Category: Medical

Some teenagers have said that excessive and uncontrolled use

of social media by teenagers can lead to mental health issues.

They mentioned this on Wednesday in Abuja at a conference on Mental Health Awareness for Teenagers,

organised by Inspire Minds, an education foundation.

According to the teenagers, addiction to social media can lead to no or less time for them to study

or do other things that are beneficial to them or lead them to pornographic sites.

Drawn from different secondary schools in Abuja, the participants also said that depression

could come as a result of seeing things on social media that they could not attain.

They added that depression could also come from seeing the fake lives some people live

that they would want to have at all costs.

They, however, said that reduced time on social media to focus on studying, engaging with

their peers and others constructively and parental guidance could help teenagers to avoid the

pitfalls of mental health issues.

Miss Victory Ekong, teenage ambassador for the foundation said anxiety, depression, constant

pressure on a teenager are things that can lead to mental health for teenagers.

She also said that apart from social media, issues from homes, school and the society at large could

lead to mental health issues.

She, however, said that through interventions and workshops by the foundation, she had been made to

understand that having a stable mental health is paramount to a teenager’s wellbeing.

She added that “I have also been made to understand that teenagers need attention and mental health

is not something you joke with; it is actually a more serious matter than people think it is.

“I am more stable in my mental health now because I am aware that it is a natural condition and I try to

avoid issues that may lead to mental health breakdown.”

Mrs Constance Egwuatu, a professional Child and Adolescent Counsellor and one of the facilitators at the

conference, said many young people now battle with mental health issues.

She added that they could not talk about the mental health issues for fear of stigma or being perceived as having spiritual issues.

She said that many did not even know what exactly was wrong with them because they did not seek help for depression.

“Some isolate themselves and begin to have suicidal thoughts or engage in vices.

“Some are being raped or abused and they go through a lot of things. So, these mental health issues should be

a concern, especially for all our young people, children and teenagers.

“We should mind what we say or what we do around them and what we do to them and we should also encourage

the children to begin to talk to us or talk to counsellors who can help them.

“However, it should start from home so the awareness really should start from home so parents can know what

to look out for in the children to detect if something is wrong with them.”

About social media, she said contents being created should be responsible so that teenagers could learn from

them rather than causing them harm.

Egwuatu said that social media should not just be about getting followers but should also serve as veritable tool

to guide them appropriately.

She advised parents to give the needed attention to the young ones to encourage them, adding that attention

broken at home could make them run to others to get it which might be disastrous.

“That is why I tell teachers and parents that they should not aggravate the problems of the children. They need to be understood; don’t push them to the social media.

“When you don’t give them what they need, social media is there with different kinds of content.”

Mrs Rosemary Uwaleme, the Co-Founder of the foundation, said that the conference was aimed at creating awareness, reducing stigma and mitigating social vices.

According to her, mental health issues in Nigeria were not taken seriously which has led to many cases of suicide even among teenagers.

“Today we hear of different cases of suicide, they started from somewhere.

“So we need to create awareness for people to know what these issues are, know when they need to speak to someone about problems that they have, so that they can avoid getting into such problems.

“Now bringing teenagers into this, many teenagers don’t like to talk about their problems, so you have to make talking about mental health with them be like a normal language, just like you speak English.

“In Nigeria when you say mental health people think you are talking about madness.

“So the aim of this organisation is to create mental health awareness so that we can cope with cases like depression, abuse, and all sorts of mental health issues.

“We want to create that awareness and help young people to be able to communicate freely about their problems.”

Uwaleme said that this could be achieved through sensitisation and counselling programmes for young people.

She said that the foundation also provided financial support for the teenagers when necessary.

She added the foundation also partners with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Universal

Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to provide facilities for them.

Rep. Nsikak Ekong, Member representing Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said that the

conference was impactful because it addressed issues that have to do with social media and teenagers.

“So this kind of workshop is very good because it educates the young ones, you catch them young; you tried to change your attitude towards life, try to change their mentality.

“You try to make them believe and know that whatever you want to be depends on you, no procrastination.

“In terms of laws, we are getting there somehow. Most states have domesticated the Child Rights Act, which is a law that protects the child from bad experiences, trauma and child abuse, so I think we will get there.”

Another parent, Mr Abubakar Ndaputu, said that giving children an opportunity to be themselves was very important because it was the best way to know how they feel about certain issues.

He, however, said that the government has a role to play by creating an enabling environment for them to be able to express themselves.

He added that the government could facilitate trainings and workshops for teachers on mental health issues so they could in turn give the necessary help to the children when needed.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula, announced an increase of 37.9 per cent in COVID-19 cases during the period of 01 to 07 May, when 40 positive cases were recorded.

According to an update issued yesterday, the minister said the number of positive COVID-19 cases increased from 28.8 per cent in the week prior to the reported period.

He added that the number of COVID-19 tests increased by 94 per cent compared to the previous week, where only 152 tests were conducted.

The minister said that these cases were recorded from six regions, from which the Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Oshana and Hardap regions had not recorded any cases the previous week.

Shangula added that out of the 40 positive cases, seven received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, 14 were fully vaccinated, four received booster doses, two were not eligible for the vaccine while 17 cases were not vaccinated.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) on Tuesday launched the self-service smart lockers known as the Pele Box Smart Lockers, designed to provide access to pre-packed chronic medication, at the Katutura State Hospital.

In his keynote address at the launch, health and social services minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, said there are currently 19 Pele Boxes installed countrywide and more will be installed in the future. He also explained that the Pele Boxes will be operational every day for 24 hours, making it convenient for patients.

According to the minister, patients who are clinically stable and on chronic medication will be eligible to use this dispensary machine. These patients include those using ARV medication, anti-epileptic medication, anti-hypertensive medication, and other cardiovascular disease treatments.

In her remarks, Medical Superintendent at the Katutura State Hospital, Nelago Amagula, said the introduction of the Pele Box Smart Lockers will eliminate the long queues at the pharmacies and give staff members more time to spend with the patients instead of dispensing medication.

“Patients will now receive their medication in under two minutes and will avoid having to stand in long queues at the pharmacies,” said Amagula.

The introduction of the Pele Box Smart Lockers Machines is part of the chronic medication delivery system at public health facilities, which is aimed at providing patients with a more convenient and efficient way of collecting their repeat chronic-care medication.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Namibia provided the MoHSS with technical and financial support for the introduction of the Pele Box Smart Lockers.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Secure-D-Future International Initiative (SDF), an NGO, has advised Nigerians to embrace periodic mental health check-ups to help tackle the increasing suicide and depression rate in the country.

Mrs Sa’adatu Adamu, the Founder of the organisation, gave the advice during the second Abuja Counsellors Summit and Expo in Abuja, titled “Assessment, Method and Application of Counselling”.

Adamu said counselling was very important as it tends to focused on helping deviants in the society and tackles the increasing suicide and depression rate in the country.

According to her, mental health comes in any form and leads to depression, suicide and self-harm.

“It is important for Nigerians to embrace mental check-up and engage in therapy.

“Counselling is very important because counsellors work in rehabilitation centres, welfare offices, schools and hospitals in our communities.

“If you hear the stories we get regularly from schools, you will know that there is a need to really have these professionals around us.

“We hear stories of dysfunctional families, where children pick little things they see from other children and begin to act on them.

“I believe that counselling is very important in every aspect of our life; parents and children needs counselling and we need to shun stigmatising mental health patients,” she said.

However, she called on parents to develop a good channel of communication and relationships with their children to enable them know their mental health status for a better future.

The founder also said there were lots of mental health issues in the society, hence the need for government to come up with policies that could address same in the country.

The Chairperson, Summit Committee, Mrs Hasiya Adamu-Biu, said there was a need for every Nigerian to always consult a counsellor whenever they are faced with challenges.

Adamu-Biu maintained that there are issues in Nigeria that affect our mental state, that are temporary which could be addressed by visiting a mental health counsellor within us.

According to her, there is a new mental health and counsellors Act aimed at teaching the counsellors how to use their profession to help address mental health challenges in the country.

The Head of Department, Guidance and Counselling, FCT Education Research Centre (ERC) Laison Officer, Mr Yahaya Abdulawahab, said the summit was aimed at training counsellors to meet world best practices in the profession.

Abdulawahab said the government has developed an Occupational Interest Inventory in FCT schools, where counsellors use to admit and place students to their appropriate subjects.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The African Tourism Board (ATB) has named Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, Director-General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), as its global ambassador, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The ATB is a leading Pan-African tourism development conglomerate comprised of influential stakeholders around Africa, Europe and the Americas.

It is a non-profit body acting as a strategic partner among African countries to develop market and implement tourism programmes that meet the emerging needs of local industries and the international tourism market.

Kangiwa, in a statement on Sunday, said that the announcement was made during the annual Tourism and Transport summit in Abuja recently by Mr Cuthbert Ncube, President of the ATB.

“My appointment is expected to lead to rapid growth in intra- and inter-Africa business partnerships and sustainable platforms for ATB members, stakeholders, tourism destinations and African host communities.

“This will add momentum to the drive for achievements of ATB’s vision and founding objectives,” he said.

Kangiwa is a popular cultural and sports tourism investor, professional and government administrator.

He is currently the substantive President of Nigeria Polo Federation (NPF) – the official Polo regulator in Nigeria – established during the colonial period.

The NPF is the national body recognised to regulate all polo activities within and outside the country.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Erongo Governor, Neville Andre Itope, has urged men to open up about mental health issues and seek help in an effort to better themselves.

Itope, whose speech was delivered on his behalf, made the sentiments at the second edition of the Men’s Conference held at Swakopmund over the weekend.

In his speech, Itope commended the event, noting that it is significant to provide a platform for pertinent issues such Gender Based Violence, suicide and mental health to be engaged and deliberated on and to equip the men in society with vital information.

“Many a time, men are confronted with the saying ‘man up’, insinuating that they should not be weak, show emotion and be vulnerable. This discourages men from opening up and talking about issues that hinder them and resolving challenges in a peaceful and amicable manner.

It is for this reason that men resort to anger outbursts that end in gender-based violence or domestic violence cases or suicide,” he expressed.

Statistics by the Namibian Police Force indicated that most of the suicides, GBV, murder cases recorded within the region are by men, who are afraid to speak up due to the pressure from expectations to perform from their partners or society as men.

According to Itope, this is worrisome and requires urgent intervention from all sectors in society.

“It is important to highlight at this juncture that morals, values and ethics play an imperative role in how men handle issues they have to face. Morals and values guide us to act on what is right and good for all, while ethics is the willingness to do the right thing despite the cost or effort involved,” Itope noted.

The governor encouraged all men to speak up, speak out and seek solutions in the right places and further called on the men to hold hands and do what is not only legally correct, but that which is morally correct as well to make society a better and safer place to live in.

The men’s conference was held under the theme: “Stop suffering in silence and speak out for solutions.”

Source: The Namibian Press Agency