NAGAFF Partners Customs Area 11 Command Onne on Stress Mgt In Maritime Industry

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) says it is partnering the Nigeria Customs Service Area 11 Command Onne to mitigate the impact of stress among freight forwarders at Onne, Rivers state.

Disclosing this last week to select journalists during a sensitization campaign tagged stress management in the maritime industry at Onne, Rivers state, the NAGAFF Chapter Chairman Onne, Seaport, Forwarder Ike Okechukwu Anselem said the pressure his colleagues are passing through in the course of their business on daily basis motivated him to carry out such awareness campaign on stress management in relation to Maritime industry.

He regretted that the Association lost one of its members a month ago, adding that the said member left after his day's work at onne, only to be reported dead during the night "shouting my heart my heart."

NAGAFF Chairman Ike Okechukwu

He noted that he felt so bad for the loss and decided that his members should take the issue of their health seriously in order to ascertain their wellness.

He reiterated that as an ardent believer in the saying that "Health is wealth", he would do everything within his power as the Chairman to ensure the health and safety of his members.

On how to sustain the programme, he hinted that "today's programme is a pilot one and we intend to continue it and make it more elaborate by inviting psychologists and other medical practitioners."

Continuing, he praised the Onne Customs Command especially the CAC, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede for providing their medical team for the programme even as he urged 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 can cause heavy damage to their body system and nip them in the bud before they can escalate.

The NAGAFF boss who said he was motivated by the founder of NAGAFF, Chief Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam, NAGAFF National president, High chief Tochukwu Ezisi and his Deputy National President Seaport, Chief Amb Afam Chukwuma insisted that the programme would be widely publicized subsequently to attract the bigwigs in the freight forwarding business.

On her part, the resource person Dr (Mrs.) TR. Omarijvwie, applauded NAGAFF for the Sensitization programme insisting that it was a good idea 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 as according to her; even a child has its own stress in form of crowing, standing up, growing among others.

Dr Omarijvwie noted that human beings pass through stress right from birth till they die, saying “The World of Achievement is a world of Stress"

However, she was quick to point out that stress is inevitable but can be managed, adding that stress is a kind of pressure that comes with life demands, describing it as a state of mental worry or mental pressure which comes in stages.

She said that when stress is not managed, it can affect the vital organs in the body such as kidney, Liver, heart among others even as she advised that people should be content with what they have and not stretch above their limit as such is one of the causes of stress.

She said, stress is caused by daily hassles, trauma, relocation, death of a loved one, financial stress, family matters among others, while she noted some physical indications of stress to include sweating, increased Heart beat, dry mouth, pressure to urinate, anxiety, fear, anger, depression, change in behaviour, such as smoking, excessive drinking or alcoholism and drug abuse.

But, on the strategy to manage stress, Dr Omarijvwie said it has a broad spectrum or technique such as, avoid the stressor, alter the stressor or adapt to it.

She continued by saying that the person can resort to laughter as according to her, laughter is therapeutic and can make the person live longer.

She went further to posit that to manage stress, Maritime industry workers can relax, take deep breath especially in a clean environment, choose their hobby like playing Lawn tennis, Table Tennis and also decongest their minds and talk to people and be positive.

Cross section of participants at the programme

Other factors according to her to manage stress are, "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."

Hence she said, "Stress management is life management."

Speaking to our correspondent, some of the participants expressed satisfaction with Onne customs Area11, Command and the NAGAFF officials even as they asked that the programme be made a regular one.

High point of the programme was the medical check - up for Sugar level, Blood pressure and cholesterol level for the participants.

Written by Bon Peters, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

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