The launch of the Walk 4 Health team was held at Halahin Eco Lodge in Kartong village.
Shortly after the launching, the team walked from Halahin Beach through Kartong to Gunjur fishing point and back to Kartong, thereby covering about 13 kilometres.
Walk 4 Health – Kartong Chapter was initiated in September 2020 by few people with the purpose of encouraging people to take exercise as part of their activities for their wellbeing. Members of Walk 4 Health – Kartong included some senior citizens both retirees and active civil servants.
Lamin Jarjou, coordinator of Walk 4 Health – Kartong said the best form of exercise for all age categories is walking.
He disclosed that they were inspired by the Walk 4 Health – Brikama Chapter after they celebrated their one year walk 4 health anniversary.
“Brikama Chapter was the inspiration for setting up this group in Kartong because when they organised their one year anniversary, they invited us and we were impressed with their wellbeing,” he said.
With different activities in offing, he said soon they would invite a professional walking group from Brikama and other places to join them during their Saturdays’ exercise.
“We always converge at Halahin Eco Lodge to prepare ourselves psychologically for the beach walking exercise every Saturday,” he added.
“Among us we have senior citizens both retirees and active civil servants from different institutions such as NAWEC, ministries of Education, Environment, GCAA, UNESCO, permanent secretaries, school health teachers and some aged people in the village that always like to seize the opportunity of exercise and stretch their bodies,” he noted.
He added that majority of the people live in Kartong while others come every Saturday to join the group from Gunjur and Brikama - as they got no beach (Brikama).
Buba Jaiteh, proprietor of Halain Eco Lodge, who is also a pioneer member of the Walk 4 Health - Kartong highlighted the significance of walking.
He used himself as an example, saying prior to joining the group, he used to have body pains but by walking, the pain has vanished.
Walking can give someone good health without seeing a doctor, he went on, saying the more distance you cover the healthier you become. With Walk 4 Health, we can all live healthier in healthy communities, he added.
Momodou Mbaye Jabang, permanent secretary Ministry of Environment, also a pioneer member, encouraged everyone to change their lifestyles to live a better life.
“There is tendency that our lifestyles are becoming sedentary as many people are confined to sitting in front of television set from breakfast till dinner time and from there go to bed without any time for exercise, sweating or burning out calories from the body,” he noted.
He said, walking short or long distances can be helpful to the body and improve your health.
