In practical demonstration of its mission to promote and advance the virtues of love, compassion and sensitivity among Nigerians, a non-governmental organisation, Aart of Life Foundation has held a symposium to fashion out an agenda in aiding the act of grief and trauma counselling in the country.
Speaking at the event which was held in the nation’s capital city, Abuja recently, the chairman of the foundation, Taiwo Taiwo, reiterated the passion of the organisation to alleviate the effects of grief and trauma among Nigerians. According to her, the foundation’s pioneering initiative which is the first in Nigeria, has championed grief and trauma counselling and support since the inception of the foundation thirteen years ago.
This ground breaking work has become even more significant now with the increasing terror attacks in the country. The consequences have been heavy mortality, morbidity and the increasing number of Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) in the country. “It has become imperative that we create a rallying point for all stakeholders and to set an agenda for rapid and effective interventions for the grieving and traumatized victims and their families and to celebrate and share our experiences of the last thirteen years in our groundbreaking work in grief and trauma counselling” she noted.
Delivering the keynote presentation at the symposium, David Musyimi Ndetei, an Academic Professor of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, Kenya under the title; ‘Developing a Framework for Disaster Management in Africa-the Nairobi Experience and the Nigeria Challenge’, stressed the importance of functional framework in having a comprehensive support for people in grief and trauma. He proposed an agenda for the continent, where individual, family background, friendship, finances, culture, religion and community form important components to be considered for effective disaster management.
“In grief and trauma counselling as well as in taken care of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) these seven factors must be well taken into consideration as they vary from one person, one community and one country to another”. He affirmed.
Also presenting papers at the thought provoking symposium, distinguished professionals, like Olufemi Olugbile, the former Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and the former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mathews Zachariah of the Department of Behavioural Medicine, Lagos State University College of Medicine and Teaching Hospital, Daramola Olulaja, Head of Behavioural Medicine, Karu Specialist Hospital, Abuja and Olayinka Atilola also of the Department of Behavioural Medicine, Lagos State University College of Medicine and Teaching Hospital, respectively took turns to propose specialised approaches to grief and trauma counselling and functional disaster management in Nigeria.
Eventually, they unanimously presented a comprehensive framework that will guide both government agencies and private initiatives in setting a functional agenda for grief and trauma counselling as well as disaster management in the country.
The Aart of Life Foundation is a charity organisation established in September 2002, by Taiwo Taiwo. Aart is an acronym of the name ‘Abioye Aronke Taiwo’ who was killed in a tragic car accident on the 19th of April 2002. The foundation is inspired by the life of Abioye Aronke Taiwo, a daughter of Taiwo Taiwo. In keeping with which remarkable young lady lived her 24 short years on earth for, the foundation was created to provide support system for a series of community and individual development activities in which grief counselling is one.
While the founder and the Chairman of the foundation, Taiwo has never relented in keeping faith with the spirit with which the foundation is created, over the years, the foundation has also been engaged in various activities to achieve its mission of providing succour to grieving and traumatised Nigerians. “Today I represent the face of mother, who had lost a child, the feeling, experience and consolidation in moving on life”. Taiwo Taiwo declared.
Among the eminent personalities at the event were the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Stella Okoli and the veteran Nollywood actress, Joke Silva while the Vice President, His Excellency Professor Yemi Osinbajo was the Special Guest of Honour.
