Agorehmi Bright, Reporting
HEALTH stakeholders in Bayelsa State have called on residents to prioritise preventive healthcare through regular medical check-ups, healthy lifestyles and early detection of diseases to improve their overall well-being.
The call was made on Thursday, 29 October, during activities marking the 2026 National Health Promotion Day, organised by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health under the theme “Health Promotion: Owning My Health” and the slogan “Take Charge, Live Well.”
The celebration featured an awareness road walk involving representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), advocacy groups, traditional birth attendants, health professionals, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and civil society organisations.
Participants marched from Ekeki Park to the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health at the state secretariat, using the exercise to educate residents on the importance of healthy living and taking personal responsibility for their health.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa State Primary Health Care Board, Dr William Appah, urged residents not to wait until illnesses became severe before seeking medical attention.
He encouraged members of the public to know their health status, undergo regular medical examinations and consult qualified health professionals whenever necessary.
Other stakeholders stressed the importance of sustained community sensitisation, particularly on routine immunisation, urging parents and caregivers to ensure that their children receive all recommended vaccines at designated health facilities.
They noted that educating communities on the benefits of vaccination was critical to protecting children against vaccine-preventable diseases and improving immunisation coverage across the state.
The stakeholders also emphasised that healthcare was a collective responsibility, noting that an individual’s health condition could have wider implications for family members and the community.
They urged residents to adopt healthy habits, including eating balanced diets, drinking sufficient water, engaging in regular physical exercise and getting adequate sleep of seven to eight hours daily.
Other recommended practices included effective stress management, personal hygiene and maintaining clean and healthy surroundings.
The speakers further encouraged residents to take advantage of medical outreaches and screening programmes to monitor their vital health indicators, including blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
According to them, regular health screenings could help detect potential medical conditions early and enable individuals to seek appropriate treatment before complications develop.
The awareness walk underscored the importance of collaboration among government agencies, development partners, healthcare professionals and community-based organisations in promoting healthier communities.
The organisers maintained that improving public health required more than access to medical treatment, stressing that sustained awareness, early diagnosis and healthy lifestyle choices were essential to preventing diseases and reducing avoidable health complications.
They urged Bayelsa residents to take ownership of their health by making preventive healthcare a priority and incorporating healthy practices into their daily routines.
