Public Health Expert, Peace Onuiri Appointed As New Director For Africa In Charge of Health Coaching

The Chairman, Lifestyle Medicine Foundation, has called on relevant agencies to cooperate with the newly appointed appointed Director of HealthiWealthi Africa Initiative, Ambassador Peace Onuiri (MPH, FOSHA], in promoting healthy lifestyle in order to reduce chronic diseases and improve optimum health. 

Ambassador Onuiri, is a Public health expert for over a decade, she is also an OSH manager, the Chairman of OSHA UK, Ogun State Chapter and Vice Chairman of OSHA UK Advisory Council, Nigeria Region. Also a Brand Ambassador for African Tourism Board. She has a passion for Health promotion, and was recently a panelist during the 56th session of United Nations Commission on Population Development. 

HealthiWealthi is an arm of Lifestyle Medicine Foundation in charge of Health coaching to combat chronic diseases. Research clearly shows that majority of chronic symptoms can be reduced and reversed through comprehensive lifestyle improvements. 

Health coaches are habit improvement specialists, who encourage individuals to practice health enhancing behaviours, supporting them to improve on one micro habit at a time, such as stress management, exercise, healthy diet, sleep hygiene, adherence to doctor's prescription and protocol, e.t.c.

The burden of chronic non communicable diseases calls for individuals and communities to adopt healthier lifestyles of adequate diet, more exercise, improved sleep, managed stress and supportive relationships but the challenge lies in making lifestyle changes, which is hard for most people due to the cyclic nature of the behaviour change process that requires specific interventional strategies. Hence the need for the collaboration and supportive alliance of health coaches, who provides behaviour change methodologies that aim to prevent diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, hyperlipidemia, heart diseases, cancer, addictions and other chronic disorders. 

According to the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC), health and Wellness coaches partner with clients who are seeking self-directed lasting changes, aligned with their values, which promote health and Wellness, thereby enhancing well-being. 

In their work, health and Wellness coaches display unconditional positive regard for their clients and belief in their capacity for change, acknowledging that each client is an expert on his or her life, while ensuring that all interactions are respectful and non judgemental .

Many health coaches are non clinical professionals from variety of backgrounds in physical fitness,  health education,  nutrition consulting, human resources, among others. Health coaches are committed to offering unconditional positive regards,  holding clients as agents of self autonomy and experts in their own lives and believes in the client's capacity for change. 

Health coaching for lifestyle change is a relatively new concept in Africa but there are over 5,000 National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches (NBC-HWC) in the US and other nations are adopting similar competences. Therefore, we encourage the training and involvement of more health coaches across the continent.