Drug Abuse: Delta Medical Women rise up to fight among students …As Delta NAWOJ Expresses Need for More Awareness Creation
By Anastacia Eluwa, Asaba
ASABA/Nigeria: Worried by the high rate of drug abuse in the country, the Delta State Medical Women Association, MWAN, has risen up in the fight against illicit drug abuse among the young ones especially the secondary school students.
The Delta State President, Medical Women Association, MWAN, Dr. Ngozi Ali disclosed this in Asaba weekend during an interactive forum of stakeholders on Fight on Drug Abuse, in collaboration with Delta State Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ.
Dr. Ali explained that Medical women have seen the ills of drug abuse in the society and decided to contribute their quota by firstly creating awareness in some secondary schools across the three senatorial districts in the state.
According to MWAN President, “We have watched it over the internet, have gone round some of the secondary schools , taking statistics, drawing questionnaires and have even done schools outreach round the three senatorial districts in Delta state: Asaba, Sapele and Warri and have talked to about one thousand students. We will continue to do it so that we can improve to stop this drug abuse”.
Ali further said that the association aimed to stop the dangerous drug abuse especially among the young ones because they are the future leaders, adding “if we don’t do anything about drug abuse it will affect not only the family but the community and society at large”.
She however advised those indulge in drug abuse to stop because there was no benefit, saying that it is dangerous to health, can damage your organs, brain, kidney and lungs.
“It can also make you have mental and psychological issue. It will not lead you to fulfilment of dream. Please, stop taking codeine, stop tramadol except when prescribed by the Doctor, but use the prescribed dosage”, she stressed.
The President who equally practice in Public Health Institution, NPA, Warri oil-rich city stated that the association is partnering with the state government in the fight on drug abuse, adding that it will also partner with other NGOs to achieve its aims.
On her part, the Delta State Chairman Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Mrs. Pat Gbemudu expressed the need for more awareness creation on drug abuse to enable parents and care-givers be aware of the inherent danger effect of drug abuse would cause in the society.
Mrs. Gbemudu noted that Delta NAWOJ collaborated with the medical women in order to give voice in it so as to enable most Nigerians especially parents be aware of what has been happening in the society.
“It will equally going to affect the parents, the community, the society and the world at large as children use all these harmful drugs without knowing their consequences. All hands must be on deck to stop this drug abuse”, she emphasized.
