Civil servants must make daily exercise a habit to help Fiji combat its growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), says Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh.
Speaking after celebrations marking the International Day of Yoga in Suva recently, Mr Singh said regular physical activity was vital for maintaining health, independence, and productivity, particularly as people age.
He said this year’s theme, “Yoga for aging”, highlighted the benefits of staying active throughout life.
“If we are practicing yoga, we will be able to continue to maintain our good health. We will be able to continue to be independent,” he said.
“We will be able to move around, be mobile. We will be able to prevent any NCDs. It’s a preventive measure.”
Mr Singh said yoga contributed to mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing, and could play a major role in addressing the nation’s NCDs challenge. Highlighting health efforts within the public service, he said civil servants were allocated one hour every Wednesday for physical exercise, and he urged them to take full advantage of it.
“In the civil service, every Wednesday, we allow our people, our employees, one hour from 3.30 to 4.30 to go out and do physical exercise.
“I am encouraging all the civil servants who are being given this one hour every Wednesday to please utilise it and then make it habitual. We must exercise every day.”
Mr Singh described yoga as an accessible form of exercise that required minimal equipment and space.
“All you need is a mat and 6 feet of space. That’s all you need, two meters of space. You can do it anywhere. That’s the best part.”
Members of the public were also encouraged to participate in weekly yoga sessions organised by the Indian High Commission at the Fiji Museum every Saturday from 7.30am to 8.30am.
