Mrs. Oghogho Musa, President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), has called on women living in military barracks to make physical fitness and healthy living a consistent habit.
Musa made the call on Saturday during the DEPOWA Monthly Aerobic Exercise, themed “Walk for Health,” held at Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja.
She explained that the initiative reflects DEPOWA’s belief that people do not need an expensive gym membership to stay fit.
“Simply stepping out of your home and walking around your environment for about 30 minutes is an effective exercise,” Musa said. “The goal is to stay active — move your legs, your hands, and your body until you sweat. If you can’t do it every day, at least three times a week will go a long way. It helps burn fat, reduce stress, lower blood pressure and even reduce risks of certain illnesses, including some cancers.”
The DEPOWA President also emphasized the importance of environmental hygiene, urging the women and society at large to properly dispose of waste to maintain a clean and healthy environment.
“Unfortunately, many of our drainages are blocked because people litter them with plastics, nylons, and bottles that don’t decay. When it rains, this causes flooding. We all have a role to play,” she said, adding that parents must train children from an early age to value cleanliness.
“Leading by example is very important. If we continue to set good examples and correct our children early, we will raise a generation that values fitness and a clean environment,” she added.
Musa commended participants for their commitment, noting that they had taken almost 9,000 steps during the walk.
Dr. Enobong Obot, a public health expert and resource person at the event, urged women to pay closer attention to their heart health, warning that heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death among women globally.
“The heart is like the engine of the body — it works every second, pumping blood and carrying life to every part of us. Yet, we tend to neglect it and pay more attention to our homes, children, and work,” Obot said.
She identified major risk factors for heart disease as uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, stress, and high cholesterol levels. She added that women often present with different symptoms from men, including dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, and back or jaw pain — making it vital to seek medical attention early.
Offering practical tips, Obot advised women to:
Adopt healthy eating habits by reducing salt, sugar, and processed foods.
Engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity three times a week.
Stop smoking, limit or eliminate alcohol, and make water the preferred drink.
Schedule regular medical check-ups, tying the dates to birthdays or anniversaries to make them easier to remember.
She also reminded women that natural life stages such as pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause affect heart health, and urged them to lead by example by promoting fitness and cleanliness within their families.
