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| Image Courtesy: Ufuoma Evuarherhe-"State Of The Nation"-Acrylic on Canvass. |
How on earth can anyone explain the death of 26 African (suspected Nigerian) female teenagers on the Mediterranean sea over the past weekend? How indeed do we explain the migrant crisis (from Africa) and all the deaths that have occurred as a result, over the years? Our Hypothesis attempts to examine the root cause from a health related point of view. Why should anyone or group of persons bargain to be stuffed into what eventually becomes an overcrowded boat, with the risk of drowning at sea? MENTAL FRUSTRATION OR INSANITY?
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| Immigrant Boat on the Mediterranean Sea. Image Courtesy: United Nations. |
The World Health Organisation in 1948 defined HEALTH to be,"a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity"!!!- Our emphasis here being "mental and social well-being. Have people tolerated their original home conditions to the points of becoming mentally sick and striving to leave at all cost? There is no gain saying that,all is not socially well in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, especially. That's pretty much old gist. The grave concern here is how bad things have become and the resultant effects on the mental health of young people especially. At least these lot and others who have lost it or succeeded earlier, chose to take their lives into their own hands and made the risky move for perceived greener pastures. I know first hand that the frustration is beyond mental. People have to consciously suppress their civic emotions to be able to tolerate the lack..... Even amongst the so-called middle class citizens,the hardship is visibly palpable. My experience travelling via road from the Northern part of Nigeria through the Northern parts of West Africa to Dakar,Senegal, en route Europe for greener pastures is a story to be told another day. Lest the short analysis begins to sound political, I will reserve my comments on Government shortcomings in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.
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| 👀:Igboshere,Lagos: Public Health Photography by Dr Kevwe. |
Our heartfelt condolence go out to family members of these brave young teenagers and others who have lost their lives in any of such struggles. Every life lost is one-too-many.
I am not encouraging others to make the leap of faith via these routes but one thing is certain, if nothing is done about living conditions as they are currently (power supply, housing, transportation, unemployment, security, slavery/occupational exploitation etc), mentally frustrated youths will keep leaving; not just as illegal immigrants but also, as bonafide young professionals seeking for better appreciation as well as, international/liveable wages and enabling environments to thrive. This is my humble submission but everyone is subject to their own opinion,so you may as well share in the comment section below. For more information about the deceased ladies and the ongoing investigation into the matter, consult the references below.
REFERENCES:
* PREMIUM TIMES|IT'S TRUE,26 NIGERIAN WOMEN FOUND DEAD ON THE MEDITERRANEAN- FG.
* TIME|2 MEN WERE ACCUSED OF SMUGGLING AFTER 26 GIRLS WERE FOUND DEAD IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.
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