People living with disabilities urged to keep fit

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This year's event comes ahead of the Special Olympics in the United States (File photo) — This year’s event comes ahead of the Special Olympics in the United States (File photo)

If there is one thing Special Olympics ambassador Rofhiwa Manwadu is certain about it is that exercising is an important aspect of staying healthy, especially for intellectually disabled people, who sometimes have limited mobility.

Born with cerebral palsy, Manwadu has spent most of his life encouraging other people with disabilities to keep heathy by exercising. Manwadu started the Annual Rofhiwa Manwadu Sports Event in Vhembe, Limpopo six years. The event draws people living with intellectual disabilities from all over the Vhembe District together to compete in sporting events.

The most recent annual event held in Vhembe District at the Thohoyandou Stadium was a precursor to the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games, which open on 25 July in Los Angeles, California. More than 7000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from around the world, including South Africa, will take part in the 2015 games.

At the local annual Rofhiwa Manwadu Sports Event, Acting Executive Mayor for Vhembe Esther Makhomisane called on the community to come forward to help disabled people to exercise so that they could have healthy bodies.

Speaking to OurHealth, Manwadu said he staged this annual event in order to encourage disabled people to exercise in their daily life so that they could take a more holistic approach to their health and wellbeing.

More than 500 disabled people participated in the event, which included soccer matches and gymnastic events. Winning teams won trophies, medals, playing kits and balls and even the unsuccessful participants received playing kits and balls.

Author

Ndivhuwo Mukwevho

Ndivhuwo Mukwevho is citizen journalist who is based in the Vhembe District of Limpopo province. He joined OurHealth in 2015 and his interests lie in investigative journalism and reporting the untold stories of disadvantaged rural communities. Ndivhuwo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies from the University of Venda and he is currently a registered student with UNISA.
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