Kumasi, July 9, GNA- Dr.Kofi Asare, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services has called on the youth to take to walking instead of using cars especially for short distances.

He said many people are suffering from diabetes, hypertension and other chronic and foreign diseases because they refuse to exercise the body to make them healthy. He pointed out that in the past, people used to walk for long kilometres to their farms and back which helps the body but nowadays people have ignored this resulting in various health problems to many in the society.

Dr.Asare was addressing the youth of the Kwadaso Church of Pentecost and other churches at Kwadaso in Kumasi on Saturday after a health walk which was aimed at encouraging them to live healthy lifestyles. He observed that many of the foods we eat contains a lot of sugar solutions and salt and it was about time people watched their diets to remain healthy.

The Regional Director urged the youth who are ready for marriage to do so to enable their wives cook for them rather than going about eating in public, which can create problems for them. Elder Prince Kwasi Attakorah, Kwadaso District Youth leader of the Church said the Church has initiated a lot of health-related programmes for its members.

He called on other Churches to engage in health promotion activities and stressed the need for Christians to forgive people who offend them. Elder Attakorah also stressed the need for Churches to inculcate the spirit of exercises and environmental cleanliness into the youth. Dr.Patrick Maison, a medical officer at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital advised the youth to assist in the socio-economic and spiritual development of the country. He urged them to struggle for spiritual and social health and to remain at peace with God.

He said as young Christians they must have the right mental attitudes, vision for tomorrow and the power of positive attitudes to life. Mr Christian Ayensu, Secretary to the Kwadaso Central Assembly Youth ministry of the Church and Mr Edward Opoku, Assistant youth leader of the ministry said the walk was also to foster mutual and Godly relations among the youth in the various churches in the area. 9 July 07