…of National Fitness Day and other ‘declarations’

Dear Editor,

Permit me to think aloud on the National Fitness Day announced and spearheaded by the Sports Ministry recently. I am told the day is to ensure good health among Ghanaians.

Although I do not have anything against the ministry and the initiative, I have been wondering whether we need to set aside a ‘special day’ before individuals and groups could or think of maintaining a healthy body.

We have consistently been told how regular exercise boosts the immune system and helps prevent diseases and I am aware of the numerous keep fit clubs that already exist in various communities for this purpose. 

Why then do we need a ‘special event’ to keep fit”? There had previously been national ‘Sanitation Day’, which took off well but could not be sustained. There is ‘Operation Clean Your Frontage’ in force and we now have ‘National Fitness Day.’

Though these ‘campaigns’ serve as reminders and a call to action, I still wonder if we must always wait for something to be ‘declared’ before we do what is expected of us as individuals and citizens?

Mavis Boahene,

Suhum, Eastern Region