Olakunle Maruf
As part of efforts to curb post-traumatic stress disorder among troops, the Nigerian Army on Monday held a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) seminar for soldiers and officers of 8 Division Sokoto to address the prevalent cases of PTSD among troops in the country.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya in his remarks while declaring open the seminar organized by the Army Headquarters, Department of Transformation and Innovation said that PTSD often results from the army officers’ engagements in various operations within and outside the country.
He said that the myriads of emerging security threats in the country had necessitated security agencies to deploy troops in various operations to curtail the situation.
The Chief of Army Staff, who was represented by the General Officer Command (GOC) 8 Division who also doubled as commander of the joint taskforce in the Northwest operation Hadarin Daji Maj General Godwin Mutkut said that the operations exert significant pressure on the troops.
He explained that their involvement in those operations resulted in high casualty rates, injuries, damage to equipment and accumulated stress as well as other mental disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
According to him, this Seminar is a step in the right direction to raise awareness to address Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among troops.
“This aligns with my command’s philosophy of prioritising the Nigerian soldier.
“It is envisaged that drawing the awareness of disorder at the strategic level will help in the formulation of the right strategy for the management of affected troops’ welfare and administration.
“You are aware that recently in Rabah Local government of Sokoto State, a soldier killed his colleagues and shot himself, though the incident is still under investigation but if the soldier was closely monitored the incident could have not occurred he stated.
“Subsequently, phase two of the seminar will focus on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder awareness and management campaigns to units and formations in various operational theatres.
“This is premised on our bid to realise my vision which is “to have a Professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in the defence of Nigeria.”
“I, therefore, urge you all to make a conscious effort to pick new creative ideas in this Seminar that could impact positively our performance in the field,” he said.
The COAS commended officers and soldiers for their loyalty and performances in the various theatres and promised to continue to provide the resources and direction required for them to succeed.
The Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Maj Gen Zakari Abubakar said that the purpose of the seminar was to create awareness of the increasing incidences of Acute Stress Reaction, Acute Stress Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder amongst the troops and their effects on military operations.
Abubakar disclosed that the seminar would also offer strategies for managing the Syndrome in line with the COAS -Vision of having “A professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria.”
He said that the Nigerian army intended to draw commanders’ awareness to the stress syndrome to achieve reduced operational risks, increased efficiency, and improved operational effectiveness.
“There is no doubt that this forum will provide us with the necessary and needed opportunity to freely interact, discuss, share ideas and rub minds on issues relating to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, particularly towards achieving the objectives of this Seminar.
“Ultimately, at the end of the seminar, we want to be able to match theory with practice.
“The seminar is intended to be very interactive to solicit no pharmaceutical discussions on global best practices for the management of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder cases,” he added.
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