By Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu
At dawn every Saturday in Awka, Mr Kyrian Ezeh laces his walking shoes with quiet determination.
At 51, the civil servant once depended heavily on medication to manage his blood pressure. Today, he walks, not alone, but alongside hundreds of residents; finding relief, routine and renewed hope in a growing culture of wellness sweeping across Anambra State.
“I used to rely on drugs almost completely but regular walking and the health talks have changed my life,” he said.
Ezeh is one of thousands of beneficiaries of the Healthy Living Initiative, a programme championed by the wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo.
From Wellness Advocacy to Lifeline
What began as a wellness advocacy effort has evolved into a lifeline for many residents, touching children, mothers, workers and the elderly through preventive care, nutrition, fitness and disease control.
Across communities, wellness is no longer seen as a luxury or urban trend, but as a daily practice tied to survival and dignity.
According to Dr Soludo, the initiative is driven by the belief that health begins with consciousness.
“Being aware of one’s body is the first step to good health and a fulfilling life.
“Healthy living must become our culture, from what we eat to how we move,” she said.
Soludo said the programme focuses on reducing disease prevalence and strengthening preventive healthcare across communities in the state.
It also supports vulnerable populations through strategic partnerships with organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, Malaria Consortium, Smile Train and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Measurable Health Outcomes
That approach is already yielding measurable results. The Anambra Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, said the initiative has significantly boosted malaria prevention efforts in the state.
“Household use of insecticide-treated nets has risen from 27 per cent to 57 per cent and this was achieved with the distribution of over 3.8 million treated nets to about 1.3 million households,” he said.
The Commissioner noted that Dr Soludo’s appointment as Net Ambassador by the Malaria Consortium helped push malaria prevention into everyday family life.
“We are keeping children and mothers safer from malaria, one of the deadliest diseases in our region,” he said.
Culture of Health Checks
For women in rural communities, the initiative has been nothing short of lifesaving. In partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative and WHO, free cervical cancer screening and treatment services were launched in October 2022.
“Within 11 months, 7,277 women were screened. Out of these, 151 women who tested positive at early stages received free treatment.” Obidike said.
The programme, he added, is expanding to more centres to ensure wider access.
Walk for Wellness
On the streets of Awka and in local government areas, the impact of the initiative is most visible during community fitness walks personally led by Mrs Soludo.
Government officials, traders, students, retirees and health workers walk side by side, regardless of social status in pursuit of better health.
Mrs Mmesoma Ikpeazu, a trader at Eke Awka Market, said the sight of hundreds exercising together keeps her motivated.
“When you see people like you moving together, it encourages discipline. It has become part of my weekly routine,” she said.
For retirees like Chief John Nwoye from Amawbia, the walks offer more than exercise.
“It gives me a safe place to stay active and socialise with people my age. It keeps loneliness away,” he said.
Mrs Blessing Okonkwo, a mother of three from Orumba South, said the health education sessions attached to the walks changed how her family eats.
“It is not just about walking, we now understand nutrition and preventive care. Our meals are healthier,” she said.
Health professionals are also present at the walks, offering free checks. For commercial driver Mr Chukwudi Iloh, that access to health checks is reassuring.
“We check our blood pressure and sugar levels regularly. Knowing our health status and early detection has helped many people, “Iloh said.
Mrs Chiamaka Ezinwa, a health worker, described the initiative as a social equaliser.
“You see students, traders, professionals and elders walking together, united by the goal of good health,” she said.
Medical experts say the impact goes beyond fitness. Prof. Brian Adinma, a gynaecologist at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, said the programme promotes simple habits that prevent lifestyle-related diseases.
“Walking, stretching and healthy eating reduce the risks of hypertension, diabetes and obesity,” he said.
Beyond Physical Exercises to Healthy Eating
Dr Uju Okoye, a reproductive health specialist, highlighted the initiative’s push for home gardening and nutrition.
“Seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and vegetables are distributed to residents.
“Families are learning food security and healthy eating from their own backyards,”she said.
Healthy Living: Catch Them Young
In schools, the message is taking root early. Healthy Living Clubs have been established in 800 schools across the state, promoting nutrition education and physical activity.
Mr Damian Echefu, a teacher in Onitsha, said students are already influencing adults.
“Our students are more active and health-conscious. They even remind us to practise what we teach,” he said.
The initiative has also delivered multivitamins to more than 26,000 elderly residents, improving nutrition and quality of life among senior citizens.
Healthy Living Initiative is redefining wellness in Anambra not as a passing lifestyle trend, but as a lifeline strengthening communities, extending life expectancy and restoring hope through simple, collective actions
