‘Mars Azen, Fer en diferans’ |01 March 2022
Ms Thérésine addressing the gathering (Photos: Louis Toussaint)
The division for substance abuse prevention, treatment and rehabilitation yesterday re-launched the ‘Mars Azen’ campaign alsoknown as ‘Dry March’ under the theme Mars Azen, Fer en diferans’.
Present for the launch at the National Theatre, Mont Fleuri, were the principal secretary for Health, Dr Bernard Valentin, Au Cap’s Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) elected member of the National Assembly Kelly Samynadin, police officers and staff from the division for substance abuse prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.
The ceremony started with a poem by Stephanie Joubert titled ‘En pti Lalimyer’, followed by ‘The Dry March concept’ illustrated by Yvana Thérésine, director for prevention and education.
Ms Thérésine stated that the campaign first started in 2015 and was stopped in 2017. She said they are re-launching the campaign this year to educate the public of the dangers of constant and high alcohol consumption. She placed emphasis on individuals who consume alcohol dailyand those who drink heavily every weekend.
She added that these individuals drink too much without much thought to the consequences of high alcohol intoxication. She further pointed out that these are not just individuals who drink local brews (lapire ek baka). Ms Thérésine stated that the consequences of always being inebriated usually affects those around the person and society as a whole. These consequences include crimes, accidents, diseases, divorce, abuse (mental, physical and negligence).
Alcoholism also impacts our economy with a lack of workers, workers coming to work inebriated and so on. It also has severe negative effects on personal finances and in education if children are also exposed.
The division for substance abuse prevention, treatment and rehabilitation is asking people to pledge to the dry march campaign and Ms Thérésine added that if a person is having difficulty refraining from consuming alcohol he or she most likely has an alcohol problem. The division encourages individuals to reach out for help and support which are available.
Health principal secretary, Dr Bernard Valentin detailed that the ministry continues to perceive alcohol as a huge problem in our society. The ‘Mars Azen’ campaign which is celebrated in various countries aims to educate the public on high alcohol consumption; however each country differs on when they host the campaign.
PS Valentin declared that statistics show that children are starting to consume alcohol at an early age. He added that more women are now also consuming alcohol heavily and men are consuming alcohol daily ‒ in private, public and even at work.
The principal secretary stated that all these statistics have dire consequences on our society, law and our health.
Both PS Valentina and director Thérésine emphasised that the amount of health issues seen at the hospital related to alcohol is causing pain in our community and the individuals themselves. Diseases caused by high alcohol consumption include gastritis, pancreatitis, ulcer, cancer and many more.
This re-launch of the ‘Mars Azen’ campaign aims to raise awareness on the consequences of high alcohol consumption and help those already becoming victims to alcoholism. The ‘Mars Azen’ campaign will run throughout the month of March.
Marla Siméon