The Chairperson of the SADC Ministers of Health, Honourable Mopipi Mukulumanya, of the Democratic Republic of Congo will launch the SADC Healthy Lifestyle Day in Cape Town, South Africa on February 26-27, 2010 under the theme, “Walking for a Healthy Heart”.

The decision to commemorate the last Friday of February each year as Africa Healthy Lifestyle Day was adopted by the AU Executive Council in July 2008 and was adopted and approved by the SADC Ministers of health as SADC healthy Lifestyle Day. This day was also adopted in the framework of the WHO strategy for prevention and control of Non-communicable diseases. 80 % of deaths in low and middle income countries are due to non communicable diseases with the death toll expected to increase by 17 % in the next 10 years. The launch of the SADC Healthy Lifestyle is to reinforce the message that non communicable diseases are largely preventable and thus the number of premature deaths can be prevented by simply adapting to a health lifestyle.

Current evidence indicates that four types of non-communicable diseases – cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes – make the largest contribution to mortality in the majority of SADC Member States and require concerted, coordinated efforts. There is a wide array of activities planned for the launch. These include ministerial briefs, interactive sessions such as presentation, mountain climbing and a soccer match between SADC Health Ministers and other high level government officials and parliamentarians.

The launch will be attended by key actors in the field of health and civic and community leaders from all the SADC Member States. Representatives of the World Health Organisation and the African Union will also grace the event. Media practitioners wishing to cover the event are advised to contact via email: modisem@health.gov.za with copies to sevans@sadc.int

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