Dangers associated with drug or substance abuse was a major issue discussed at a one day awareness seminar organised recently in Lagos for the students of Aguda Grammar School, Surulere, Lagos.
The event was put together by Kalvac Human Development Initiative to educate young ones on healthy living style.
Speaking at the event, the Initiator of Kalavc Human Development Initiative, Dr. (Mrs.) Ada Ekwueme-Onuora, said the seminar was necessary as it would draw the attention of the participants to evils associated with drug abuse.
Describing the youths as great leaders of tomorrow , Ekwueme-Onuora who is a medical practitioner stressed the need for the youths to abstain from any drug or substance abuse as it would hinder them from achieving their set goals in life.
“We are here to let them know the reason they should not get involved in anything drug abuse including over the counter drugs, because the consequences is better imagined than experienced.
“Drugs like cocaine, heroine , Gbana , among others have rendered many youths useless and so any youth who want to be successful in life will not have anything to do hard drugs,’’ she said.
Commending the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on its efforts in ensuring that the country was free from hard drugs, she expressed her organisation’s willingness to propagate the good work.
READ ALSO: Abba Kyari, police detective, arrests own Facebook clone
Emphasising the need for teachers to be close to their students so as to monitor and know when they are in to drug abuse, she said: “The teachers have important roles to play in checkmating the activities of these school children, they are the ones to see the first sign of restlessness , absent mindedness, agitation or hiding things among others.
She said teachers should therefore be able to relate to them as individuals not as students.
“They should relate with them one on one,” she added.
She explained further: ‘’When the students realised that they are being monitored by the their teachers, they will see themselves as important personalities and as a result will like to act importantly, but if they see that the teachers do not bring that human relationship to the class , then everybody is on his own, and negative peer pressure influence will set in.’’
Stating the need for teachers to be well taken care of, she said if teachers were not well paid, it would be difficult for them to give their best.
‘’Teachers should be treated favourably in terms of remuneration, they should be pampered so as to give their best to those they teach because the future of these children lies in their hands,’’ she said.
Speaking on her organisation which was established upon her return from Canada where she studied Psychosocial Rehabilitation in Mental Health, she said:
‘’When l was in Toronto Canada, I looked at their social welfare services , it was quite interesting and worthy of emulation. So, when l came back to Nigeria having studied Psychosocial Rehabilitation, l decide to set up an organisation that will help me render such services to the members of the society instead of waiting to see them visit the hospital half dead.
“So, since then, I have been educating members of the society on healthy lifestyle and the need for them to go for regular medical checkups because our people have this culture of waiting for symptoms , or when they are almost half dead before going to the hospital for diagnosis.
“It ought not to be so as regular medical examination leads to early dictation of ailment which on the other hand results to proper management of such illness.’’
On her part , Dr. (Mrs.) Dumebi Owa of Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Lagos State urged the youths to stay away from drugs as it will destroy their future.
‘’They have a future they are looking forward to achieving and getting involved in drugs will deny them of it as it can cause diseases, lead to road traffic accidents, suicide and all manner of injuries,” she said.
