Burkina Faso: Citizens combat diabetes and high blood pressure through sports
Written by: Ayman Ragab
High blood pressure, diabetes, and weight gain… To combat these diseases, which are often linked to a sedentary lifestyle or an unbalanced diet, many people in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, are keen to engage in regular physical activity.
Because physical and mental health are intertwined, walking, cycling and fitness all contribute to the prevention of these diseases.
Combating disease through sports in Burkina Faso
In the sports areas of the capital, Ouagadougou, walkers, runners and fitness enthusiasts regularly gather to maintain their physical fitness.
Some people want to improve their physical condition, while others want to lose weight, or simply relieve stress.
”It’s an activity that keeps me fit and benefits me a lot… because I believe that the body shouldn’t be left as it is, because, as they say, any muscle that isn’t used atrophies,“ says Mr. Sumda, a lifelong sports enthusiast and member of Mogot Sport, a well-known sports club in the capital.
“I feel great, light, in excellent physical condition, and completely relaxed. I am passionate about sports, and I feel very happy every time I meet with the team. It relieves stress and gives me a great feeling,“ adds Blandine Kataku, another member of the sports club.
The importance of regular physical activity
In the face of this enthusiasm, specialists remind us of the importance of regular physical activity in preventing many diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes, weight gain and strokes, to name a few.
Daouda Kader Traore is a sports coach who has specialized in physical fitness for several years, and believes that sports should be an integral part of our daily lives, not optional.
“The World Health Organization, scientists and doctors have proven that sports provide benefits to the body, both physically and mentally. We are exposed to many diseases, and sports help us strengthen our immune system,” says Daouda Kader Traore, a veteran athlete.
Although sports are not a guarantee against disease, experts agree that they remain one of the most effective ways to maintain an individual's long-term health and improve their quality of life.
