WARRI_DELTA LOCATION GROUP – DRUG ABUSE OUTREACH

REPORT ON INTRODUCING SI4DEV DRUG ABUSE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AND EYE HEALTH PROGRAMME TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, COLLEGE, WARRI

As partners of the SI4DEV health focus group, there was a brainstorming session that birthed the DRUG ABUSE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN on March 20, 2018. This session occurred before the codeine ban in Nigeria which further encouraged the organisation to take an even more aggressive stance on propagating the campaign.
More than 10 SI4DEV location groups have kick started the drug abuse campaigns in their respective states. And SI4DEV Warri_Delta location group pioneered her campaign at Federal Government College, Warri, Delta state.
The need to educate and enlighten the younger generation of the effect of drug abuse was the driving force in targeting schools for this campaign. There is also the need to address the issue of visual problems and how it affects school performance.
A letter addressed by SI4DEV to the principal was reviewed by school authorities with the aim of conducting a drug abuse outreach and eye health programme in the school.
The school was conducting examination by the time approval for the programme was granted. So we were given a date to address the students, staff and school authorities at the assembly hall, a few days before their vacation.
The school authorities also stated that the SI4DEV_Warri_Delta group could continue with the purported drug abuse awareness awareness outreach on school resumption.

EVENT OF THE DAY
On the 23 July, 2018 by 7.45am, we arrived the school premises and was ushered by the vice principal student affairs to the assembly hall, where we were welcomed by the principal, other vice principals and staff.
The assembly commenced with the National Anthem and progressed with other activities. Midway into the assembly schedule, we were introduced to the occupants of the assembly hall by the principal.
Ruke Ejegreh addressed the students on the importance of good eye health and its benefits on their academic performance. She introduced the free comprehensive eye examination that her and her organisation will be offering to students aged 5 to 14 years from July till November. And also, of the the subsequent educative presentations to students about vision.
Maro Mume also introduced himself and proceeded to introduce the DRUG ABUSE AWARENESS PROGRAMME. He enlighted the students on the negative impacts of drug abuse and further explained the upcoming drug abuse outreach and drug free club that would be introduced upon resumption. He encouraged the students to participate in the programme as they had a lot to learn.
After the assembly, we extended our thanks to the school authorities for their warm welcome and support and promised to be on ground upon school resumption to conduct the drug abuse programme.

ATTENDEES
Ruke Ejegreh
Maro Mume