Destruction of open fields for active play does not help in the nations effort to fight non-communicable diseases At ALWAG, our primary goal is to advocate adequate government and non-government agency support to increase physical activity levels of children and youth- We power the Movement to Power Kids to Move. This means that stakeholders must provide infrastructure, strategies and investments in physical activity centers; promote sources of influence including participation by family and peers; improving physical activity infrastructure in schools, community and the built environment; and promote behaviors that contribute to overall physical activity levels of children and youth- including quality (authentic) organized sports participation, active play and active transport. A childs physical activity level affects outcomes such as mental health, cardiovascular health and body weight. On the 2014 Global Matrix on Physical Activity, Ghana scored a D grade for Overall Physical Activity Levels of children and youth. This means that on 40% of Ghanaian children and youth are meaningfully engaged in any form of physical activity lasting 60 minutes or more, for 3 days a week or more, and of any intensity to be considered moderate or vigorous. The overall physical activity levels seem to be rapidly diminishing as many public and private schools do not have adequate playing field, parks or playgrounds that can provide opportunity for engaging in various physical activity behaviors. The few infrastructure available is seriously being encroached upon. Malls are shaping up on playing field, dormitories or classrooms are dominating school physical activity parks and walkways are filled with stores making active transportation extremely impossible within our communities. ALWAG is providing a free service to educate community members to acquire beneficial physical activity behaviors at the ALWAG Legacy at Nungua Boade. This is a free service to augment the efforts of community members to engage in physical activity on regular basis. Join the crusade to Empower Ghanaians to Move.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 10:04:15 +0000