NCD GOVENOR PARKOP’S ACTIVE CITY PROGRAM HAS POSITIVE IMPACTS ON CITY RESIDENTS
By WANPIS AKO
In the words of the NCD Governor Powes Parkop, this is the program since joining the International Olympic Committee in 2016 based on a recommendation of the PNG Olympic committee.
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| NCD governor Powes Parkop speaking to participants of Walk and Yoga for life at Ela Beach in Port Moresby. |
It obviously spoke volumes about its
positive impacts on the city dwellers since its inception in 2017.
The destination-of this component of the
whole program- is from the Murray Barracks to the newly-built road below Paga
Hill along the Ela Beach.
When the discussion on the program’s funds
has gone viral on Facebook since the leaked video, I really wanted to see it
for myself.
I set my mobile phone alarm at 5:20am on
Saturday night as the program starts at 5:30 am on Sundays. I was awaken by the
alarm.
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| Participants of Yoga and Walk for life |
Whilst driving, I noted that parents,
women and girls, school children, youths and working class people turned up in
numbers by foot all the way from Taurama, 6 Mile, Boroko, Morata, Gerehu,
Hohola, 2-Mile Hill, Koki, Hanuababa, Konedobu and others.
Many told the writer that they took part
in the program at their own will for their own fitness, health, wellness and
behavioural change.
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| NCD Governor Powes Parkop playing guitar to a song on stage |
It provides a forum for the voters to
interact with their governor. So it does not only for residents to meet each
other but also as a market place for mothers to sell their items.
I also noted that they woke up in the wee
hours with enthusiasm dictated by their passion for fitness, health, wellness
and behavioural change.
The objectives of the program are to
achieve a clean and green city, healthy living and healthy community, safe and
secure city for girls, women and investors and, peace and harmony.
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| Participants of Yoga and Walk for life posing for a photo the governor Parkop |
More importantly, it is for behavioural
change so that over a total of K20 million spent annual for betal nut spittle,
rubbish on the main highways, and private security engagement on public
utilities can be saved for other priorities.
This sum of money should have been spent
in the other areas had it not been for our attitude problems.
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| NCD Governor and instructors of Yoga and Walk for life stretching their limbs after the eight-Kilometer Walk from Murray Barracks to Ela Beach |
I have been living in the city for over a
decade. Jogging or physical exercise along the roads in the city for ones
wellbeing were a common sight for foreigners.
It has been learnt that such has changed with
the introduction of this program. Many locals are seen today. Many people, who cannot afford access to gyms,
are benefitting from the program.
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| CD Governor and instructors of Yoga and Walk for life stretching their legs after the eight-Kilometer Walk from Murray Barracks to Ela Beach |
The program is run parallel with other 6
major cities across the globe, learning from the experiences of England’s Liverpool
city which has become successful in running a behavioural change campaign.
The Yoga and walk for life has attracted
other centres. It has already been replicated in Kimbe of East New Britain,
Wewak in East Sepik. Western Highland province will soon jump on the bandwagon.
ECAM primary school at Taurama is
introducing Yoga and Walk for life as part of its early childhood
syllabus.
Samples collected-for a brief evaluation
of the program-has showed that K3 million has never been a waste; hence, it has
achieved the programs objectives coupled with a lot more positive impacts on
the lives of many city residents as testified when interviewed.
Rose Hagua, a volunteer in the program,
said she was delighted to see many kids part taking in the program.
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| NCD Governor Powes Parkop in action during the Walk and Yoga for life as part of the whole Active City Development program |
Ms Hagua said they were looking for a
future that was filled with many of them who would promote healthy living
should they maintain the trend.
Commending governor Parkop, she said many
women and girls cannot afford the access to gyms in the city.
She added that they were benefitting from
the program which is free of charge.
New kids on the blog in the music scene
Viber belted out their fresh songs with their stylist tone which mesmerised the
crowd asking for more.
Kelly Homo, a foreigner, testified that he
started taking part in the program two years ago; it was lifesaving.
Mr Homo said since the introduction of the
program, his health has improved, adding he really supported it.
Junior Joshua, a youth, from the New
Guinea Islands said it was aimed at changing the mindset of the people.
Kids, he said, will grow up with good
manners and mentality through this program.
He added that the program was a catalyst
for addressing lawlessness in the city.
Raymond Howa, another youth leader from
Hela, said the program had helped in reducing lawlessness in the city as many
youths who engage in such have been participating in the program.
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| NCD Governor Powes Parkop with his daughter (far left) and two members of the Viber band. |
Hila Rigana, 38 of Wanigela village, said instances
of TB and diabetes were synonymous to her village but when the program was
introduced in their community four years ago, their cases have dropped.
Speaking to them, NCD Governor Powes
Parkop encouraged them to continue engaging themselves in Yoga and Walk for
life in the wake of Facebook trolls in relation to the leaked video.
He said the fitness and wellness, and
behavioural change-through the program-will help to make the city better and
liveable.
He added that the program had positive
impacts on the city residents, saying their participation at their own will was
in itself a testimony of how successful the program is.
“When we are achieving our goals, there is resistance,”
he told them.
“Through the program, we are breaking down
barriers in ethnic groupings. We are united in diversity for one city, one
people and one future.
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| Governor Parkop greeting children |
"We are not here to serve Yoga and Walk
for life but it is only a means to achieve our outcomes. Our critics have not
provided a better alternative. Do not buy into their small-mindedness,” he further
told an applauding crowd.
He urged them to ignore all the
negativities about the program on Facebook.
Governor Parkop said comparing with the
program, for over 40 years the same methods and strategies were devised to no
avail, adding desired outcomes were not achieved as opposed to the program.
With many passing away at productive age
due to lifestyle diseases, the program has 5000 volunteers for its reach out
program to address it, he said.
Author Reference: Wanpis Ako has graduated with a Bachelors
Degree in Journalism and Public Relations. He has briefly worked with two daily
newspapers of Papua New Guinea-The National and Post Courier. His work
experience has been extended into the Prime Minister Media Unit and the office
of Parliamentary Opposition Leader of Papua New Guinea- not to mention the
Ministries of Treasury, Higher Education, Communications, Information
Technology and Energy. He has got over five years’ experience in digital
marketing, crisis communication, branding, public affairs, media and public
relations.
