/ 9 May 2007

ANC members urged to live healthy lifestyles

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) is urging its members to live a healthy lifestyle, which should include ”at least 30 minutes” of exercise a day, while party structures have been urged to reduce interpersonal violence.

In a document released ahead of the December national conference, entitled Policy Discussion Documents, and in a chapter relating to ”transformation”, the ruling party devotes a section to ”healthy lifestyles”.

This says that: ”ANC structures should lead community-based health lifestyle programmes … this involves mass mobilisation as well as targeted interventions to those that are more vulnerable”. These included eating healthier meals and ending the use of tobacco products.

Referring to healthier meals, the document says that this could include starting community food gardens and agricultural cooperatives.

It also urges stopping — and not starting in the first place — the use of ”other drugs” like marijuana and cocaine. It says that alcohol should be used ”responsibly”.

Risky behaviour is a bad thing too. ”These include driving recklessly and under the influence of alcohol, not walking on roads whilst intoxicated [and] being sexually responsible.”

The latter includes delaying one’s sexual ”debut” and using condoms.

The party suggested that the programmes should be integrated and coordinated with the departments of education, social development and sport and recreation. — I-Net Bridge