Scientists from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) were part of the formulation of two policy briefs aimed at highlighting the importance of physical activity and exercise for Africa’s overall health and wellbeing, during COVID-19 and beyond.
The briefs, which are part of a series planned for release, were prepared by a consortium consisting of more than 40 academics, researchers and implementation partners from nine countries within the continent led by Professors Rowena Naidoo from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and Vicki Lambert of the University of Cape Town (UCT)’s Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS).
COVID-19 has highlighted the need for a multi-faceted national plan for physical activity to underpin the country’s health development. Some of the diseases that increase the risk of individuals with COVID-19 being hospitalised or dying are the same lifestyle-related diseases associated with being physically inactive – these include diabetes, hypertension and obesity. As a result, many healthcare providers and policy makers now acknowledge the importance of physical activity for health and development in Africa as it is generally accepted that regular physical activity saves lives and improves the quality of life of people.
Recognising the need to develop effective plans and policies to promote physical fitness on the continent, the consortium, developed the first two policy briefs – one targeted at the general public and the other at children in three environments namely: home, school and communities. Aimed at guiding decision makers, planners and programme leaders, both during the COVID-19 pandemic and afterwards, the briefs have been endorsed by the African Physical Activity Network (AFPAN) and supported by the Western Cape Department of Health.
SAMRC’s Dr Jillian Hill, a senior scientist from the Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit and Ms. Eunice Tuwara, also senior scientist, from Burden of Disease Research Unit were involved with the general (adult) brief as members of the expert advisory panel.
According to Dr Hill, the COVID-19 pandemic has again highlighted the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and of taking care of our bodies and our overall wellbeing.
“A well-balanced lifestyle [incl. good nutrition & physical activity] is the cornerstone of non-communicable disease prevention and our overall wellbeing – this should be our number one priority.” She added.
What are the statistics saying?
Some of the diseases that place individuals with COVID-19 at much higher risk of being hospitalized or dying, are the same lifestyle-related diseases that are associated with being physically inactive. Furthermore, the risk from dying from COVID-19 is 1.5 to 3.5 times higher for people with diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or cancer. Even more concerning is that there is evidence from almost 400,000 persons in the UK, showing that those who were physically inactive were nearly 40% more likely to hospitalised with COVID-19.
Even more remarkable, is that regular, moderate physical activity has been associated with reduced death from infectious diseases, a strengthened immune response, reduced inflammation and a lower incidence of viral respiratory infections while on the other hand, every year, physical inactivity accounts for more than 5.3 million deaths worldwide. These deaths are largely due to heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.
What the policy briefs propose…
Amongst others, the briefs recommend an introduction of a 4 Step policy for physical activity for the general public in the African region – the four steps include:
- The development of a National Plan for physical activity for health and development that would allow for input from multiple sectors and stakeholders resulting in co-benefits and shared responsibility.
- Training a cadre of health professionals, educators, sports coaches & community members to promote physical activity for health.
- Ensuring safe and enjoyable opportunities for physical activity, through urban planning, provision of parks or public spaces and low-cost programmes close to where people live. This is particularly critical in communities that lack safe and accessible facilities where they can be physically active.
- Adopting a “whole of government” systems approach towards physical activity embedded in multiple sectors, devising flexible, agile and cost-effective solutions. Critical to this – is recognizing physical activity as a vital component both in preventive health care and a means to build social cohesion in communities.
What is next?
The Consortium, through the two briefs emphasizes that physical activity is not a competing demand for resources, public health and development – it plays a vital role for well-being during the current pandemic and in creating a healthy future for the African region.
Although the timelines are not confirmed yet for release, the consortium is working on two more briefs on disability and school sport.