Prime among these projects are the establishment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) centre for military officers, men and families, as well as a Diagnostic centre in honour of Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, who diagnosed the first Ebola case in Nigeria.
According to Acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the CDS made the pledge on Wednesday while playing host to DEPOWA President, Barr. (Mrs) Vickie Irabor who paid a courtesy call on the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja.
Gen Irabor recounted the traumatic experiences faced by troops in the operational theatres and commended the DEPOWA leadership for initiating the proposed PTSD project, which he said would significantly shore up the fighting spirit and psychological well-being of personnel of the AFN.
The CDS who lamented that both troops and their families undergo emotional trauma in the task of defending and protecting the nation against adversaries further assured them that the DHQ would support all feasible DEPOWA’s projects that were tailored towards helping humanity.
The Defence Chief took the opportunity to express appreciation to the DEPOWA members for keeping the home front and urged them to continue to serve as role models to the spouses of other officers and men.
The DEPOWA President, Barr Vickie Irabor earlier in her remarks, maintained that DEPOWA had evolved to become an organization focused on providing support to Wives of officers and men and their families towards achieving a healthy military community.
The DEPOWA President stated further that in line with her programme tagged “Uniting Our Voices First” (UOVF), the Association was seeking the collaboration of the AFN to provide solutions to address the root causes of PTSD faced by officers and men.
She proposed the establishment of a PTSD evaluation and rehabilitation centre to evaluate, counsel and provide adequate support to officers and men and their spouses prior to reintegration at the end of their operational tour of duty from the various theatres of operations.
She emphasized that the objective was to ensure that military officers and men return to their families in a psychologically and physically stable state.
Mrs Irabor explained that many military offocrrs and men had suffered physical injuries, as well as suppressed emotional trauma accumulated from experiences in the theatres of operation.
The DEPOWA President pointed out that traits such as nightmares, anxiety, insomnia, outburst of anger, among others, were usually triggered in response to trauma and are therefore indicators of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
She equally solicited the support of the CDS and Service Chiefs towards the establishment of a state of the art diagnostic centre in honour of Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, who diagnosed the first Ebola case and saved the entire country from the spread of the epidemic.
She added that the facility would also serve as a repository for future research on health challenges in the military, so as to provide cutting edge solutions.
The DEPOWA President who was accompanied by the National President of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), Mrs fati Attahiru, National President Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA), Hajiya Aisha Gambo and the National President, Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA), Mrs Elizabeth Amao, also visited the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
