February 25, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
Though it is debatable, but I stand to put it to the bet that Sierra Leone yet still stands to be the “Athens of West Africa” and the envy of the world at large with the very best of natural resources, cross-cultural awareness and a growing youthful population, amongst others. But alas! The youth of my beloved country are slowly transforming to something else; it pains me so much when I saw a video making rounds on social media of youth devouring their strength and health, and wasting precious time boiling a baby diaper known locally as “Pampers” which they drink as tea.
It is a total bullshit to see the human resource of this country going down the drain with a self-inflicted lethal drug, “Pampers Tea.” It is absolutely absurd and I have begun to ask myself: What does the future holds for our youth? Or who is to blame for such a waste of “precious youth?” Such questions and many more keep popping on my mind.
I was vividly and concisely made to know the chemical contents of baby diapers in a recent press briefing; where I was informed by the Acting Public Relations Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) that the baby diaper material now drank as “Pampers Tea,” has chemical particles known as Tulene, Dioxins, Ethyl benzene, Sodium Polyacrylate, and the list goes on.
It would shock you to know that, human consumption of such chemical substances, have the potential to stir euphoria; hallucination; headache; infertility; cancer; nausea; dizziness; skin irritation; stumbling; sleeplessness; also affect the brain; central nervous system; and may also lead to coma and death as the case maybe.
With such information on the adverse effect of such a deadly substance; I asked myself again: Who in his right state-of-mind can consume such a drug? Is the consumption of such drug done out of the frustration of “Youth Unemployment?” Such questions might sound out of place, but again, if such questions are not addressed, it might be “early warning signals” to something catastrophic.
As state actors, religious bodies, civil society activists, community stakeholders, youth groups, journalists, etc, we have a collective responsibility to save our youth, and the watchword should be: “One for all and all for one.”
One proposed way of saving the mindset of such youth from going extinct, is to embark on more job creation. I am strongly convinced that President Bio and his New Direction Administration are assiduously working on such a “New Safe Direction” for our youth.
Another proposed way of tackling such a menace that is slowly gaining grounds in society is the “Empowerment of NDLEA.” NDLEA needs to be resourced in order to reach every social gathering or group across the country and the Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Social Welfare, religious institutions and other line institutions should work towards the positive transformation of our youth. Mind you the time to act is NOW!
In my opinion as a journalist, the focus should be, “Bottom-Top Approach.” By this, we should continue to reach the very poor and marginalized in society, raise the awareness on the dangers of harmful drugs and also endeavor to channel their concerns to the appropriate authorities. We all have a role to play to save the youth of Sierra Leone especially from the now discovered Pampers Tea, and it start with YOU!
