World Health Day: Muslim Group Supports WHO on Universal Health Coverage

As the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates 17th Anniversary and 2018 World Health Day, The Muslim Congress (TMC) joined the commemoration with a physical fitness programme tagged Trek for Life. The Co-ordinator of The Congress Medical Team, Dr. Murtadha Olajide, while speaking with the press after the programme held on saturday, said trekking will considerably help to achieve Universal Health Coverage which is the theme of the 17th anniversary of WHO and the 2018 World Health Day.

Dr. Olajide, who is also the head of Casualty Department, Adeoyo Teaching Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan, identified effective blood flow around the body, weight loss, active heart, lungs cleansing, strong bone, stress reduction, among others. It is therefore imperative to habituate oneself to such an exercise to enjoy healthy living, he said.

The State Secretary of TMC, Mr. Abdul-Azeez Bamigbade, a chartered accountant, speaking for the State President, Engr. Daud Oladosu, who is on an official trip outside the city, appreciated the teeming participants for turning out to mark the World Health Day with a medium distance trek. He told the excited participants that the programme will be replicated in Oyo and Ogbomoso this year, with a longer distance.

Among other people who addressed the participants were Commander Idris Muhammad, the State Commandant of the Congress Guards;  Pharm. Z aynul-Abideen AbdGaniy, a Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services with Oyo State Hospital Management Board and member of The Congress Medical Team; Imam Abdul-Hafeez Ariremako, the Chief Imam of TMC Central Mosque and Alhaji Qasim Durojaye, the Administrative Manager of Zakat and Sadaqaat Foundation, Oyo State Branch. They all maintained a single voice that Islam encourages engaging in physical exercise to keep the body fit for both religious and mundane endeavours.

The trekking train which took off around 7:20am at Eleyele Round About, moved thorough Jericho Road to Mokola Round About and rounded off at Poly Junction, Sango, Ibadan.

The exercise which was spiced up with cycling demonstrations had a large turnout of Muslims including the elderly from all parts of Ibadan in attendance.