THERE is need to develop a sporting culture in the country to boost physical fitness and promote good health among Zimbabweans, the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has said.
Scientists have proved that regular physical activities play a pivotal role in the prevention of several chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, depression and osteoporosis.
The SRC corporate communications officer, Tirivashe Nheweyembwa said people should take sports not only for competitive purpose, but as a daily activity.
“There is a misconception about sports in Zimbabwe that they can only be done for competitive purpose by selected people,” said Nheweyembwa.
“It is high time people of Zimbabwe start to take sports seriously to reduce the risk of contracting different diseases.
“Physical exercises have been proved that they help people to combat stress, relax, and reduce anxiety and to normalise blood pressure.”
The report from the United Nations (UN) Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace states that young people can benefit from physical activity as it contributes to developing healthy bones, efficient heart and lung function as well as improved motor skills and cognitive function.
Nheweyembwa said there was a low uptake of sporting activities in the country especially among the young generation.
“The level of people who are engaging in sports outside competitions is very low which implies negative effects for people’s health,” he said.
“The sporting activities should be much encouraged to young people in schools and colleges who are mainly ignorant of sports.”
Some analysts believe that sport and physical activities could make substantial contribution to the well-being of people in developing countries in reducing expenditure of government on acquiring drugs for hospitals as sports have long been used in the treatment and rehabilitation of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Nheweyembwa said physical fitness prevents people from diseases, thereby, reducing the number of people in seeking medical services and treatment drugs.
However, he said, lack of facilities was affecting the uptake of sports in the country especially in high density suburbs and newly established areas.
“Physical activities for individuals are a strong means for the prevention of diseases and for nations is a cost-effective method to improve public health across populations,” he said.
“It is sad that some of the sporting facilities have been turned into houses and some of them are now in dilapidated state.
“We encourage local authorities to upgrade existing facilities and establish more in new suburbs as the absence of these infrastructures were affecting the participation of people in sports at community level.”
Nheweyembwa revealed that the SRC has introduced a programme community based programme aimed at encouraging people to take part in sports at grassroots level.
“We have launched Community Development Sport Programme to encourage communities to engage in physical training through sports,” he said.
“SRC believes the project will increase the participation of individuals.”
Health experts also contend that physical activities can help to prevent hip fractures among women and reduce the effects of osteoporosis.
Remaining physically active can enhance functional capacity among older people, and can help to maintain quality of life and independence.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that ‘one in four patients visiting a health service has at least one mental, behavioural disorder, but most of these disorders are neither diagnosed nor treated’.
According to WHO, a number of studies have shown that physical exercises may play a therapeutic role in addressing most psychological disorders.
The studies also showed that physical exercise has a positive influence on depression.