By Mercy Adunkpe, Longogot Patrick and Melody Polycarp
The Standing Committee on Medical Education, Nigerian Medical Students’ Association recently held a programme, “An Advocacy on Children’s Health and Rights” on the 19th of February 2021 at the Government Secondary School Gwong, along Bauchi Ring Road, Jos.
The event was hosted by the Jos University Medical Students’ Association in collaboration with Bingham University Medical Students’ Association with the theme,” Dangers and Risk Factors of Drug Abuse Amongst Teens”.
Present at the event were the staff and senior secondary students of Government Secondary School, Gwong, some members of the University of Jos Medical Students and Bingham University Medical students.
The first speaker at the event, Enenche Peter, a final year medical student, stressed on circumstances that leads to drug abuse. He stated, “Immoral sexual activities are also drug abuse, and association with bad company leads to the abuse of drugs”. He advised the students to be more open with their parents, and teachers, have good role models and try to avoid gatherings that will put them in compromising situations. He challenged the students to avoid negative influences that can hold their future back.
The second speaker, Izugbara Diamond Chidinma, a 400 level student of Bingham University, briefly explained to students what drug abuse was. Going further, she listed some of the familiar drugs that are frequently abused which include paracetamol, codeine, cocaine, marijuana and many others. She explained to them how drugs abuse has prevented many from achieving their dreams and how it can affect their education. Using placards, she explained to the students the importance of abstaining from drug and substance abuse. In her concluding speech, she urged them to heed the advice and cautioned them against taking drinks, sweets and food anyhow because some of them could contain harmful substances.
The Vice-Principal of the school, Mrs. T. Tokkit expressed her gratitude and felt the programme came at the right time as it would help the students know the dangers of drug abuse.
The students also expressed their gratitude. Speaking to one of them, she said she is happy about the program and has learnt a lot from it.
During an interview with Enenche, he said, “Catching them young is important because at their age they are prone to peer-pressure and bad influence, for this reason, the program is necessary”.
