JoyfulRose Health Initiative, a health and wellness Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, has raised concerns over the growing risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes among traders at Karu Market, Abuja, blaming prolonged inactivity, unhealthy eating habits and neglect of routine medical check-ups.
The organisation also called for stronger preventive healthcare interventions especially accessible healthcare facilities around the market to enable traders detect health conditions early and adopt healthier lifestyles.
The concern was raised during a medical outreach organised by the initiative at the market under the theme, “Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Healthy Traders, Wealthy Market.”
Chairperson of the initiative and Deputy Director of Nursing at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, Mrs Joy Chioma Nwankwo, said her observation of traders spending long hours in their shops motivated the decision to take healthcare services directly to them.
Nwankwo, who has over 35 years’ experience in nursing, said many traders remain seated for most of the day and may consume foods without considering their health implications.
“Most of our marketers stay in the shop from morning till night. They sit down in one place, eating so many things that may not really go down well with them as far as health is concerned,” she said.
She expressed particular concern over obesity, recalling the death of a trader she knew who had been advised to exercise and lose weight but later reportedly developed a heart-related complication.
According to her, prolonged inactivity could affect blood circulation and increase the risk of cardiovascular problems.
“You don’t stay at a place because you are selling. Once in a while, get up and walk around so that the circulation can flow,” Nwankwo advised.
Wanko further explained that the outreach was organised to bring preventive healthcare closer to traders who often struggle to find the time or resources to visit hospitals.
“We targeted about 200 traders in this maiden outreach, we would evaluate the exercise and consider taking similar interventions to other underserved communities,” she assured.
Medical doctor of internal medicine, Dr. SomtoChuku Benson, said obesity should be treated as a serious health concern because of its links to hypertension and diabetes. He explained that obesity could be associated with high cholesterol, which may contribute to narrowing of blood vessels and make it harder for the heart to pump blood.
“Obesity, hypertension and diabetes, they all have a link to each other,” he said.
Benson also identified the failure to undergo regular medical examinations as a major challenge among traders, noting that some could be living with chronic conditions without knowing.
“The common health challenge is actually the disregard for medical check-ups. There are a lot of people that have chronic conditions, but they don’t know because they don’t check up,” he said.
He urged traders to undergo regular medical checks, exercise and watch their diets, while advising them against ignoring symptoms or relying on self-medication.
One of the beneficiaries of the medical outreach, a trader, Blessing Ernest, said the exercise reminded traders of the need to monitor their health despite their busy schedules.
“I learned that sometimes you should go to hospital, check yourself and know your health issue. Some of us are business women; business, business, business, and we don’t remember to go to hospital,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Mr. Ugwu, a trader selling vegetables expressed gratitude for the medical checkup saying most times they prioritise their business that they usually neglect going for any medical checkups.
“I have been checked and I’m okay, but I learnt today the importance of knowing my health status and the need to always prioritise my health because it is wealth,” he said.
The initiative offered free blood pressure, blood sugar, malaria and eye checks, as well as body mass index, BMI, assessments. Doctors were also available to refer cases requiring further medical attention.
