By Kadiri Abdulrahman
Abuja – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has partnered the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) to sensitise women and youths in Borno against drug abuse.
Prof. Moji Adeyeye, the Director-General (DG), NAFDAC, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday.
She said that the event was in line with the agency’s mandate of curbing the menace of drug abuse in the country.
She said the workshop was organised by NAWOJ, Borno Chapter, in collaboration with University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and NAFDAC.
She said the State Coordinator of NAFDAC in Borno, Mr Nasiru Mato, who delivered the keynote lecture during the event, reiterated that drug abuse, posed a serious threat to individuals and the nation at large.
Mato also expressed concern over self-medication and intake of medicine without prescription,’’ Adeyeye said.
“He also highlighted the numerous negative effects of drug abuse and addictions, while urging the women and youths at the lecture to take practical steps to avoid them.
“Mato enumerated the numerous consequences of drug abuse which include brain damage, aggressiveness, addiction, loss of self-control, hallucination, weakened immune system, abnormal heart rates, seizures/strokes, mental confusion, lung disease, memory loss and death.
“He advised youths not to allow themselves to be used by unscrupulous citizens whose primary motive was to cause mayhem in order to achieve their personal interests to the detriment of all.
“He further urged the youths to be watchful because drug abuse was damaging and counter- productive,’’ Adeyeye said.
According to the NAFDAC boos, the lecturer accommodated a question and answer segment which also went a long way to address varied concerns of the several women and youth groups in attendance.
“At the end of the presentation, the audience which comprised of numerous youth groups and women organisations, asked questions which were promptly attended to.
“The State Co-coordinator expressed hope that the knowledge gained at the one-day workshop would impact positively for the overall good of the society and the nation at large.
“He re-iterated the commitment of NAFDAC to safeguarding public health,’’ Adeyeye said.
She added that the workshop was attended by representatives of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Borno State Ministry of Information.