By Bon Peters, Port Harcourt
The National Association of Government Approved Frieght Forwarders (NAGAFF) has in partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service Area 11 Command, Onne, Rivers state, organized a sensitization to mitigate the impact of stress among freight forwarders.
Speaking at the programme, tagged stress management in the maritime industry at Onne, the NAGAFF Chapter Chairman Onne, Seaport, Ike Okechukwu Anselem, said, the pressure experienced by his colleagues in the course of their businesses on daily basis motivated him to organize the sensitization on stress management with a focus on the Maritime industry.
He regretted that the Association had lost one of its members recently, in a stress related situation. The said member left for home after his day’s work at onne, only to be reported dead at night, “shouting, my heart! my heart!”
Mr. Anselem said , he felt sad for the loss, but also got compelled to organize the sensitization so that members of the association would take their health seriously and continually ascertain their wellness.
He reiterated that as a believer in “Health is wealth,” he would do everything possible as Chairman to safeguard the health and safety of his members.
The chairman hinted that the “programme is a pilot one and we intend to continue with it and make it more elaborate by inviting psychologists and other medical practitioners.”
He praised the Onne Customs Command especially the CAC, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede for providing their medical team for the programme, urging his members and other freight forwarders to key into the programme to check their blood pressure, blood sugar level, cholesterol and other inherent ailments that cause heavy damage to body system.
The NAGAFF chairman who said he was encouraged by the founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam, NAGAFF National president, High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi and his Deputy National President Seaport, Amb. Afam Chukwuma said the programme would be widely publicized subsequently to attract the bigwigs in the freight forwarding business.
On her part, the resource person Dr. TR. Omarijvwie, applauded NAGAFF for organizing the programme saying it was a good for the freight forwarders to always go for regular Medical check-up.
Speaking on Stress, she noted that stress has become part of people’s daily routine since “The World of Achievement is a world of Stress”
However, she was quick to point out that stress can be managed.
She said when stress is not managed, it can affect vital organs in the body such as kidney, liver, and heart among others, even as she advised people to be contented with life and avoid stretching above their limits.
Dr. Omarijvwie advised the Maritime industry workers to create time for relaxation, and hobbies like playing lawn tennis, table tennis, as well as decongest their minds, and be positive.
“Keep a daily routine, get plenty of sleep while maintaining a good sleeping hygiene, eat healthy, keep healthy relationships, exercise always, limit the time of listening to news and most importantly go for medical check–up,” she said.
Some participants expressed satisfaction with Onne customs Area 11, Command and the NAGAFF officials for organizing the programme.
High point of the programme was the medical check-up for Sugar level, Blood pressure and cholesterol level for the participants.
