By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Sports Writers Association of (Nigeria SWAN), Anambra State chapter, will on Thursday kick off the 2025 End of Year activities with a Medical Outreach for journalists.

The outreach which is in collaboration with Rock Foundation Hospital, Awka, a leading private medical facility is geared towards educating members of the association on the need for good health care asides exercise.

Speaking on the programme, the state chairman of SWAN, Chimezie Anaso said that this year, unlike other years would feature medical outreach for members, sports activities and lectures.

He said that recognition would be given to those who have contributed to sports development in Anambra State as well as those who have supported the activities of SWAN.

Anaso said: “The medical outreach scheduled to hold on Thursday Dec. 11 is being organised in collaboration with Rock Foundation Hospital, a leading private medical facility in Awka while the sports, lectures and recognition events would hold on Friday, December 12, 2025 in Awka.

“The focus this year is on health and well-being of journalists and sportsmen and women. People need to be in the right state of health to perform their functions in society.

“There is a strong nexus between sports and well-being, so people engage in sports for a variety of reasons including the desire to maintain good health.

“This is why no career sports men and women take to the streets, the football pitch, courts and gym in a bid to keep fit.

“Sadly, we have cases where very active and agile people drop dead even while working out, professional footballers have slumped and died on the pitch of play.”

While noting that the lecturer who is a doctor will be giving sports journalists a professional perspectives on fitness and healthy living, the Chairman added that the place of medical checks will also be disclosed.

He urged members of the sports community to be part of the programme as SWAN celebrates sports in Anambra, adding that the event will be both engaging and educative

SWAN Week is an annual End of Year event used to reflect on the activities in the sports sector in the outgoing year and also confer recognition to deserving personalities and friends of sports.

The theme of this year, 2025 event is “Sudden Death Phenomenon: Why Fitness Alone is Not Enough” with “Positioning Anambra for Multi-Million Dollar Sports Economy” as the sun theme.