Bayelsa First Lady, Others Shun World Mental Health Day Celebration

LAGOS OCTOBER 11TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Bayelsa state government officials invited to the World Mental Health Day Celebration were reported to have shunned the event.
NewsRangers learnt that Bayelsa state First lady, Dr Racheal Dickson , Information and Orientation Commissioner , Hon Daniel Iworiso Markson, Education Commissioner, Hon Jonathan Obuebite, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Developments, Hon Martha Jenakumo invited to the event were reported to be conspicuously absent.
They were equally reported no to have sent any representatives. Funny enough, the Hon Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu who was represented by a permanent Secretary, Dr Idodo Nathaniel Apoko, however did not wait to receive reactions and suggestions from stakeholders after delivering an address that decried the dangers on drug abuse.
Vice Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo who described the theme of the celebration as being apt, taking into cognizance of the involvement of youths in social vices traceable to drug abuse and rampant cases of mental health which are difficult to manage . He said youths of today have cultivated the habits of taking tamadols,codeine and cough syrups with their attendant consequence.
The vice chancellor who was represented by the vice chancellor Academics of NDU, Prof. Donabebe Wankasi , further advanced societal demands stress which youths are exposed to as being responsible for mental problems.
While, Uzi Henry , Principal Staff Officer , National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who represented the Bayelsa state Command, averred that there is dire needs to draw world attention to the worrisome destruction drug abuse has caused youths in both developing and developed nations, as it has affected every area of our socio-political life,hence it has become a cankerworm. He warned against use of drugs not medically prescribed and use of drugs under prohibition, adding that factors that induced drug abuse to include personality factor, broken homes,peer influence, availability and adverts.
According to him the consequence of drug abuse are physical, psychological and social which result to damage of the brain,restlessness ,craving which affect academic and social disintegration . He listed some signs that parents should investigate among them are wearing of dark eye glasses, frequent eating of chewing gums and constant lucking of windows , once a child is indulged in these, he could be a victim of drug abuse.
Also the president of The Aquarian Melancholic, a 24 year old Bayelsa n from Southern Ijaw and a political science graduate of University of Nigeria, Nnsukka, Miss Bofamene Isabella Joseph had to travel all the the way from Sokoto state due to her passion on mental health to deliver good will message.
According to her she lost her parent through the Niger Delta Struggle and the stress she passed through led her to found an NGO that is involved in providing succour to trautmatize victims. While commending the organizers for the event, decried the poor attendance simply it was not beauty pageant or social gathering and advised that the organizers need to reach out to governments and corporate bodies to garner support and contributions for an improved outings in future.” My organization is an online media platform that share ideas and concerns about the menace of mental health , every Friday night discussions take place and it has been wonderful ” she disclosed.

•

Short URL: https://newsrangers.com/?p=19613