In a historical move to care for military and police personnel, especially ones with mental health issues, the Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA) in Nigeria has laid the foundation for a world-class Post-Trauma Stress Disorder (PTSD) centre in Abuja.
While speaking at the ceremony of ground-breaking for the centre, First lady Aisha Buhari stated to her audience that she would urge the federal government to fund the initiative, which she described as ‘first of its kind.
She expressed her appreciation for the wife of the chief of Defence Staff for conceptualizing such an initiative. The first Lady, Aisha Buhari, pledged to ensure its completion before the end of her husband’s, President Muhammadu Buhari’s, tenure.
President of DEPOWA, Vickie Irabor, noted that the rehabilitation centre would evaluate, counsel and provide adequate support to police and military personnel and their spouses prior to reintegration at the end of their operational tour of duty.
According to Irabor, “With gratitude to God Almighty, it gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone and all to the ground-breaking and foundation stone laying ceremony of this historical and first of its kind, transformative Armed Forces (PTSD) Centre.
She stated that “This project is very dear to my heart and indeed the hearts of all military wives across the nation.”
She began her speech by expressing her most heartfelt appreciation to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr (Mrs) Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, our Mama, the mother of the nation. She stated that We appreciate you for your leadership and continued support for DEPOWA.
She addressed the first lady, Aisha Buhari, stating that “It is indeed an honour to have you here. As a military wife yourself, you remain inspirational to us, and to all Nigerian women, in your dutiful support to the President of Nigeria.”
She further took this opportunity to thank the Armed Forces, led by her husband, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; She expressed her most sincere gratitude to her husband, stating that “As my husband, you have given me the wings to fly and soar very high.”
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