Ouagadougou: The Ministry of Health is now organizing a sports session every Thursday afternoon for its staff, with the aim of encouraging regular physical activity. The Minister of Health, Dr. Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, launched this initiative on Thursday at the Trypano community center with an aerobics session followed by a walk.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Dr. Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou emphasized the importance of regular physical activity by stating, "Playing sports, moving regularly, is health at a lower cost." He noted that a month earlier, he had instructed the chief of staff and the secretary general to ensure that the staff could meet every Thursday afternoon to practice a sporting activity.

The minister urged the staff of his department to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines, including those working in healthcare facilities. He highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating, "This is truly an opportunity, beyond this activity we have tonight at Trypano, to launch a strong appeal to all health workers in the field, in offices and in care facilities, so that we can regularly move and do sports."

After the session, the minister shared his personal experience by noting the positive effects of physical exercise, saying, "I am more alert. I know that I will be much more responsive, much more efficient on the cases I will have to deal with." He also encouraged public officials and all Burkinabe, both in urban and rural areas, to regularly engage in physical activity.

The ministry staff took the opportunity to present several requests to the minister regarding sports activities. They specifically asked for the implementation of a departmental sports uniform and support for sporting events, particularly football.