Killer Lightening: School Holds Post-trauma Session for  Students, Others

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Tansi International College, Awka, has organised a post trauma session for it’s students, to ease their minds off the recent incident of death in the school.

A week ago, students of the college who were involved in football training during rainfall were struck by lightening, leading to the death of three out of the nine students caught in the incident.

Principal of the College, Rev. Father Fidelis Izuakor, who spoke during the session said the essence of the psychosocial intervention was to rehabilitate the students from shock and trauma resulting from the death of their mates.

He said: “We believe, as humans that the shock or the sight of the incident could cause one form of trauma or the other on the students because they were all there when it happened.

“We are not sure and cannot detect any of them with trauma. So we decided to invite counsellors to help us talk to them, counsel them, take them along that particular place of trauma, bringing them out of it. That is the essence of this counselling session,” Izuakor said.

The session was conducted by three Reverend Sisters from the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ, Amawbia Community. The counsellors included; Sr Bibian Marie Okelue, Sr Raphaela Maria Nnorom, and Sr Maria  Dim.

Dim, while addressing the students stated that the effect of the incident, if not handled properly now might cause negative impact on the lives of the students in future.

She said: “The lives of Michael, Francis, and Emmanuel (deceased students), have a spot in every one of you as a part of a bigger family here. Today, they have gone. This has created a negative vacuum in you.

“You may not know that if you don’t handle well what happened to you on Saturday, in 30 years, it may cause something you may not know.

“I know all of you know Micheal, Francis, and Emmanuel. So, the major reason we are here is to help you handle the fear and your thoughts about them in the best and positive way.”

Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo had in the wake of the incident condoled with the management and students of the school as well as the relatives of the deceased students.