First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has urged the world to embrace physical exercises as part of healthy living.
Mrs Kenyatta pointed out that the burden of non-communicable diseases, especially in developing countries, has taken a toll on the already fragile health systems, a situation that demands a change of tact to address the pandemic.
“It (the burden of non-communicable diseases) has shifted our health focus from mortality driven by infectious diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, cholera and typhoid, to mortality driven by non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases,” said the first lady.
She made the remarks in Geneva, Switzerland on Sunday before leading participants in the 2019 annual World Health Organisation (WHO) 'Walk the Talk' race.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the ‘Walk the Talk’ annual event demonstrates the global commitment on matters of health.
Netherlands Minister of Health Bruno Bruins and Geneva Mayor Sami Kanaan also participated in the race.
Mrs Kenyatta has been on the forefront in promoting health among women and children with her Beyond Zero Initiative aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality.