March against tobacco, drugs abuse brings support to families, victims |01 June 2017
Schoolchildren, parents of victims, health officials, religious leaders, representatives of stakeholders and associations involved in the fight against drug abuse have taken part in a march in Victoria in support of parents, family members and victims of tobacco and drugs abuse.
An initiative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA), the march took place yesterday afternoon and it received the collaboration of the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Secretary of State for Drugs and Substance Abuse.
The SDA took a stance and advocated for total abstinence from cigarettes, alcohol and illicit drugs through the march which started at the Stad Popiler car park just after working hours.
The Secretary of State for the Prevention of Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation Dr Patrick Herminie addressed everyone present before the start of the march and noted that it was a fitting event to raise awareness and mark World No Tobacco Day which is commemorated on May 31 every year.
Those who took part in the activity were mostly students from Ile Persévérance, Bel Eau and Cascade schools and they were accompanied by their parents, members of the Adventurers club and Pathfinder Club of the SDA as well as representatives of other stakeholders and members of the public.
From the car park of Stad Popiler, the march made its way through Francis Rachel Street down to Orion Mall but the marchers split into two groups at the taxi stand where a group walked to the market area and the other continued up to the Orion Mall where both groups joined before it ended.
Carrying banners and posters with different messages, the marchers shouted them out as they made their way among the throngs of workers finding their way home or finishing their shopping.
The messages being sent out included ‘Free Seychelles from drugs and tobacco, Tenny li avan i tenny ou, Drog ek sigaret i afekte ou bann organ, Pa les sigaret detri ou lavi’among others.
Along their march they also made any smoker drop their lit cigarettes in a bottle of water and handed them an apple and a leaflet encouraging them to quit smoking.
Dr Herminie said his presence shows the government’s commitment in this fight against drugs.
“For us, nicotine, cigarette, is a drug. We know the adverse effects of nicotine on someone’s health and social problems it creates in the community,” he said.
He added that cigarettes are one of the main reasons why the youth end up being drug users.
“The reality is that most youth who now use heroine, started by smoking cigarettes therefore this fight is one which is big and extremely difficult,” he said.
He also thanked the organisers for this initiative.
Addressing the marchers, Pastor Paul Ratsara stated that globally people are smoking now more than ever before.
“We have to stop this,” he said.
He urged for citizens to help protect our children and youths from experimenting with cigarettes and for the government, civic leaders, religious leaders and the community to fight together to win this war against tobacco.
“A war on tobacco could also help us win the war against drugs. This war may cost us in time and money but the savings will far outweigh the costs. We need to invest to save human lives and reduce the enormous burden of government health care spending,” he said.
