From CHARLES ONYEKWERE
Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa said the military is committed to the emotional and psychological wellbeing of troops in various theatres of operation.
Musa said this yesterday in an address at the Defence Headquarters 2025 First Bi-Annual Sensitisation Training on Stress Management, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, and Emotional Intelligence for Personnel Serving in Theatres of Operation held at 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu.
Represented by the Director of Innovation and Concept Development at the Defence Headquarters, Major-General Wara Idris, the CDS said the emphasis on mental health is to ensure optimal performance of each soldier and by extension, the troops.
According to him, this important event reflects the growing recognition to safeguard mental health and wellbeing of our personnel who continue to make sacrifices for the peace and stability of the nation.
Musa said over the years, troops in the course of several battles, had been exposed to traumatic conditions, but in those days, their mental health and well being had not been given adequate attention.
He said with the change involving sound mental and emotional well being, therapy had led to better successes of troops and holistic wellness of individual personnel.
The CDS said the sensitisation would give soldiers the tool to better manage stress and PTSD while in theatres of operation.
Musa noted that it would also enlighten them on having good emotional intelligence to deal with the needs and challenges of people adequately.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 82 Division, Major-General Oluyemi Olatoye appreciated President Bola Tinubu and the CDS for the sensitisation and general support to troops of the division.
Olatoye, who is also the Commander, South-East Joint Security Task-Force code-named ‘Operation Udo Ka,’ said operational successes in the South East and Cross River could be attributed to the CDS support.
Participants at the event were military personnel drawn from the Nigerian Army, Air Force and Navy.
