AGN Steps Up Campaign to End Sudden Deaths with Fitness Walk in Anambra

By Praise Chinecherem

Worried by the growing spate of sudden deaths recorded in the movie industry, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Anambra State chapter has launched fitness campaign in Anambra state.

Chairman of AGN, Anambra State Chapter, Mrs. Esther Chinyelu Anyaegbunam who made the disclosure during a one-day health and fitness walk, as well as health talks and health checks, expressed shock over th rise of sudden deaths recorded in the individual on Saturday in Awka.

The walk is one of the National Health policy and programmes of the Guild designed to sensitize members and general public on the importance of regular exercises on fitness, health and well-being.

According to Anyaegbunam, the ugly trend is more worrisome considering critical roles of members and their contributions to lives of individuals, families and Nigerian society at large.

She said she was always pained whenever a movie star is lost to illness and other health related issues, hence the priority the body placed on the fitness exercise.

She said, “Health is very important. I prioritize health in everything I do. A healthy man is a wealthy man. So what we’re doing today is to check our health status to ensure we’re actually fit.

“Secondly, for the unfit ones, the medical examination will assist us to ascertain how to streamline this to avert kidney, lever and other health problems.

“It pains me so much when I see those who put smiles on our faces are dying of one illness or another.

“This exercise is a directive from the National and it’s happening simultaneously across the states of the country.

“After this exercise, we’re going to use the results gathered to know those with health issues and other anomalies in their system in order to correct them. We’re going to foot their bills.

She added, “The AGN is prioritizing health because we know that movie production isn’t an easy task. Stress kills so much. You see people who shoot movies late in the night. It’s not healthy.

“The AGN of today is saying no to death and ill-health. Shooting stops by 9pm. Once it’s 9, allow the actors to go to bed. They need this rest, otherwise they can’t deliver in the morning.

“We want our actors to be alive so we can enjoy them more in their various homes.”

Expressing joy over the successes recorded under her watch, including love, unity, togetherness being experienced by the body under her administration, she attributed the feat to God.

“First, I want to give God the glory who made all things possible. I’ve been part of the process since 2005. I’ve seen the good, bad and ugly in the guild.

“t’s been my dream to be able to bring AGM to limelight and take away the shackles and chains holding us bound. I’ve worked with past chairmen.

“It’s a thing of joy that today, God is using me as a vessel to bring back the AGN we used to know, an AGN filled with love and compassion for one another, with unity and togetherness as watchword.

“I’m so happy that dream has become a reality in my time, there’s no magic. It’s just God doing it.

Reacting on the Guild’s relationship with government, the AGN boss said, “We’re trying to find our feet in government. We’ve written letters to them so we can be recognized.

“We want to let the government know we’re here to contribute our own quota to the state. I use this opportunity to appreciate Governor Charles Soludo. Indeed, solution has come to the state.

“We want to register our presence in the state so government can carry us along in its activities,” she added.

Earlier, former State Secretary, Nzubechukwu Okafor described the initiative as first of its kind in the history of AGN in the state.

“The initiative from our amiable chairman has never happened in the history of the Guild as far as Anambra state chapter is concerned.

“We fondly call her mama Anambra because of what she does for us. She’s a leader that responds to cry of her members, as long as they’re active.

“The motive behind the exercise is keeping ourselves alive, fit and healthy because the work we do is very enormous and health sapping. The mental capability to read and interpret your roles well is very key. Infact, because we cram a lot, the brain always need to be in good condition.

“Virtually everything we do, from the camera, to the sound, writers, directors and artists themselves is all about brain. Therefore, it’s expedient we engage in this exercises to ensure we carry out our responsibilities more effectively.

He blamed shooting of movies outside the state on government’s lack of interest as well as members’ failure of living up to expectations..

“But thank God for the new leadership. Our chairman is an upright, trustworthy and a goal getter with track records of accountability, and such person can’t be easily ignored.

“We’re expecting more of shooting of movies in the state under her administration,” he said.