By Fanta L. Keita
MONROVIA, Sept. 29 (LINA) – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has signed a proclamation establishing a recurring national health observance, designating the last Saturday of every month, from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m., as National Exercise and Wellness Day.
The initiative will run from September 2026 through September 2027.
The proclamation was read Thursday, September 24, 2024 at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing by Deputy Minister for Press and Public Affairs Daniel O. Sando.
It cites findings from the 2022 STEPS survey, conducted by Liberia’s Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization, which found that nearly a quarter of adults aged 18 to 69 had elevated blood pressure, while close to 40 percent were overweight and roughly 20 percent were obese.
The government pointed to a rising burden of non-communicable diseases including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease as the driving concern behind the measure.
Under the proclamation, the Ministry of Health will lead and coordinate observances nationwide, working alongside other government ministries, county and local authorities, health institutions, civil society groups, sports bodies, and private-sector partners.
Schools, workplaces, communities, and individual residents are encouraged to organize or take part in activities such as walking, jogging, cycling, stretching, community sports, health education sessions, and health screenings, provided these are led by qualified personnel and comply with safety and legal standards.
The proclamation specifically calls for the inclusion of women, men, youth, older persons, and people with disabilities.
Importantly, the declaration stops short of creating a public holiday: government offices, schools, and businesses are not required to close for the observance, except where otherwise required by law.
Announcing the measure, Min. Sando framed it as a practical opportunity for citizens, noting that people will now have a standing occasion each month to exercise, whether at home or elsewhere.