WCH-MEC commemorates World Health Day in Khayelitsha with a ‘Walk for Health | Western Cape Government

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WCH-MEC commemorates World Health Day in Khayelitsha with a ‘Walk for Health

9 April 2019

NOTE TO EDITORS: Pictures available upon request

Statement by Dr Nomafrench Mbombo

Western Cape Ministry of Health 


The Western Cape Health Minister, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo commemorated World Health Day with a ‘Walk for Health’ in Khayelitsha along with all Health staff in this sub-district.

The World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on 7 April. In the Western Cape this year, we are shining the light on the promotion of wellness, in particular on our staff. We want to showcase that we invest in the health and wellness of our employees at the coalface of health.

This walk is about health staff in Khayelitsha leading by example, making wellness fashionable.

We are encouraging physical activity among staff as this is a vital way in which they can deal with the pressures they face in the work place. Physical activity helps to manage stress, and helps to manage a healthy weight.

Physical inactivity, unhealthy eating and an unhealthy weight are major risk factors for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardio vascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). By being physically active you can reduce the risk of NCDs.

In South Africa, NCDs accounted for 51% of all deaths in 2013 of which 20% was due to cardiovascular disease and cancers alone. In the Western Cape, NCDs accounts for 60% of deaths of males and females between 2009 -2013, with cardiovascular disease the leading cause of death in 2013.

“I am joining Health staff in Khayelitsha today to ‘Walk for Health’ showing how the workforce takes wellness seriously. We are urging members of the community to take responsibility for their health. By encouraging wellness, we target the upstream factors toward non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity. This speaks directly to our goal of increasing wellness amongst all communities, and what better way than for our staff to lead by example,” said Minister Mbombo

Media Enquiries: 

Colleen Smart                   
Spokesperson to Western Cape Minister Health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo
Cell: 072 825 3257                      
E-mail: colleen.smart@westerncape.gov.za
Website: www.westerncape.gov.za