NIGERIA FIRST LADY CALLS FOR GOVT. TO TAKE OVER CONSTRUCTION OF PTSD MEDICAL CENTRE

Consequently, Mrs Buhari told a gathering of Senior Military Officers, Captains of Industry, the Private Sector and other guests, for the groundbreaking ceremony of the PTSD Centre to channel their contribution to other benevolent causes of DEPOWA, noting that personnel of the military suffering the disorder became exposed to it because they were performing national causes for the peace and security of the nation hence it is the responsibility of the federal government to build the Specialized Medical Centre.

In this regard, she told the DEPOWA President, Barr. Mrs Vickie Anwuli Irabor that she (Mrs) Buhari has personally taken over the project, vowing that the project would be completed and handed over to the military before the end of the Buhari administration.

“Soliciting for and raising funds for a project as important and so dear to issues of mental health and post-war trauma is a waste of time. There would be no time for fundraising here. It is the responsibility of the federal government to build this hospital. The officers and men who suffer from this PTSD are exposed to it because they are performing their duties for Nigeria. So the federal government will do it”, Mrs Buhari said.

She continued, “I want to thank DEPOWA for this foresighted vision of establishing a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Centre for our soldiers. Indeed PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by terrifying events. It is a reality that soldiers and military families have to live with, despite its negative consequences.

“Being a soldier’s wife or a retired soldier’s wife and a wellness expert, I understand the challenges associated with PTSD and its impact on military families and the nation. My husband served the Nigerian Army for 27 years before he was overthrown in a coup d’etat. He fought a civil war for 30 months without rehabilitation. He ruled Nigeria for 20 months and was detained for 40 months without disclosing the nature of his offence.

“One year after he came out from detention, we got married, I clocked 19 years in his house as his wife. I suffered the consequences of PTSD because having gone through all these, and at the age of 19 to handle somebody who was a former Head of State and Commander in Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces; to tell him that he is wrong is the first mistake you will make.

“So at the age of 19, I had to figure out how to tell somebody of his calibre that he was wrong or right and that was the beginning of my offence in his house and contesting elections in 2003 and failed, 2007, failed and 2011, the same thing, all without rehabilitation, I became a physiotherapist.

“Finally the whole nation rose against the misuse of power and bad governance. He only succeeded when it became a movement and here we are today. He ruled Nigeria before and he is ruling Nigeria now and this is the last time and final.

On the 2023 elections and PTSD, Mrs Buhari said, “Failing election three times was a big blow to every contestant but those that have contested for just yesterday, a simple primary election, they are still living in a traumatic condition.

“I tried to console them, I tried to talk to them, some of them have switched off their phones up till today, just because of a primary election, you can imagine myself at 19 years, handling somebody that went to war, suffered coup d’etat, then lost several elections and finally getting to the Villa in 2015.

“Also for a woman to tell them (Politicians) that this is wrong or right in Nigeria and Africa is a problem. In that case, I want to use this opportunity to appreciate members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for their sacrifices and contributions to nation-building.

“The fallen Heroes remain evergreen in our minds and many with us are wounded physically and mentally, I want to appreciate their wives and families, I want to let them know that the whole nation is with them.

“The PTSD Centre is important to members of the Armed Forces and beyond because soldiers are the primary victims. This Centre is timely as PTSD is a problem that deserved a solution of this nature and providing facilities for treatment and rehabilitation of patients is key. Therefore, fundraising is not the solution. The solution is for the Federal Government that sent them to the war front to take responsibility for taking care of the mental health of returnees from the war front. PTSD cuts across all ages.

“I thank DEPOWA for this initiative and the military establishment for supporting them, I call on them to ensure that this Centre provides quality and sustained care for soldiers that suffer from PTSD. It is the responsibility of the whole Armed Forces to extract from their budget and build this Centre, Mrs Irabor, it is no longer your project, it is my project and the project of Mr President, we are going to work round the clock to make sure that it is completed and commissioned before we leave office”.

SOURCE: Vanguard

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