-schools’ debate to spotlight tobacco, alcohol dangers
The National Tobacco and Alcohol Debating Competition 2010, which will focus on raising awareness of the problems of tobacco and alcohol use among school children and seek to empower them to make positive decisions, was launched yesterday in the boardroom of the Ministry of Health.
The six-week competition is a collaboration between the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Education and will be held under the theme ‘Think health, not drugs.” Sixteen schools drawn from Regions 2, 3, 6 and 10 will participate in the competition.
Cardella Hamilton, Edutainment Officer in the Ministry of Health, said that the idea for focus on the issues arose out of a recent Global Youth Tobacco and Health Survey, which found that 18% of students use any form of tobacco while in school. She added that it is hoped that it will impact positively on adolescents while they are engaged in a fun activity.
Meanwhile Hydar Ally, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, said that the competition aims to bring sensitisation so as to bring an end to tobacco and alcohol abuse. “Absolutely no good can come from tobacco and alcohol abuse,” said Ally. He noted that many lives have been lost at the hands of abusive husbands and families have been destroyed due to substance abuse.
He pointed out that substance abuse has a significant opportunity cost. He said that true cost is not money spent but the sacrifice made if the money spent was put to different uses. He added that children are the ones who suffer most since sometimes they have no food, school supplies or other items because the money has been spent elsewhere.
Further, to create change among schoolchildren who are exposed to these substances and to allow them to make informed choices, Ally said that it was necessary to raise awareness at the school level.
The competition will be held in three stages: quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. A new desktop computer is the prize for the winning school. The second place winner will receive a book voucher worth $60,000 while third place will receive a trophy. Additionally, the top three schools will receive book vouchers worth $10,000, compliments of Austin’s Book Store.
