Sedqa healthy lifestyle programmes reach all seven-eight-year-olds

Sedqa, the national agency against drug and alcohol abuse, reaches around 4,000 students yearly through its BABES programme and 600 parents through its parenting skills programme Inrabbu 'l Uliedna Ahjar.

The BABES programme targets the whole population of Year 3 children - around 4,000 pupils who are seven to eight years old. It is delivered in all schools in Malta and comprises six one-hour classroom sessions with approximately 20 children in each class.

Sedqa-trained facilitators deliver the programme once weekly using visual aids such as puppets and flash cards to recount a succession of six stories. The programme's aim is to enable children to learn and practise living and loving skills such as decision-making and peer pressure.

Commenting during the certificate-giving activity at Our Lady Immaculate School at Hamrun, Joe Gerada, Sedqa's chief executive officer, said "The BABES programme has been running for 12 years for schoolchildren aged between seven and eight and has been the most successful prevention programme run in schools by Sedqa".

He said that the programme speaks about issues that create a healthy lifestyle for children and therefore presents a holistic approach to making the right choices in life even as early as seven years. Mr Gerada said that Sedqa's programmes are being revisited in order to bring in other child-related issues, such as the safe use of the Internet.

Through its parenting skills programme, the agency reaches around 600 parents every year in groups of around 20 parents each. The programme consists of a six-session course and tackles topics related to parenthood such as leadership styles, communication, child development and discussions on drug and alcohol abuse. Trained facilitators deliver the course in an interactive environment and through the use of videos and written material.

Jean-Claude Cardona, Sedqa's operations director, noted that one of Sedqa's aims has always been to assist parents, both by providing preventive education programmes as well as by delivering services. He said that research has clearly indicated that children of alcohol-abusing parents are more likely to indulge in such behaviour themselves given that alcohol abuse is mimetic.

These two programmes, which form part of a series of services provided by Sedqa Primary Prevention, offer participating children and parents the opportunity to gain relevant life skills through age-appropriate interactive sessions.

Sedqa information stands are being set up at various schools during parents' days throughout this month.

For more information on Sedqa's Primary Prevention programmes, or to obtain informative material on substance abuse, one can contact the division co-ordinator Albert Buttigieg or any other member of the Primary Prevention team on 2124-4226 or by visiting the agency's Website www.sedqa.gov.mt. Further information is also available at www.mfss.gov.mt.