Fitness enthusiast Ismael Ashipembe says preventive healthcare will remain difficult to achieve if ordinary people can’t afford it.
This comes after Namibia Health Plan (NHP) announced the expansion of its network of fitness facilities from two to 11 this week, following calls from members for greater access to affordable fitness and wellness services.
Ashipembe says gyms are not the only way for people to remain physically active, but fitness facilities could provide the structure, equipment and guidance some people rely on to exercise consistently.
“Reducing the cost barrier can, therefore, make regular exercise more realistic for more people,” he says.
Fitness trainer and nutrition coach Alvina Kandenge says the cost of fitness can be a barrier for people trying to stay active.
“Fitness shouldn’t be a luxury, especially when regular exercise can play such an important role in preventing lifestyle-related health issues,” she says.
Kandenge says making fitness more affordable could give people a better opportunity to incorporate exercise into their daily lives instead of only taking action after developing health problems.
“Ultimately, making fitness more affordable means giving more people the opportunity to invest in their health and take a preventive approach to their well-being,” she says.
NHP spokesperson Tunohole Mungoba says the expansion follows feedback received from members at the fund’s annual general meeting, where they expressed a desire for greater access to fitness and wellness benefits.
“The newly added facilities include Curves Swakopmund, BodyWorX, FitPro Health Club, The Dome Gym Swakopmund, The Hot Project Pole and Aerial Dancing Studio, F45 Training Central Windhoek, Tsumeb Health & Fitness Centre, Genesis Fitness and Celsius Fitness Bootcamp.
“These facilities join the existing fitness partners already available to NHP members, namely Virgin Active and Body20,” Mungoba says.
NHP says the initiative is aimed at making fitness opportunities more accessible and affordable while encouraging members to adopt and maintain healthier lifestyles.
Mungoba says preventive healthcare should extend beyond the treatment of illness and include empowering members to take proactive steps to improve their health and well-being.
NHP says regular physical activity is recognised as an important component of a healthy lifestyle and can contribute to reducing the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and obesity.
The fund does, however, not currently track gym attendance or exercise participation among its members.
Mungoba says the preferential rates available through the partnerships vary among facilities, with members required to meet each facility’s registration and verification requirements.
Active NHP members will generally be required to provide proof of membership, such as a valid membership card or certificate, while some facilities may require additional documentation.
NHP says details on the applicable rates, qualifying criteria and terms and conditions would be communicated to members through its official communication channels.
The fund says the expansion forms part of its broader commitment to member wellness and preventive healthcare.
