COVID-19 has highlighted the need for a multi-faceted national plan for physical activity to underpin the country’s health development. Some of the diseases that increase the risk of individuals with COVID-19 being hospitalised or dying are the same lifestyle-related diseases associated with being physically inactive, said the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Professor Vicki Lambert. These include diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
Critical to this plan is recognising that physical activity is a vital component both in preventive healthcare and building social cohesion in communities during and after the pandemic, said Professor Lambert.
Lambert, who is from UCT’s Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre, is spearheading the African Academic Consortium on Physical Activity for Health with Associate Professor Rowena Naidoo from the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s College of Health Sciences.
The consortium, a group of more than 40 academics, researchers and implementation partners from nine African countries, has developed two policy briefs for government. These are part of a series planned for release. The first brief targets the general public and the second targets children in three environments: at home, school and in their communities.
Endorsed by the African Physical Activity Network and supported by the Western Cape Government Department of Health, the policy briefs will guide decision makers, planners and programme leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, said Lambert.
The first two policy briefs focus on three areas:
Four-step policy recommendations
The four-step policy recommendations are:
Higher risks
The current situation regarding physical inactivity and health during the COVID-19 pandemic is concerning, said Lambert. The risks of dying are 1.5 to 3.5 times higher for those with diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or cancer.
“There is alarming evidence from almost 400 000 people in the United Kingdom showing that those who were physically inactive were nearly 40% more likely to be hospitalised with COVID-19.”
Even more remarkable, she said, is that regular, moderate physical activity has been associated with reduced death from infectious diseases, a strengthened immune response, reduced inflammation and a lower incidence of viral respiratory infections.
“It also reduces depression and anxiety, both of which have escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical activity also improves quality of life and delays the cognitive decline associated with ageing.”
Dire global stats
Global figures back this up. Annually, physical inactivity accounts for more than 5.3 million deaths worldwide.
“18% of men and 25% of women are not getting enough physical activity.”
“These deaths are largely due to heart disease, diabetes and some cancers,” said Lambert. “But in sub-Saharan Africa, there are major concerns, with nearly half of adults experiencing high blood pressure, 20% who are obese and 5% with type 2 diabetes. And 18% of men and 25% of women are not getting enough physical activity, which in simple terms translates to about 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week.”
But COVID-19 has also presented new opportunities to change this, Lambert said. The response of governments in restricting population mobility to minimise COVID-19 transmission created a “window of opportunity”.
“Restrictions created pushback from civil society, fitness centres, gyms and community organisations – all clamouring for responsible access for physical activity and to create ‘activity-supportive’ environments.
“Government clearly recognised that physical activity was important for health and well-being and that access to physical activity was seldom equitable.”
Physical activity is not a competing demand for resources or for investment in public health and development, she added.
“It plays a vital role for well-being during the current pandemic and in creating a healthy future for the African region, where in some countries, more than half of all adults do not reach the recommended levels of physical activity.”
Lambert added: “We are witnessing an exciting era where for the first time, healthcare providers and policymakers are acknowledging the importance of physical activity for health and development in the African region.
“But bold steps are needed.”
View the adult-specific policy brief
View the children-specific policy brief
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COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March 2020 and to implement a national lockdown from 26 March 2020. UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated with the latest COVID-19 information. Please note that the information on this page is subject to change depending on current lockdown regulations.
Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, has in June 2022 repealed some of South Africa’s remaining COVID-19 regulations: namely, sections 16A, 16B and 16C of the Regulations Relating to the Surveillance and the Control of Notifiable Medical Conditions under the National Health Act. We are now no longer required to wear masks or limit gatherings. Venue restrictions and checks for travellers coming into South Africa have now also been removed.
On Wednesday, 20 July, staff from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Health Sciences came together with representatives from the Western Cape Government at the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre at Forest Hill Residence to acknowledge the centre’s significance in the fight against COVID-19 and to thank its staff for their contributions. The centre opened on 1 September 2021 with the aim of providing quality vaccination services to UCT staff, students and the nearby communities, as well as to create an opportunity for medical students from the Faculty of Health Sciences to gain practical public health skills. The vaccination centre ceased operations on Friday, 29 July 2022.
With the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.
“After almost a year of operation, the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, located at the Forest Hill residence complex in Mowbray, will close on Friday, 29 July 2022. I am extremely grateful and proud of all staff, students and everyone involved in this important project.”
– Vice-Chancellor Prof Mamokgethi PhakengWith the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.
UCT’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) collaborated with Global Citizen, speaking to trusted experts to dispel vaccine misinformation.
If you have further questions about the COVID-19 vaccine check out the FAQ produced by the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF). The DTHF has developed a dedicated chat function where you can ask your vaccine-related questions on the bottom right hand corner of the website.
IDM YouTube channel | IDM website
“As a contact university, we look forward to readjusting our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in 2023 as the COVID-19 regulations have been repealed.”
– Prof Harsha Kathard, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning
We are continuing to monitor the situation and we will be updating the UCT community regularly – as and when there are further updates. If you are concerned or need more information, students can contact the Student Wellness Service on 021 650 5620 or 021 650 1271 (after hours), while staff can contact 021 650 5685.