a month, from the severe to the minor ones.
Speaking at the commissioning of the 50-bedded facility, named Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa Trauma Centre, by the Vice President of Nigeria, Mr Kashim Shettima, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, it was stated that the centre would enhance healthcare delivery for accident victims and other trauma-related cases within Ogun and neighbouring states.
Mr Shettima noted that the provision of the healthcare facility was timely, as it aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda for upgrading the health institutions in the country.
He described the life of the donor as well lived, with significant impact in the society and immediate community, creating employment for the indigenes of Ogun State, through valuable business enterprises, like Rite Foods Limited and Ess-ay Holdings Limited, which has contributed to the growth of the state’s and national economy.
According to the VP, Mr Adegunwa has inscribed his name in gold, adding that the octogenarian believes in leaving legacies that lives for generation and this has prompted the trauma centre which will impact lives tremendously.
On his part, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State applauded the philanthropic initiative of Mr Adegunwa, saying he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the healthcare system of Ogun State, and that the trauma centre marks a significant milestone towards attaining that.
In her remark, the Chief Medical Director of OOUTH, Dr Oluwabunmi Fatungase, said the 50 bedded centre has been the desire of the management of the hospital, as the old 20 bedded accident and emergency centre is too small to accommodate accident victims within the state, which serves as a route for travellers traversing the different regions of the country, with a 41.5 percent accident rate.
She said it is a dream of over 20 years by various administrations come true as there is no General Hospital from Lagos to Benin and Ibadan to take care of accident victims, thereby making the trauma centre a well thought out project by Asiwaju Adegunwa.
On his part, Mr Adegunwa said, “Today, l am filled with immense joy as l reflect on Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa Trauma Centre as another fulfilment of opportunity to serve a higher calling to give and serve.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A partnership to advance high-quality patient-centred healthcare in Nigeria has been entered into between Iwosan Investments Limited and Mayo Clinic Global Consulting.
The aim is to advise and support Iwosan in delivering world-class healthcare services that will positively impact both local and regional communities.
This includes the enhancement of Iwosan’s hospital network starting with Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals and the development and integration of the Lagos Medipark Hospital.
Mayo Clinic Global Consulting will to provide strategic advice on organizational objectives and clinical practice.
Under the consulting contract, Iwosan will work with Mayo Clinic experts on several projects to advance high-quality, patient-centred healthcare in Nigeria.
Mayo Clinic is a global leader in serious and complex healthcare. Mayo Clinic Global Consulting is designed to share Mayo Clinic’s unique, comprehensive capabilities and knowledge.
The focus of this engagement is to help the Iwosan network improve administrative efficiencies and effectiveness and to enhance medical practice and patient care through the application of Mayo Clinic’s integrated clinical care and practice models.
“This marks a significant milestone in our commitment to delivering exceptional healthcare services to the people of Nigeria.
“With guidance from Mayo Clinic Global Consulting, we are confident in our ability to set new benchmarks in healthcare excellence in our region,” the chief executive of Iwosan Investments, Mrs Fola Laoye, stated.
Iwosan Investments is a healthcare investment company with an ongoing commitment to revolutionize healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is increasing efforts to block the entry of substandard and counterfeit products into Nigeria, particularly from China and India, the country’s two largest pharmaceutical trade partners.
This was revealed by Mrs Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the agency, emphasised that the Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) scheme has significantly strengthened regulatory control over imports from these nations.
The two nation’s account for 60 per cent of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical imports and yet, there is a lot of counterfeit and substandard medicines from these countries.
She said, “Because most of these drugs come from China and India, the CRIA scheme is operational in those two countries,” adding that, “It ensures that only safe and high-quality products are shipped while preventing the export of substandard and counterfeit products.”
She note that NAFDAC has appointed and accredited CRIA agents in China and India to conduct rigorous pre-shipment inspections to tackle the issue.
In addition to appointing CRIA agents in China and India, NAFDAC is collaborating with COTECNA, a global testing, inspection, and certification service provider, to enhance quality control measures.
Mrs Adeyeye urged stakeholders to engage with these CRIA agents before shipping any consignment to Nigeria, saying, “I strongly encourage you to engage with CRIA agents before shipping any consignment–that is, to our stakeholders– from China, India, or Nigeria. You have the flexibility to choose from any of the listed CRIA agents to ensure compliance and safeguard the quality of imported products.”
NAFDAC also introduced an electronic platform, the Port Inspection Data Capture and Risk Management System (PIDCARMS), to enhance document verification and streamline inspection processes.
Mrs Adeyeye noted that CRIA agents will ensure that rejected shipments carrying drugs will not find their way to the country.
She urged stakeholders to visit NAFDAC’s official website for guidelines on product registration, labelling, and shipment requirements to ensure compliance with regulatory standards in order to prevent such lapses and ensure only approved products enter Nigeria.
-
Feature/OPED5 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism9 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz2 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking7 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy2 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking2 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports2 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn
-
Technology4 years agoHow To Link Your MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile Lines to NIN