PSN Tasks Veteran Journalists on Nutrition, Healthy Ageing
By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
ILORIN – The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Kwara Chapter, has advised veteran journalists to pay greater attention to proper nutrition, balanced diets and healthy lifestyle choices to promote healthy ageing and prevent age-related diseases.
The Chairman of the chapter, Mrs Munirat Bello, gave the advice in Ilorin while speaking at a one-day sensitisation programme on healthy living organised by the Kwara Chapter of the National League of Veteran Journalists (NALVEJ).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was designed to promote healthy living, disease prevention and general wellness among veteran journalists, particularly in view of health challenges associated with ageing.
Bello, who spoke on the topic, “Nutrition, Diet and Healthy Ageing,” said proper nutrition remained an important component of disease prevention and effective management of many ailments commonly associated with old age.
She identified arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases among the conditions that could be prevented or better managed through appropriate dietary choices and healthy lifestyles.
According to her, ageing should not be regarded as a period when people must resign themselves to ill health, stressing that conscious attention to nutrition, physical activity and regular medical care could significantly improve the quality of life of older adults.
Bello explained the food pyramid to the participants and stressed the importance of consuming balanced meals containing the essential nutrients required by the body.
She warned against excessive consumption of cholesterol, saturated fats, sugar and salt, noting that such dietary habits could increase the risk of several chronic diseases.
The PSN chairman advised older adults to prioritise foods rich in fibre, vitamins, calcium, protein and antioxidants to support healthy ageing and strengthen the body’s ability to fight didiseases.
Pharm Bello listed foods beneficial to the elderly to include white meat such as fish and chicken, eggs, low-fat milk and other dairy products, as well as whole grains such as brown rice, oats and whole-wheat bread.
She also recommended vegetables such as spinach, ugwu, broccoli, carrots and cabbage, as well as fruits including oranges, watermelon, bananas, pineapple, pawpaw and berries.
Bello further encouraged the consumption of legumes, beans and nuts, which she said could provide essential nutrients needed for maintaining strength and overall wellbeing.
She advised the participants to increase their water intake and consume more fruits and vegetables, while reducing their consumption of red meat, fried and highly processed foods and sugary drinks.
Beyond nutrition, Bello emphasised the importance of adequate sleep, relaxation, regular physical activity and appropriate lifestyle adjustments as essential components of healthy ageing.
She also advised the veterans to use dietary supplements only when recommended by qualified health professionals, stressing that supplements should not be regarded as substitutes for a balanced diet.
The pharmacist urged the participants to undergo regular medical check-ups to facilitate early detection and treatment of health conditions.
She also cautioned against self-medication, advising them to always seek professional medical advice before taking medicines, particularly as the body’s response to drugs could change with age.
Earlier, the Chairman of NALVEJ, Kwara Chapter, Alhaji Tunde Akanbi, described the sensitisation programme as timely and insightful, particularly because of the increasing health concerns associated with ageing.
Akanbi said the initiative was part of the league’s welfare programmes aimed at keeping members healthy, informed and better prepared to manage health challenges associated with advancing age.
He commended the PSN chairman for accepting the invitation to educate members and expressed the league’s commitment to sustaining programmes that would promote the physical and mental wellbeing of its members.
Also speaking, a member of NALVEJ and former Director of Digital Media, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Hajia Hadiza Sani, stressed the need for improvements in the healthcare system, particularly in the area of accurate and timely diagnosis.
Sani said the healthcare sector required appropriate diagnostic modules and evidence-based approaches to enable practitioners to properly identify health conditions rather than rely on conjecture.
On his part, a former Editor-in-Chief of NAN, Mr Muftau Ojo, urged members of the league to make their health a priority.
Ojo cautioned that ignorance of one’s health condition could have serious consequences, stressing the need for regular medical examinations and prompt attention to symptoms.
He encouraged the veteran journalists to take advantage of available healthcare services and adopt healthy habits that would enable them to remain active and productive in their later years.
The participants expressed appreciation to the organisers and the PSN for the health education, describing it as particularly relevant to journalists who had spent several decades in active service.
Rev Felix Ajide, the assistant secretary during the vote of thanks noted that members must have learn one or two things and urged them to prioritise their health.
He thanked the guest lecturer, PSN Chairman in thecstate, for honouring the invitation of the league and prayed that God in His infinite mercy will continue to bless her.
The sensitisation programme formed part of efforts by NALVEJ Kwara to promote the welfare of its members and encourage healthy ageing among journalists who had contributed significantly to the development of journalism and society.
