It is an obvious concern that many young people in the country take up smoking and alcohol consumption at an early age.
And while initiatives by organisations aim to address this, the deputy principal of a primary school says this issue needs a more collective effort from respective schools and parents.
Joseph Kolowa, being with the Lealea Primary School for over 10 years now and observing the way of life in the community, said the problem lies within family environments.
“Our students are already influenced by their own parents. At a young age, they are following their drunk mothers around. So all these unhealthy habits are influenced by their own family. During social gatherings, they freely take part.
“At the school level, we do what we can and try to tell them why this is not good. We are just scratching on top, the problems lie there in the roots. We need the community to support us,” he said.
Sussan Kose, also a teacher at Lealea Primary School, says students are involved in these activities as early as Grade 5.
She said some things, such as chewing betelnut, is just part of their culture.
“We even try to be model teachers to them but at the end of the day, they return home and see a different picture.”
PNG Cancer Foundation recently visited Lealea Primary School as part of their Healthy Teens School Program to do awareness on cancer and warn against chewing betelnut, smoking and drinking alcohol.
Thankful of this, Kolowa said the school needs more of such.
HTSP programs have so far reached more than 3,000 students in Milne Bay, West New Britain, Port Moresby and Morobe Province and distributed over 1,000 school packs.
PNGCF’s new partnership with ExxonMobil PNG will take the HTSP to more schools in Central Province, Port Moresby, Hides and Moro.
(Picture: Caribbean360)