Medical Experts , Prof Okunna Identify , Poor Bonding, Stress As Cause Of Social Ills

                           

odogwuemekaodogwu.blogspot.com reports that  Pediatrician, Theodore Okeahialam, has said that Poor prenatal and postnatal experience sowed the seeds of many ailments that affect adults and their productivity which manifested in of social well being of any country.

Okeahialam said this at a symposium on stress organized by the Department of Psychology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka on Tuesday.

The Octogenarian, Professor of Pediatrics and Child Development in a Lecture entitled, “Do Children Suffer from Stress? - a Pediatric Perspective of Child Development” defined as a complex psycho biological process with physical, mental and behavioral consequences all of which may influence one another. 

According to him strong bonding between the mother and child at the early stage was important for preventing children from stress as the foetus is exposed to several signals from the mother’s diet, her emotional experiences and other factors which have potent negative effects on development

 “Through the parental influence and guidance, the Super-Ego (conscience) is developed and enhanced, negativism is inhibited, discipline is maintained and a sense of humility is imbibed.

 “These are the attributes of a person with a normal personality essential for making positive contributions and pragmatic changes in the society.

“In a situation where the mother is stressed following a divorce, or is a single parent, or she is involved in a job or an academic pursuit, there is little time for effective maternal care.

“Maternal Bonding is the primary emotional building block of every person for establishing convivial relationships with others and for normal interactions with his environment

“Other causes of stress in Nigeria included domestic violence, fights, accidents, terrorism, robbery, and sudden abandonment of the home due to natural disasters.

“The implication is that a child who undergoes persistent toxic stress under these circumstances may be unable to achieve his academic potential, his capacity to develop constructive relationships with his peers and adults in the future”, he said.

In her contribution, Professor Stella Okunna, a communication expert urged fathers not to leave the task of child upbringing to mothers alone by paying equal attention to the child as the mothers.

Okunna commended the maternity law recently passed by the Lagos state government which approved six months leave for mothers and 10 days for fathers, while advising the Federal Government to adopt it as a national policy.

The Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Rev Fr. Cyracus Ajaelu said people should change their way of life as to reduce those stressors which impede their productivity.

Ajaelu, a clinical psychologist,  said that people were heavily stressed up without knowing it nor finding the cure for it, he advised Nigerians to visit psychologists and counselors once in a while