Accra, Feb. 26, GNA - Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister of Health on Friday launched the African Healthy Lifestyle Day in Accra, with a call on the public to eat healthy food to live long.

He said exercises and eating the right and nutritious food could help control chronic diseases and premature deaths in the country. This year's celebration is on the theme: 93Wellness and Fitness for Action and Productivity."

It was initiated by the Executive Council of African Union (AU) in Jul= y 2008 to be celebrated by Member States on the last Friday of February every year. The day was set aside for Africa to trumpet with one voice and wage wa= r against lifestyle diseases.

Ghana was chosen by the AU as the country to launch this year's celebration. Mr Yieleh Chireh said the day would help increase productivity because a healthy person with sound mind could contribute his or her quota to national development.

He urged the youth to refrain from self-medication and patronising of fast food joints, where the meals were high in fat and low in fibre resulting in overweight and obesity. The Minister expressed the need for the citizenry to exercise regularly, keep the environment clean, drink more water and sleep well to replenish lost energy.

"Overweight is one of the main risk factors associated with heart diseases, hypertension and diabetes," he said. Mr Yieleh Chireh said Africa faced an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases which could be prevented through the adoption of healthy lifestyles, lifelong healthy diets, physical activities and regular medical assessment. He reiterated that smoking, alcoholism, hypertension, arthritis, strok= e and diabetes posed a threat to Africans and the sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme. Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, said active lifestyle and healthy eating were critical in improving health.

He advised drivers and pedestrians to avoid using the road while under the influence of alcohol, adding 93this can jeopardise one's future when involved in an accident". He encouraged the citizenry to at least exercise 30 minutes or an hour= , three to five times a week and drink lots of water to avoid illness. Alhaji Mumuni urged the youth to refrain from taking sugary food, frie= d foods and instead eat boiled meals to avoid heart problems. Dr Felix Anyah, Director General of Holy Trinity Spa Medical Centre, expressed gratitude to the organisers for the initiative and called for mor= e keep fit clubs and associations to help people exercise and reduce stress. He said taking more fruits and vegetables help build the human system and urged the public to patronise local herbs and foodstuff which were of good quality.

Activities planned for the week-long celebration include health walk, free medical screening, blood donation and public education on healthy lifestyle. 2