Veronica Ezeh Calls For More Efforts Against Drug, Substance Abuse

Published

9 months ago

January 23, 2024

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Veronica Ezeh Calls For More Efforts Against Drug, Substance Abuse—-A mental health advocate, Mrs Veronica Ezeh, has called for a holistic approach to reverse increasing cases of substance use and drug abuse in Nigeria.

Ezeh, the Chief Executive Officer, Adicare Rehabilitation Home, an NGO, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

She said abuse of substances and drugs had become prevalent among young adults.

According to her, more than 90 per cent of psychiatric patients at the rehabilitation homes are young adults/youths who developed mental illness due to drug abuse.

Ezeh said research had shown that genetics issues, early deprivation, adversity, influence and exposure to relatives or friends who abused substances, promoted drug abuse in people.

She added that studies had consistently shown that wherever there were issues of poor social infrastructure, poverty, unemployment, low educational opportunities and financial instability, among others, there would be prevalence of substance abuse.

Ezeh, also a psychiatric nurse at the Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, said many youths were embracing several crude options for getting ‘high.’

To get high is a word or phrase for getting oneself intoxicated with drug and substance.

According to Ezeh, sniffing glue, petrol, sewage and urine was becoming common.

She decried the effects of the internet and social media on mental health of many youths, adding that many young people got wrong information on drug abuse and other atrocities from the internet.

“These things are chemicals, and these youths want something that will create euphoric effects to get them high; the smell of petrol has been shown to get people high.

“Also, exposure to the internet gives these youths access to a lot of wrong and bad information concerning most of these toxicant substances/drugs and how they can be used to get what they want,” she said.

Ezeh called more efforts to address the public health issues and social problems resulting from abuse of drugs.

She said such efforts should include increased implementation of advocacy, and public awareness campaign through the print, social and electronic media and religious institutions at community level.

She also called for increasing involvement of educational institutions through emphasis in the curriculum and programmes about the dangers of drug abuse.

According to her, the NGO plans to carry out sensitisation programmes to secondary schools to educate students about the inherent dangers and effects of drug abuse.

She called for a speedy implementation of the Mental Health Law to address issues of prevention, management, reduce stigmatisation and enhance mental health-seeking behaviour among citizens.

Ezeh called for an improvement in Nigeria’s socio-economic parameters, toward reducing poverty, unemployment, stress and traffic decongestion.

She said, “Sometimes frustration, hopelessness, boredom are factors that push some people to drugs.

“If the government can stabilise the economy by providing the basic amenities, security, job opportunities, conducive environment for businesses to strive, among others; that will go a long way to curb the menace of drug abuse in the society,” she said.

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Health & Wellbeing

Polaris Bank Provides Free Breast Cancer Screening for 250 Nigerian Women

Published

3 days ago

October 9, 2024

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Polaris Bank Provides Free Breast Cancer Screening for 250 Nigerian Women—-Polaris Bank, Nigeria’s leading digital retail commercial Bank, has announced the sponsorship of free breast cancer screening for 250 Nigerian women, in commemoration of 2024 October Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This initiative underscores Polaris Bank’s unwavering commitment to women’s health and is part of the Bank’s long-standing efforts and intervention to support breast cancer awareness behavioral change, advocacy and prevention in Nigeria.

For over a decade, working with its NGO Partner, Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E), Polaris Bank has been a leader in breast cancer advocacy, behavioral change communication, funding support and the screening of more than 20,000 women across the country. This year’s sponsorship further supports the Bank’s mission to ensure that more women, particularly those with limited access to healthcare, have the opportunity for early detection, which is vital for successful treatment and survival.

“Breast cancer continues to pose a significant threat to women, not just in Nigeria, but globally. As a responsible corporate organization, we understand the importance of early detection, and we are committed to empowering women with access to this life-saving screening. Our partnership with C.O.P.E. is integral to making this service accessible to more women,” the Bank stated.
Aligned with United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which focuses on preventing needless suffering from preventable diseases and premature death, Polaris Bank is taking a crucial step by funding free breast cancer screenings for women in underserved regions.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), early detection of breast cancer increases survival rates and reduces treatment costs, making Polaris Bank’s initiative a vital contribution towards improving health outcomes and reducing breast cancer-related mortality in Nigeria.

This year’s screening programme reflects Polaris Bank’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda, which focuses on key areas like health, education, and youth/women empowerment; and community development. The Bank has consistently invested in causes that positively impact the lives of Nigerians, and this screening effort is yet another testament to its commitment to improving public health.

In addition to the screenings, the Bank continues to champion breast cancer awareness through education, advocacy, behavioural change and outreach, encouraging women to engage in regular self-examinations and seek medical attention promptly. This holistic approach to advocacy aims to build a healthier society where early detection becomes the norm.

The 2024 free screening intervention, marks another milestone in the fight against breast cancer, as the brand remains at the forefront of efforts to combat the disease, ensuring that Nigerian women have access to the critical health resources they need.
In over decade, Polaris Bank’s footprint in the fight against cancer in Nigeria, has been described by commentators as phenomenal:

In collaboration with the Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (C.O.PE) Foundation, Polaris Bank has sponsored treatment for over 30 indigent cancer patients and provided free breast cancer screenings for over 20,000 women, including its own female staff and customers. The Bank has also donated three state-of-the-art breast cancer screening machines, improving the quality of diagnosis and clinical practices nationwide. To further raise awareness, Polaris Bank organized a 10-kilometer walk with over 2,500 participants to draw attention to the breast cancer crisis.

The Bank, as part of its ongoing commitment to health awareness and community support, previously organized an impactful event for breast cancer survivors themed ‘Celebrating Our Pink Heroes’ at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The event brought together over 50 survivors and featured music, networking, and educational and experience sharing sessions. Same exercised was repeated just last year Oct with in Ikoyi with added spice where another 50 breast cancer survivors were treated to a full spa and wellness session involving sauna bath, manicure, pedicure, healthy meals, movie and experience sharing sessions.

It provided a meaningful platform for survivors to share their experiences, raise awareness about breast cancer, survival techniques and encourage positivity among their community. The initiative also sought to educate the public and demystify myth by reducing the stigma associated with the cancer, reinforcing Polaris Bank’s dedication to social responsibility and health advocacy.

The Bank had in making life more beautiful to breast cancer survivors had in 2019, presents over a 100 units of Prosthetic bra to cancer survivors registered under the Bank’s NGO Partner @copebcnigeria C.O.P.E.

Polaris Bank, in partnership with C.O.P.E, hosted a special full spa outing for some breast cancer survivors. The event strengthened the bond between the Bank and Cancer Survivors as it offered therapeutic services such as; steam baths, massages, manicures, pedicures, and a healthy meal, along with a health talk. Experiences were also shared amongst the survivors
In addition, Polaris Bank part financed the establishment of arguably sub-Saharan best Cancer Hospital, Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Specialist Hospital (MRCC).

Overall, the Bank’s initiatives reflect its dedication to responsible business practices, integrating social and environmental considerations into its operations, and ensuring a net positive impact on both society and the environment.

Women interested in taking part in the free screening exercise should visit our website or click the link below, or follow us on our social media pages @polarisbankltd for more information and registration details: https://www.polarisbanklimited.com/breast-cancer-screening-2024/ and thereafter visit the C.O.P.E. Center at 39B, Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Screening is scheduled for third and fourth Saturday of October, 2024 and every third Saturday of every other month.
Polaris Bank was adjudged Nigeria’s Digital Bank of the Year in 2023, 2022 and 2021 in Business Day’s Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

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Entertainment

Dame Maggie Smith Oscar-winning Harry Potter and Downton Abbey Star Dies, Aged 89

Published

2 weeks ago

September 27, 2024

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Dame Maggie Smith Oscar-winning Harry Potter and Downton Abbey Star Dies, Aged 89—-In the Harry Potter films, Dame Maggie played the acerbic Professor Minerva McGonagall, famous for her pointed witch’s hat and stern manner with the young wizards at Hogwarts.

In hit ITV drama Downton Abbey, she played Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, the grand matriarch who excelled at withering one-liners through the show’s six series.

A statement from her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin said: “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.

“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.

“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.”

They thanked “the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days”.

They added: “We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”

Tributes were also paid by her co-stars.

Hugh Bonneville, who appeared in Downton Abbey, said: “Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent.

“She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances. My condolences to her boys and wider family.”

Dame Maggie also reprised her role for the two Downton Abbey films.

In 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era, her character died of the illness she revealed at the end of the 2019 film, to the huge upset of her family and friends.

Downton followed the success of 2002 period drama Gosford Park, which earned Dame Maggie both Oscar and Bafta nominations for playing Dowager Countess of Trentham.

In his statement on Friday, the prime minister said Dame Maggie “introduced us to new worlds with the countless stories she acted over her long career”.

“Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones. May she rest in peace,” he wrote.

Dame Kristin Scott-Thomas, who starred alongside Dame Maggie in 2005’s Keeping Mum and 2014’s My Old Lady, said she “took acting very seriously but saw through the nonsense and razzmatazz”.

“She really didn’t want to deal with that,” Dame Kristin added.

“She had a sense of humour and wit that could reduce me to a blithering puddle of giggles. And she did not have patience with fools. So you had to be a bit careful. I absolutely adored her.

“The last time I saw her, she was very cross about being old. ‘Maddening’ I think she said. Much loved, much admired and irreplaceable.”

A National Theatre spokesperson said her career “spanned the theatrical, film and television world without equal”.

Praising her stage performances, the statement added: “She will forever be remembered as one of the greatest actors this country has had the inestimable pleasure of witnessing.”

Bafta added that she was a “legend of British stage and screen”, praising her five competitive Bafta wins, plus the special award and fellowship she received from the organisation.

Dame Maggie’s career spanned eight decades, with early acclaim coming when she gained her first Bafta nomination for Nowhere to Go in 1958.

In 1963, she was offered the part of Desdemona in Othello at the National Theatre by Laurence Olivier, and two years later it was made into a film and Smith was nominated for her first Oscar.

The actress’s other memorable roles included 1985 Merchant Ivory film A Room With a View, in which she played the chaperone Charlotte Barlett, accompanying Helen Bonham Carter’s Lucy Honeychurch to Italy.

The role earned her another Oscar nomination and a Bafta.

And along with another national treasure, Dame Judi Dench, she appeared as an English woman living in 1930s Italy in the film Tea with Mussolini, which was released in 1999.

The two dames also shared screen time in A Room With a View and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Dame Maggie played the firm but fair Reverend Mother in the two Sister Act films, starring Whoopi Goldberg as nightclub singer Doloris Wilson, who takes refuge from the mob in San Francisco by posing as a nun in a local convent.

Goldberg called Dame Maggie “a great woman and a brilliant actress”, adding: “I still can’t believe I was lucky enough to work with the ‘one-of-a-kind’.”

Rob Lowe, who starred with Dame Maggie in 1993’s Suddenly, Last Summer, recalled “the unforgettable experience of working with her”.

“Sharing a two-shot was like being paired with a lion,” he said.

“She could eat anyone alive, and often did. But funny, and great company. And suffered no fools.

“We will never see another. God speed, Ms Smith!”

The veteran actress also played the old woman who spent 15 years living in a van outside Alan Bennett’s house in a film adaptation of the writer’s The Lady in the Van in 2015.

Her final roles included 2023’s The Miracle Club, which follows a group of women from Dublin who go on a pilgrimage to the French town of Lourdes, co-starring Kathy Bates and Laura Linney.

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